Pavelka, Mary S. McDonaldKnopff, Kyle2005-08-162005-08-162004Knopff, K. (2004). Feeding competition and group size in Central American howler monkeys (alouatta pigra) at Monkey River, Belize (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/131580612977005http://hdl.handle.net/1880/41676Bibliography: p. 105-117The Central American black howler (Alouatta pigra) occurs in surprisingly small social groups, for reasons that are not well understood. To test whether indirect within­group feeding competition constrains group size, I examined the effects of group size on day journey length, activity budgets, and group spread; compared food availability and dietary quality with energy expenditure; and evaluated the results in light of influential ecological constraints models. 45 full day follows were completed on 3 groups of wild A. pigra varying in size from 3 to 7 individuals. Food availability for all groups was similar, but group size was not associated with increased activity levels or day journey length, nor did any group experience variation in energy expenditure with changes in food availability, indicating that feeding competition is not acting to constrain group size at this site. Consequently, I suggest that other factors (possibly social ones) are responsible for small group size.ix, 127 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.master thesis10.11575/PRISM/13158AC1 .T484 2004 K66