Science Diary: Monkeys - Experiment: The Pulse of the Planet daily radio program offers free legal online mp3 downloads, exploring the world of sound in nature, culture and science, with audio adventures, world music, extraordinary sound portraits, science diaries, and nature ring-tones; an amazing sonic experience.



Airdate: Jan 05, 2009
Scientist: Tracie McKinney

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 ANIMALS ,Monkeys ,Adaptation


Science Diary: Monkeys - Experiment

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For Howler monkeys, eating their veggies is more than just a health issue.
Transcript:

music; ambience: howler monkey vocalizations

Were listening to howlers one of the four species of monkeys found in Costa Rica. The populations of all of Costa Ricas monkeys are declining. But the howlers have been doing pretty well, and one scientist is trying to find the secret of their success. Welcome to Pulse of the Planets Science Diaries, a glimpse of the world of science from the inside. Primatologist Tracie McKinney studies howler monkeys with a group of Earthwatch volunteers.

We have a platform made out of palm stems and leaves, so its biodegradable if we get it stuck in a tree, and it doesnt really look too scary and weird to the monkeys. We place novel foods on there. All of our novel foods are fruits or leafy vegetables. Today were using cabbage. And then we hoist the platform up into a tree that is in the pathway of the monkeys. A little bit of dirt wont be a problem. We dont want to touch it with our hands. What I wanted to know is if we provide novel foods, then are they going to be attracted to the new foods, or are they going to be afraid of new foods and steer clear of them? Theyre eating mangoes over here. They might not be very interested in our cabbage with all these nice mangoes to eat. And so what I find very interesting is that howler monkeys are dietarily quite flexible. Theyll eat as much fruit as they can get a hold of and then theyll eat as much leaves as they have to. The reason this is important is as habitats are disturbed and as animals are pushed into human territories and they have to raid crops or live in farms, or they have very fragmented forests, an animal who can take on new foods that are completely unknown to them and explore those foods and find out whats palatable and nutritious, will survive so much better.

Well hear more about the monkeys of Costa Rica in future programs. Check out our latest project at kidsciencechallenge.com

Pulse of the Planets Science Diaries are made possible by the National Science Foundation.

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Science Diary: Monkeys - Experiment