Jane Champion 1 , Kayla Hartwell 1 , Mary Pavelka 1 , and Hugh Notman 1 & 2

1. The Short-Term Effects of Hurricane Richard on the Diet, Behaviour, and Sub-Grouping Patterns of Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve, Belize Jane Champion1, Kayla Hartwell1, Mary Pavelka1, and Hugh Notman1 & 2 1University of Calgary and 2Athabasca University, Alberta, Canada

2. Hurricane Richard October 25, 2010 Category 2 hurricane Winds up to 155 kph Runaway Creek Nature Reserve directly in path $80 million (US) damage Belize Weather Center

3. Runaway Creek Nature Reserve Belize Protected Areas RCNR

4. Hurricane Richard damage at RCNR Damage assessment: • 42.8% major damage • 27.6% minor damage • 29.6% no observable damage

5. Hurricane Iris • Monkey River, Belize • October 8, 2001 • Category 4 hurricane • Top winds 230 kph www.NOAA.com

6. Hurricane Iris • 100% forest defoliation • No fruit available for 18 months • Diet switched to total folivory • Increase in time spent inactive • Decrease in social behaviour

7. Results Dramatic reduction in population density, group size, and fruit availability/consumption

8. Objective of this Presentation • Document short-term effects of Hurricane Richard on Runaway Creek Nature Reserve spider monkey population, diet, activity, and subgroup size and stability.

9. Predictions 1. Population losses 2. A change in diet, which will reflect changes in food availability • Lower fruit consumption • Increase consumption of leaves and fallback foods 3. A change in activity budgets • More time dedicated to traveling • Less time spent in social activities 4. Reduced sub-group size

10. Methods • 10 minute focal samples on adults and subadults • Instantaneous subgroup scans every 30 minutes • Subgroup composition changes recorded via ad libitum sampling • 4 months pre- and 3 months post-hurricane data used • 35 field days during each period (70 days total)

11. Results: Population Changes Group composition as of January 2011 • All individuals accounted for in 3 months post-hurricane • 3 births between December 2010 and January 2011

12. Results: Diet * • Taken from all instantaneous subgroup scan samples • Paired t-tests • Less ripe fruit (p<0.001) • More flowers (p=0.015), leaves (p<0.001), and unripe fruit (p<0.001) * * Mean proportion of feeding activity *

13. Results: Activity * • Taken from all instantaneous subgroup scan samples • Paired t-tests • More time feeding (p=0.001), and in social activities (p=0.023) * Mean proportion of activities

14. Results: Subgroup Size * • Taken from all focal and scan samples • Paired t-tests • Average subgroup per day decreased (p=0.026) Mean number of individuals per subgroup per day

15. Results: Subgroup Stability * • Collected ad libitum during subgroup follows • Paired t-tests • Both fissions (p=0.005) and fusions (p=0.014) per hour decreased * Mean frequency of fissions/fusions per observation hours

16. Summary of short term-effects of the hurricane • No population losses • Evidence of dietary flexibility • Minor changes to activity budget • Evidence of grouping flexibility toward smaller, more stable subgroups

17. Implications and directions for research • Spider monkeys more resilient to major habitat disturbance than expected, at least in the short-term. • Support some of the findings reported for Hurricanes Emily and Wilma (Rebecchini et al) • Future research is required to examine forest regeneration in more detail and the long-term effects of these changes to spider monkeys and other primate species

18. Acknowledgements • Project supervisors: Mary Pavelka and Hugh Notman • Co-author: Kayla Hartwell • Field support: Stevan Reneau and Gilroy Welch • Statistical support: Dr. Tak Fung • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, National Geographic Society, The University of Calgary