Visitors as stimuli for the expression and distribution of behavioral
patterns in captive vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus):
A pilot study
G. Ortiz1, E. Cañedo2 and C. Rosario2
1Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones
en Comportamiento, Universidad de Guadalajara, México
2School of psychology, ITESO, México
The presence or absence of observing visitors might be meaningful stimuli
for the expression of behavioral patterns and differential use of enclosure
space in captive vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus).
In order to assess this hypothesis, six vervet monkeys were videotaped
60 minutes per day, during nine days (two days in December and seven days
in February) in which the number of visitors, the weather and the group
composition varied. These observations were made at the zoo of Guadalajara
(Mexico). The behavior patterns and locations of adult monkeys inside
their enclosure were scanned every 30 s. The results show differential
patterns of behavior and use of space as a function of the aforementioned
variables (i.e. presence–absence of observing visitors, weather,
and group composition).
Paper presented
at Measuring Behavior 2005
, 5th International Conference on Methods and Techniques
in Behavioral Research, 30 August - 2 September 2005, Wageningen, The
Netherlands.
© 2005 Noldus
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