Abstract
The workshop “Polyspecific Associations of Rain Forest Primates” was held at the Max-Plank Institute in Seewiesen, Germany from 15 to 22 January 1995. This workshop focused on the Taï Monkey Project, a research project on polyspecific associations of monkeys in the TAÏ NATIONAL PARK, IVORY CAST. A brief summary of the workshop and a short introduction of the Taï Monkey Project are provided.
Since Dr. Ronald Noë started this project in 1991, detailed studies on polyspecific associations of seven sympatric monkey species, especially between red colobus monkeys and diana monkeys in terms of predator avoidance by red colobus monkeys, have been carried out. Two hypotheses were tested. The first hypothesis states that, at least one of the two species can reduce the risk of predation by making polyspecific associations. The second states that, at least one of the two species can obtain food more efficiently when they are in such associations.
A summary of the results is as follows. For red colobus monkeys, polyspecific associations with diana monkeys functions as a strategy to avoid predation, notably by chimpanzees. There is a considerable predation pressure by chimpanzees on red colobus monkeys in the Taï Forest. The diana monkeys probably benefit from improved protection against other predators, especially crowned eagles and leopards. On the other hand, there is no evidence that either red colobus monkeys or diana monkeys obtain any advantage in foraging by making such associations.
Further effort is necessary to completely answer the question why monkeys form polyspecific associations.
