Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-l4dxg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-11T04:52:50.370Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

9 - Demography and Group Dynamics of Western Hoolock Gibbons (Hoolock hoolock) in a Community Conserved Village Population in Upper Assam, India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 April 2023

By
Jihosuo Biswas ,
Diplob Chutia ,
Jayanta Das ,
Joydeep Shil  and
H.N. Kumara
Edited by
Susan M. Cheyne ,
Carolyn Thompson ,
Peng-Fei Fan  and
Helen J. Chatterjee
Susan M. Cheyne
Affiliation:
Borneo Nature Foundation
Carolyn Thompson
Affiliation:
University College London
Peng-Fei Fan
Affiliation:
Sun Yat-Sen University, China
Helen J. Chatterjee
Affiliation:
University College London
Get access

Summary

Fragmentation and rapid conversion of forested landscapes to farmland and human settlements in Upper Assam, India has led to the isolation of western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) families in fragmented patches of village areas. Many families have perished due to resource scarcity and conflict with development; however, the villages of Barekuri area in Upper Assam have retained a substantial number of gibbon families for many years. We monitored the population (nine families) from 2011 to 2017 and present long-term data on social organisation and its dynamics in Barekuri area. We recorded eight births, nine deaths and four dispersals in the population. Five of the nine deaths were due to electrocution that reduced the population size from 29 individuals in nine groups in 2011 (3.22 ± SD 0.67) to 24 in seven groups in 2017 (3.29 ± SD 0.76), with a mean group size of 3.67 ± SD 0.85 which did not differ over the years. Female inter-birth intervals and ages at first reproduction are comparable with those in wild populations. Both males and females took the opportunity to form groups and breed, and male replacement and female surrogacy indicate flexibility in a pair-bond. Our observations thus support a growing knowledge of variability in the social organisation of gibbons.

Keywords

hoolock gibbonBarekuribirthdeathdispersal
Type
Chapter
Information
Gibbon Conservation in the Anthropocene , pp. 131 - 146
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ahsan, M.F. (1995). Fighting between two females for a male in the hoolock gibbon. International Journal of Primatology, 16: 731–737.Google Scholar
Altmann, J. (1974). Observational study of behavior: sampling methods. Behaviour, 49: 227–267.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Anderson, J., Cowlishaw, G. and Rowcliffe, J.M. (2007a). Effects of forest fragmentation on the abundance of Colobus angolensis palliates in Kenya’s coastal forests. International Journal of Primatology, 28: 637–655.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anderson, J., Rowcliffe, J.M. and Cowlishaw, G. (2007b). Does the matrix matter? A forest primate in a complex agricultural landscape. Biological Conservation, 135: 212–222.Google Scholar
Arroyo Rodriguez, V., Mandujano, S., Benitez, M. and Cuende-Fanton, C. (2007). The influence of large tree density on howler monkey (Alouatta palliata mexicana) presence in very small rainforest fragments. Biotropica, 39(6): 760–766.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benchimol, M. and Peres, C.A. (2013). Anthropogenic modulators of species–area relationships in Neotropical primates: a continental scale analysis of fragmented forest landscapes. Diversity and Distributions, 19: 1339–1352.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bhattacharjee, P.C., Das, J., Biswas, J. and Chetry, D. (2004). Final Project Report: survey and to study the behavioural response of hoolock gibbon in fragmented forest and its conservation perspectives. Animal Ecology and Wildlife Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Gauhati University, India and US Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Ape Conservation Fund.Google Scholar
Bicca-Marques, J.C. (2003). How do howler monkeys cope with habitat fragmentation? In Marsh, L.K. (ed.), Primates in Fragments: Ecology and Conservation. Kluwer Academic Publishers, New York: 283–303.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bicca-Marques, J.C., Barboza-Muhle, C., Mattjie Prates, H., Garcia de Oliveira, S. and Calegaro-Marques, C. (2009). Habitat impoverishment and egg predation by Alouatta caraya. International Journal of Primatology, 30: 743–748.Google Scholar
Boyle, S. and Smith, A. (2010). Can landscape and species characteristics predict primate presence in forest. Primates, 51: 43–51.Google Scholar
Carnegie, S.D., Fedigan, L.M. and Melin, A.D. (2011). Reproductive seasonality in female capuchins (Cebus capucinus) in Santa Rosa (Area de Conservación Guanacaste), Costa Rica. International Journal of Primatology, 32: 1076–1090.Google Scholar
Chapman, C.A. and Rothman, J.M. (2009). Within-species differences in primate social structure: evolution of plasticity and phylogenetic constraints. Primates, 50: 12–22.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chapman, C.A., Lawes, M.J. and Eeley, H.A.C. (2006). What hope for African primate diversity? African Journal of Ecology, 44: 116–133.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chapman, C.A., Naughton-Treves, L., Lawes, M.J., Wasserman, M.D. and Gillespie, T.R. (2007). Population declines of colobus in western Uganda and conservation value of forest fragments. International Journal of Primatology, 28: 513–528.Google Scholar
Chivers, D.J. (1977). The lesser apes. In Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Bourne, G.H. (eds.), Primate Conservation. Academic Press, New York: 539–598.Google Scholar
Choudhury, A. (1990). Population dynamics of hoolock gibbon (Hylobates hoolock) in Assam, India. American Journal of Primatology, 20: 37–41.Google Scholar
Das, J. (2002). Socioecology of hoolock gibbon: Hylobates hoolock hoolock (Harlan, 1836) in response to habitat change. Unpublished PhD thesis, Gauhati University, Guwahati, India.Google Scholar
Das, J., Biswas, J., Bhattacharjee, P.C. and Mohnot, S.M. (2009). The distribution and abundance of hoolock gibbons in India. In Lappan, S. and Whittaker, D.J. (eds.), The Gibbons. Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects. Springer, New York: 409–433.Google Scholar
Estrada, A. and Coates-Estrada, R. (1996). Tropical rain forest fragmentation and wild populations of primates at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. International Journal of Primatology, 17(5): 759–783.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fan, P. and Jiang, X. (2010). Maintenance of multi-female social organization in a group of Nomascus concolor at Wuliang Mountain, Yunnan, China. International Journal of Primatology, 31: 1–13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fan, P., Jiang, X., Liu, C.M. and Luo, W.S. (2006). Polygynous mating system and behavioural reason of black crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis) at Dazhaizi, Mt. Wuliang, Yunnan, China. Zoological Research (Dongwuxue Yanjiu), 27: 216–220.Google Scholar
Fan, P., Fei, H., Xiang, Z., et al. (2010). Social structure and group dynamics of the Cao vit gibbon (Nomascus nasutus) in Bangliang, Jingxi, China. Folia Primatologica, 81: 245–253.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gittins, S.P. and Raemaekers, J.J. (1980). Siamang, lar and agile gibbons. In Chivers, D.J. (ed.), Malayan Forest Primates: Ten Years’ Study in Tropical Rain Forest. Plenum, New York: 63–105.Google Scholar
Gittins, S.P. and Tilson, R.L. (1981). Notes on the ecology and behavior of the hoolock gibbon. In Preuschott, H., Chivers, D.J., Brockelman, W.Y. and Creel, N. (eds.), The Lesser Apes: Evolutionary and Behavioral Biology. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh: 258–266.Google Scholar
Goldizen, A.W., Terborgh, J., Cornejo, F., Porras, D.T. and Evans, R. (1988). Seasonal food shortage, weight loss, and the timing of births in Saddle-back tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis). Journal of Animal Ecology, 57(3): 893–901.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grange, S., Duncan, P. and Gaillard, J.M. (2009). Poor horse traders: large mammals trade survival for reproduction during the process of fertilization. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences, 276: 1911–1919.Google Scholar
Harcourt, A.H. (2000). Ecological indicators of risk for primates, as judged by species’ susceptibility to logging. In Caro, T.M. (ed.), Behavioural Ecology and Conservation. Oxford University Press, Oxford: 56–79.Google Scholar
Harcourt, A.H. (2006). Rarity in the tropics: biogeography and macro-ecology of the primates. Journal of Biogeography, 33(12): 2077–2087.Google Scholar
Harcourt, A.H., Coppeto, S.A. and Parks, S.A. (2002). Rarity, specialization and extinction in primates. Journal of Biogeography, 29: 445–456.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henle, K., Davies, K.F., Kleyer, M., Margules, C. and Settele, J. (2004). Predictors of species sensitivity to fragmentation. Biodiversity and Conservation, 13: 207–251.Google Scholar
Hu, N., Guan, Z., Huang, B., et al. (2018). Dispersal and female philopatry in a long-term, stable, polygynous gibbon population: evidence from 16 years field observation and genetics. American Journal of Primatology, 80(9): e22922.Google Scholar
Huang, C., Wei, F., Li, M., Li, Y. and Sun, R. (2003). Sleeping cave selection, activity pattern and time budget of white-headed langurs. International Journal of Primatology, 24: 813–824.Google Scholar
Janson, C. and Verdolin, J. (2005). Seasonality of primate births in relation to climate. In Brockman, D.K. and van Schaik, C.P. (eds.), Seasonality in Primates: Studies of Living and Extinct Human and Nonhuman Primates. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 307–350.Google Scholar
Jiang, X.L., Ma, S.L., Wang, Y.X., Sheeran, L.K. and Poirier, F.E. (1994). Group size and composition of black-crested gibbons (Hylobates concolor). Zoological Research, 15: 15–22.Google Scholar
Jiang, X.L., Wang, Y.X. and Wang, Q. (1999). Coexistence of monogamy and polygyny in black-crested gibbon (Hylobates concolor). Primates, 40: 607–611.Google Scholar
Lappan, S. (2007a). Patterns of dispersal in Sumatran siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus): preliminary mtDNA evidence suggests more frequent male than female dispersal to adjacent groups. American Journal of Primatology, 69: 692–698.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lappan, S. (2007b). Social relationships among males in multi-male siamang groups. International Journal of Primatology, 28: 369–387.Google Scholar
Leighton, D.R. (1987). Gibbons: territoriality and monogamy. In Smuts, B.B., Cheney, D.L., Seyfarth, R.M., Wrangham, R.W. and Struhsaker, T.T. (eds.), Primate Societies. Chicago University Press, Chicago: 135–145.Google Scholar
Li, Z. and Rogers, M.E. (2006). Food items consumed by white-headed langurs in Fusui, China. International Journal of Primatology, 27: 1551–1567.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marsh, C.W., Johns, A.D. and Ayres, J.M. (1987). Effects of habitat disturbance on rain forest primates. In Marsh, C.W. and Mittermeier, R.A. (eds.), Primate Conservation in the Tropical Rain Forest. Alan R. Liss, New York: 83–107.Google Scholar
Marsh, L.K. (2003). The nature of fragmentation. In Marsh, L.K. (ed.), Primates in Fragments: Ecology and Conservation. Kluwer Academic, New York: 1–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mbora, D.N.M., Wieczkowski, J. and Munene, E. (2009). Links between habitat degradation, and social group size, ranging, fecundity, and parasite prevalence in the Tana River mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 140: 562–571.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Noss, R.F. and Csuti, B. (1994). Habitat fragmentation. In Meffe, G.K. and Carroll, C.R. (eds.), Principles of Conservation Biology. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA: 237–264.Google Scholar
Nowak, K. and Lee, P.C. (2013). ‘Specialist’ primates can be flexible in response to habitat alteration. In Marsh, L. and Chapman, C. (eds.), Primates in Fragments. Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects. Springer, New York: 199–211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Onderdonk, D.A. and Chapman, C.A. (2000). Coping with forest fragmentation: the primates of Kibale National Park, Uganda. International Journal of Primatology, 21: 587–611.Google Scholar
Palombit, R.A. (1994). Extra-pair copulations in a monogamous ape. Animal Behavior, 47: 721–723.Google Scholar
Reichard, U.H. (1995). Extra-pair copulations in a monogamous gibbon (Hylobates lar). Ethology, 100: 99–112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reichard, U.H. (2009). The social organization and mating system of Khao Yai White-handed gibbons: 1992–2006. In Lappan, S. and Whittaker, D.J. (eds.), The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology. Springer, New York: 347–384.Google Scholar
Reichard, U.H. and Barelli, C. (2008). Life history and reproductive strategies of Khao Yai Hylobates lar: implications for social evolution in apes. International Journal of Primatology, 29: 823–844.Google Scholar
Robinson, J.G. and Ramirez, J. (1982). Conservation biology of Neotropical primates. In Mares, M.A. and Genoways, H.H. (eds.), Mammalian Biology in South America, Vol. 6. Special publication series, Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology, University of Pittsburgh, Linesville, PA: 329–344.Google Scholar
Siddiqi, N.A. (1986). Gibbons (Hylobates hoolock) in the West Banugach Reserved Forest of Sylhet District, Bangladesh. Tiger Paper, 8: 29–31.Google Scholar
Singh, M. and Rao, N.R. (2004). Population dynamics and conservation of commensal Bonnet macaques. International Journal of Primatology, 25: 847–859.Google Scholar
Singh, M., Sharnma, A.K., Kreds, E. and Kaumanns, W. (2006). Reproductive biology of Lion tailed macaques (Macaca silenus): an important key to the conservation of an endangered species. Current Science, 90: 804–811.Google Scholar
Srivastava, A., Das, J., Biswas, J., et al. (2001). Primate population decline in response to habitat loss: Borajan Reserve Forest of Assam, India. Primates, 42(4): 401–406.Google Scholar
Sterck, E.H.M. (1999). Variation in langur social organization in relation to the socioecological model, human habitat alteration, and phylogenetic constraints. Primates, 40: 199–213.Google Scholar
Strier, K.B. and Mendes, S.L. (2012). The northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus): lessons on behavioral plasticity and population dynamics from a critically endangered species. In Kappeler, P.M. and Watts, D.P. (eds.), Long-term Field Studies of Primates. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg: 125–140.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thornton, D.H., Branch, L.C. and Sunquist, M.E. (2011). The relative influence of habitat loss and fragmentation: do tropical mammals meet the temperate paradigm? Ecological Applications, 21: 2324–2333.Google Scholar
Tilson, R.L. (1979). Behavior of hoolock gibbons (Hylobates hoolock) during different seasons in Assam, India. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society, 76: l–16.Google Scholar
Vetter, D., Hansbauer, M., Végvári, Z. and Storch, I. (2011). Predictors of forest fragmentation sensitivity in Neotropical vertebrates: a quantitative review. Ecography, 34: 1–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wolfe, L.D. and Fuentes, A. (2007). Ethnoprimatology: contextualizing human and nonhuman primate interactions. In Campbell, C.J., Fuentes, A., MacKinnon, K.C., Panger, M. and Bearder, S.K. (eds.), Primates in Perspective. Oxford University Press, New York: 691–702.Google Scholar
Zhou, J., Wei, F.W., Li, M., Pui Lok, C.B. and Wang, D.L. (2008). Reproductive characters and mating behaviour of wild Nomascus hainanus. International Journal of Primatology, 29: 1037–1046.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×