Metabolic strategies in wild male Barbary macaques: evidence from faecal measurement of thyroid hormone.
Selection is expected to favour the evolution of flexible metabolic strategies, in response to environmental conditions. Here, we use a non-invasive index of basal metabolic rate (BMR), faecal thyroid hormone (T3) levels, to explore metabolic flexibility in a wild mammal inhabiting a highly seasonal, challenging environment. T3 levels of adult male Barbary macaques in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco, varied markedly over the year; temporal patterns of variation differed between a wild-feeding and a provisioned group. Overall, T3 levels were related to temperature, foraging time (linked to food availability) and intensity of mating activity, and were higher in the provisioned than in the wild-feeding group. In both groups, T3 levels began to increase markedly one month before the start of the mating season, peaking four to six weeks into this period, and at a higher level in the wild-feeding group. Our results suggest that while both groups demonstrate marked metabolic flexibility, responding similarly to ecological and social challenges, such flexibility is affected by food availability. This study provides new insights into the way Barbary macaques respond to the multiple demands of their environment.
Division of Biological Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB23QY, UK jca40@cam.ac.uk.
Jurgi
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2799-8638
J
Cristóbal-Azkarate
School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN67TS, UK Centre for Research in Evolutionary, Social and Interdisciplinary Anthropology, University of Roehampton, London SW154JD, UK.
Laëtitia
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3499-9134
L
Maréchal
Centre for Research in Evolutionary, Social and Interdisciplinary Anthropology, University of Roehampton, London SW154JD, UK.
Stuart
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0452-8104
S
Semple
School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN67TS, UK.
Bonaventura
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0235-3040
B
Majolo
Centre for Research in Evolutionary, Social and Interdisciplinary Anthropology, University of Roehampton, London SW154JD, UK.
Ann
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2722-4998
A
MacLarnon
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001070:Appetitive Behavior; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005502:Food; D008251:Macaca / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco; D012621:Seasons; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D013696:Temperature; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000032:analysis*
D013963:Thyroid Hormones
climate; eco-physiology; energetics; food availability; primate; thermoregulation