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Evolution of Small-Group Territoriality in Gibbons

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Primates and Cetaceans

Part of the book series: Primatology Monographs ((PrimMono))

Abstract

This chapter endeavors to establish the basic environmental and social factors that have enabled the evolution of territorial behavior in gibbons, and perhaps other animals, and precluded it in cetaceans. These factors are given as three basic conditions, followed by some hypotheses and testable predictions that follow. These conditions concern (a) relatively homogeneous (nonclumped) resource distribution ; (b) high mobility and foraging efficiency ; and (c) range use exclusivity. Evidence from a study of diet and foraging in white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar ) in central Thailand is brought to bear in testing predictions from conditions (a) and (b). The feeding range of the study group is relatively homogeneous and, although it changes in size seasonally, it does not shift much in location. The relatively long daily foraging path in relationship to range area suggests highly efficient foraging. Evidence is presented that the gibbons’ food sources are often known and frequently revisited, although they change from month to month. Because territory defense entails costs as well as benefits, defended territory should be set at a size at which resource limitation begins to occur in the population. Seasonal changes in ranging and social behavior suggest that this is the case in the study group.

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Acknowledgments

  We thank our field workers, Amnart Boonkongchart, Saiwaroon Chongko, Jantima Saentorn, Ratasart Somnuek, Umaporn Martmoon, and Wisanu Chongko, for their hard work following gibbons and other tasks, students Chanpen Wongsriphuek, Wirong Chanthorn, and Petchprakai Wongsorn for their field help, and Onuma Petrmitr for herbarium support. J.F. Maxwell is thanked for his invaluable botanical help. We thank Mr. Prawat Wohandee and Mr. Narong Mahunnop, past directors of Khao Yai National Park, for their constant support. Thad Bartlett, Susan Lappan, Kim McConkey, and several anonymous reviewers provided valuable comments on the manuscript. The photograph of gibbons in a fig tree was taken by Kulpat Saralamba. This research was funded by Biodiversity and Training Program grants BRT 239001, BRT 242001, BRT R_346005 and BRT R349009.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecology Lab, Bioresources Technology Unit, BIOTEC, 113 Science Park, Paholyothin Road, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand

    Warren Y. Brockelman, Anuttara Nathalang & Udomlux Suwanvecho

  2. Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand

    Warren Y. Brockelman

  3. Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA

    David B. Greenberg

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  1. Warren Y. Brockelman
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  2. Anuttara Nathalang
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  4. Udomlux Suwanvecho
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Correspondence to Warren Y. Brockelman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Science Laboratory of Human Evolution Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

    Juichi Yamagiwa

  2. The Swire Institute of Marine Science School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Shek O, Hong Kong SAR

    Leszek Karczmarski

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Brockelman, W.Y., Nathalang, A., Greenberg, D.B., Suwanvecho, U. (2014). Evolution of Small-Group Territoriality in Gibbons. In: Yamagiwa, J., Karczmarski, L. (eds) Primates and Cetaceans. Primatology Monographs. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54523-1_11

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