Leaving home: Responses to water depletion by vervet monkeys

Vervet monkeys ( Chlorocebus aethiops) are African cercopithecines whose wide distribution is a consequence of their ability to penetrate semi-arid environments, but whose territoriality is assumed to limit their ability to respond to water shortage. Data from a population in the South African karoo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of arid environments 2010-08, Vol.74 (8), p.924-927
Main Authors: McDougall, P., Forshaw, N., Barrett, L., Henzi, S.P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
animal behavior
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Aridity
Biological and medical sciences
Cercopithecus aethiops
Competition
Constrictions
Depletion
deserts
Drought
Droughts
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Monkeys
semiarid zones
Shortages
Synecology
Terrestrial ecosystems
Territoriality
water supply
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Summary:Vervet monkeys ( Chlorocebus aethiops) are African cercopithecines whose wide distribution is a consequence of their ability to penetrate semi-arid environments, but whose territoriality is assumed to limit their ability to respond to water shortage. Data from a population in the South African karoo semi-desert during a drought year indicate not only that they are able to do without freestanding water for protracted periods, but also that they can sidestep territorial restrictions in order to locate water elsewhere in the local area.
ISSN:0140-1963
1095-922X
DOI:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2010.04.003