A SHORT NOTE ON VIGILANCE EXHIBITED BY PROBOSCIS MONKEY (Nasalis larvatus) IN THE LOWER KINABATANGAN, SABAH, MALAYSIA by Ramesh Boonratana Introduction Proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) is a large, sexually dimorphic, monotypic arboreal colobine, endemic to the island of Bomeo, where it is largely restricted to riverine, peat swamp and mangrove forests of the coastal lowlands. The social structure of proboscis monkey in the Lower Kinabatangan is flexible, comprising relatively stable one-male, all-male and predominantly male non-breeding groups. They further exhibit inter-group associations that show a secondary level of social organization — the band — with fission-fusion of stable one-male groups within bands ‘Boonratana, 1993). ‘A two-year study on the ecology and behavior of the proboscis monkey was conducted from January 1990 to December 1991 at Sukau (118°30E/5°30'N) and Abai 1 18°332E/S°41'N), located along the Kinabatangan River in eastern Sabah, Bomean Malaysia. The Lower Kinabatangan region is mostly flat, with forest that has been subjected to varying degrees of disturbance. The forest at Sukau is predominantly riverine, whereas Abai_ is predominantly mangrove (Boonratana, 1993). During the study, vigilance behavior exhibited by proboscis monkeys was observed and is described here. This activity was recorded when the subject was scanning its surroundings, or when looking at objects more than 5 maway. In this study ‘objects’ also included the observer because the animals would frequently look at him, Furthermore, the study animals would flee if the observer came too close t0 them (Boonratana, 1993) Tigerpaper Vol.27:No.4 Oct. -Dec.2000 Results Sukau Study Area Members of a focal one-male group (OMG), ‘SUI, spent 27.8% of their annual activity budget in vigilance (Boonratana, 1993). Different age/sex classes of SUI spend different proportions of their time at vigilance. Subadult females spend more than half their total activity time being vigilant, It was uncertain whether subadult females spent more time at vigilance than other age/sex classes or whether this was due to a low sample size. The adult male spent ‘more time at vigilance than did adult females. On a monthly basis, there was no significant difference in the amount of time the adult male and females spent at vigilance. There was a negative correlation between the percentage of time members of SUL spent monthly at vigilance and in travelling. This was most likely because travelling required a certain amount of alertness from the individuals. A comparison between the monthly pattem of vigilance and phenology also showed a negative correlation with flower production. ‘This suggested that members of SUI spent more time searching for flowers when they were rare. There were no correlations with young leaf and fruit production The factors affecting the varying amount of vigilance are not clear when analyzed monthly. Thus, a comparison was made between the percentage of time spent at vigilance with: i) the day range length; and ii) the amounts of young leaves, flowers and fruits (including seeds) in the diet for that day. 2‘A negative correlation existed between vigilance and day range length. There were no daily correlations between vigilance activity and food items in the diet. ‘There was a significant positive correlation between vigilance and flowers in diet. This suggested that members of SUI increased their vigilance to locate rare food items (Boonratana, 1993). A. significant negative correlation, however, existed between vigilance and fruits (including seeds) in the diet. This suggested that members of SUI spent less time at vigilance when there were more fruits in their diet, probably to maximize feeding on rare food items. Although potential predators existed in the area (Boonratana, 1993), it was unlikely that changes in the proximity of predators was a factor affecting the varying amounts of time spent at vigilance day to day. It was, however, not possible to prove this under the conditions of the study. Abai Study Area Members of every OMG spent 30% of their activity time engaged in vigilance. Adult females spent more time at vigilance than OMG. ‘males. Monthly, there was no significant difference in the time the OMG males and females spent in vigilance. No correlations were made for the daily basis due to the lack of complete day observations. ‘Comparison between vigilance and phenological patterns by month showed a negative correlation with flower production. No conclusions can be made, however, due to a lack of complete day observations. For similar reasons, partial correlations were not attempted. Discussion In proboscis monkeys, the adult males and females of an OMG spent almost equal amounts of time being vigilant. The presence of predators is a possible cause for this. Another explanation is that vigilance increases the likelihood of locating food (Krebs & Partridge, 22 1973; Underwood, 1982), in particular, highly preferred rare food items. Furthermore, vigilance does not require much energy, and in some ways isa form of rest, allowing the animal to relax its muscles and digest its food (Boonratana, 1993). ‘An OMG male needs to be particularly vigilant for other males. The costs in loss of gene production would be very high for him if another male mated with his females (Underwood, 1982; Bennett, 1983). Conversely, the presence of other OMG and extra-group males may benefit the females by allowing them to assess potential mates or OMGs into which they can transfer. References Boonratana, R. 1993. The ecology and behavior of the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) in the Lower Kinabatangan, Sabah. ‘Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Mahidol University, Bangkok. Bennett, EL. 1983. The banded langur: ecology of a colobine in West Malaysian rainforest. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Cambridge. Bertram, B.C.R. 1978. Living in groups: predators and prey. In: Krebs, JR. and N-B. Davis (Eds) Behavioural Ecology, Blackwell Press, London. pp.64-96. Hall, K.R.L. 1960. Social vigilance behaviour of the Chacma baboon, Papio ursinus. Behaviour 16:261-294. Hall, KR.L. 1965. Behaviour and ecology of wild alas monkey Erythrocebus paias in Uganda. J. Zool.Lond 148:15-87. Krebs, JR. and B.L. Partridge. 1973. The significance of head-tilting in the great blue heron. Nature, Lond. 242:534 Underwood, R. 1982. Vigilance behaviour in grazing African antelopcs. Behaviour 79:81-107, Author's address: P.O. Box $4, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50202, Thailand Tigerpaper Vol.27:No.4 Oct.-Dee-2000