ANALYSIS OF GENEALOGIES OF DIANA MONKEYS (CERCOPITHECUS DIANA) IN NORTH AMERICAN ZOOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS |
| R. Bagwell and J. Chism Department of Biology, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC, 29733, USA |
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| Wild populations of Diana monkeys (Cercopithecus diana) are severely threatened and so effective management of captive populations may be critical to the species’ survival. Many captive Diana monkeys have poor reproductive performance. We investigated parameters that might affect reproductive performance of Diana monkeys using information from the Diana Guenon Studbook of North America. This source lists current and historical data for all Diana monkeys in North American zoos. To gauge whether inbreeding might be responsible for depressed reproductive performance, we tracked genealogical relationships to “founders”, defined as monkeys who (1) were wild caught and (2) produced offspring in captivity. This allowed us to construct family trees for 21 females and 20 male “founders”. We then identified descendants, prosperous family lines, and instances of inbreeding within the captive population. Using studbook information we assessed reproductive performance of all captive borns based on age at first and last birth, interbirth intervals, numbers of offspring live born and surviving to reproductive maturity. Of captive living females of reproductive age, 48% reproduced unsuccessfully and 42% are past the age of reproduction. Sixty-five percent of all captive born, reproductive-aged females (n = 52) have never reproduced. Males show a similar pattern of low rates of reproduction. Our analysis points to social factors including housing and group formation as well as inbreeding as contributing to this species’ poor reproductive performance in captivity. |
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