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The gray-cheeked mangabey is foraging for food. Photo: LiveScience |
Some monkeys plan their fruit and insect foraging days just like humans prepare for a picnic—they pay attention to the weather.
A recent study revealed that gray-cheeked mangabeys delay their outings during overcast days and only enjoy foraging for fruit when the sun shines brightly.
From dawn until dusk over 210 days, a research team from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland monitored every movement of a group of gray-cheeked mangabeys in Kibale Forest, Uganda. The scientists gathered nearly comprehensive data on the decision-making process regarding fruit foraging—their favorite food.
Not only do the monkeys prefer to return to familiar trees—where they previously found fruit, but they also enjoy finding food when the weather is warm rather than when it is cloudy and chilly. Warm weather and the combination of sunlight promote the ripening of figs, as well as the growth of insect larvae hidden in certain types of fruit, a dish that monkeys highly favor.
This behavior, according to scientists, is related to the monkeys’ memory of weather conditions rather than just sensory evidence like the smell of ripe fruit.
The findings also support the notion that monkeys make foraging decisions based on a synthesis of “event memory,” such as which trees produce the best fruit, their understanding of current and recent weather conditions, and how these factors affect fruits and insects.
T. An
