Sleeping Tree Selection and Sleeping Tree Group Sizes of the Critically Endangered Ecuadorian Spider Monkey ( Ateles fusciceps ) in Lowland Ecuadorian Chocó Forest Kyler Skinner*, Adriana Argoti, Ricardo Calle, Ariel Villigua, Yadira Giler Project Mentor(s): Lori K. Sheeran, PhD; Citlalli Morelos-Juárez, PhD; Jessica A. Mayhew, PhD Ecuadorian spider monkeys ( Ateles fusciceps ) are among the least-studied platyrrhines and the world's most endangered primates. These monkeys are increasingly threatened by habitat destruction, fragmentation, and agricultural conversion. No research has been published on their sleeping behavior, which is an integral aspect of their lives. We examined whether A. fusciceps at the Tesoro Escondido Reserve in Ecuador exhibits a pattern of use of sleeping trees. Subgroups were followed 5–6 days a week for 10 weeks. After we located a sleeping site, we recorded the number of trees used by the monkeys and the number of monkeys per tree. We identified the species of sleeping trees and measured tree characteristics, including tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), distance from the ground to the first branch, canopy coverage, canopy connectivity, and the presence of epiphytes on the trunk and branches. There were 18 recorded uses of sleeping tree (15 unique and 3 reused). The average height and DBH of sleeping trees were 40.3 m (range 35–48 m, SD = 5 m) and 115.5 cm (range 83–260 cm, SD = 51 cm), respectively. Eleven of the sleeping trees were the genus Brosimum , and eight of those eleven were Brosimum utile . The reused sleeping trees were B. utile ( n = 2) and B. rubescens ( n = 1). We observed an average of 2.6 individuals (range 1–5 individuals, SD = 1 individual) per sleeping tree. These findings help identify key tree species that need protection to support the conservation of Ecuadorian spider monkeys. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation (May 21, 9:30am–3:00pm) Keywords : Ecuadorian spider monkey, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Primate Behavior, Critically Endangered Species SOURCE Form ID: 55
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