An Introduced Primate Species, Chlorocebus Sabaeus, in Dania
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
AN INTRODUCED PRIMATE SPECIES, CHLOROCEBUS SABAEUS, IN DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA: INVESTIGATING ORIGINS, DEMOGRAPHICS, AND ANTHROPOGENIC IMPLICATIONS OF AN ESTABLISHED POPULATION by Deborah M. Williams A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Charles E. Schmidt College of Science In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL May 2019 Copyright 2019 by Deborah M. Williams ii AN INTRODUCED PRIMATE SPECIES, CHLOROCEBUS SABAEUS, IN DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA: INVESTIGATING ORIGINS, DEMOGRAPHICS, AND ANTHROPOGENIC IMPLICATIONS OF AN ESTABLISHED POPULATION by Deborah M. Williams This dissertation was prepared under the direction of the candidate's dissertation advisor, Dr. Kate Detwiler, Department of Biological Sciences, and has been approved by all members of the supervisory committee. It was submitted to the faculty of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and was accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE: ~ ~,'£-____ Colin Hughes, Ph.D. ~~ Marianne Porter, P6.D. I Sciences arajedini, Ph.D. Dean, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science ~__5~141'~ Khaled Sobhan, Ph.D. Interim Dean, Graduate College iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are so many people who made this possible. It truly takes a village. A big thank you to my husband, Roy, who was my rock during this journey. He offered a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen, and a hand to hold. Also, thank you to my son, Blake, for tolerating the late pick-ups from school and always knew when a hug was needed. I could not have done it without them. Thank you to my amazing field assistant, Cheryl Ruiz. She was a dedicated volunteer rain or shine. The heat, mosquitoes, and mud did not slow her down. She was committed to the project and offered insightful ideas about the research. I enjoyed our walks through the mangroves discussing monkeys, family, and life. I was fortunate to have her on my team during this study. Also, thank you to Mariah Pagan, Angel Milla, and my sister, Beth Williams, for the help with data collection and “monkey sitting” at various times during the study. I am grateful to my advisor, Dr. Kate Detwiler, who took a chance on a rookie. She offered much advice and support in my quest for work, life, and balance. She encouraged my research ideas and kept me centered. I learned about academia, research, and science through her guidance. I consider her a mentor and friend. I look forward to future collaborations. Thank you to my wonderful committee who supported this project. I appreciate your valuable advice, time, and ideas to develop the research to its fullest potential. iv This project could not have been completed without the support of the local businesses and community, the City of Dania Beach, Port Everglades, Broward County Parks and Recreation, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. I give much gratitude to the properties that allowed me the full access needed to carry out this research. They welcomed the “monkey lady” year-round and were always there to help as needed. Thank you to my circle of friends that listened to my monkey tales. The laughs we shared are treasured. Stay tuned for more to come! Last, but certainly not the least, I am thankful for my mom and dad’s encouragement to pursue my dream of going back to school. My heart is full knowing that my father was able to witness the start of this adventure. He enjoyed hearing my stories from the field and seeing photos of the monkeys. Although, he isn’t here to celebrate this milestone, I know he is a proud papa. v ABSTRACT Author: Deborah M. Williams Title: An Introduced Primate Species, Chlorocebus Sabaeus, in Dania Beach, Florida: Investigating Origins, Demographics, and Anthropogenic Implications of an Established Population Institution: Florida Atlantic University Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Kate Detwiler Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Year: 2019 Nonnative species are reshaping global ecosystems. The success of a nonnative species hinges on both biological and cultural variables. Primates represent a minority of nonnative species but warrant research to understand ecological implications and management solutions. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recognizes three species of nonnative primates in Florida that include populations of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in Marion County, squirrel monkeys (Saimiri spp.) in Broward County, and green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) in Broward County. This study focused on the Dania Beach C. sabaeus population. The goals of this study were to: 1) determine the geographical origins and species of the monkeys, 2) record demographics and determine population growth rate, 3) assess the public’s perception of monkeys, and 4) understand the influence of human provisioning on the population’s behavior and biology. Public surveys and direct field observations of social groups provided baseline data to show that unlike other introduced vi primates (e.g., macaques in Marion County and green monkeys in the Caribbean), the Dania Beach monkey population has strong public support and is at risk of extinction within the next 100 years. vii DEDICATION To my husband, Roy, who is the most caring, supportive, and generous man I know. I am grateful to be your wife and friend. AN INTRODUCED PRIMATE SPECIES, CHLOROCEBUS SABAEUS, IN DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA: INVESTIGATING ORIGINS, DEMOGRAPHICS, AND ANTHROPOGENIC IMPLICATIONS OF AN ESTABLISHED POPULATION List of Tables .................................................................................................................... xii List of Figures .................................................................................................................. xiv Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1 Chapter 1. The History and Genetic Origins of the Dania Beach, Florida Monkey Population ................................................................................................................4 Introduction ..............................................................................................................4 Methods....................................................................................................................7 Phenotype Analysis ......................................................................................7 Historical Data Collection............................................................................8 Genetic Analysis ..........................................................................................9 Sample Collection ............................................................................9 DNA Extraction, Amplification, and Sequencing ...........................9 Taxon Sampling .............................................................................10 Statistical Analysis .....................................................................................11 Results ....................................................................................................................12 Phenotype Observations.............................................................................12 History........................................................................................................14 ix Genetics......................................................................................................17 Discussion ..................................................................................................19 Chapter 2. Demographics and Population Viability Analysis ...........................................22 Introduction ............................................................................................................22 Methods..................................................................................................................26 Study Site ...................................................................................................26 Demographic Data Collection....................................................................28 Statistical Analysis .....................................................................................29 Results ....................................................................................................................34 Group Size and Social Structure ................................................................34 Births ..........................................................................................................38 Mortality ....................................................................................................40 Immigration and Emigration ......................................................................42 Vortex Models ...........................................................................................43 Discussion ..............................................................................................................45 Chapter 3. The Tolerance, Provisioning, and Wounds of the Dania Beach Monkey Population ..............................................................................................................50 Introduction ............................................................................................................50 Methods..................................................................................................................55