Use and selection of sleeping sites by proboscis monkeys, Nasalislarvatus, along the Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Malaysia

The choice of a sleeping site is crucial for primates and may influence their survival. In this study, we investigated several tree characteristics influencing the sleeping site selection by proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) along Kinabatangan River, in Sabah, Malaysia. We identified 81 sleeping trees used by one-male and all-male social groups from November 2011 to January 2012. We recorded 15 variables for each tree. Within sleeping sites, sleeping trees were taller, had a larger trunk, with larger and higher first branches than surrounding trees. The crown contained more mature leaves, ripe and unripe fruits but had vines less often than surrounding trees. In addition, in this study, we also focused on a larger scale, considering sleeping and non-sleeping sites. Multivariate analyses highlighted a combination of 6 variables that revealed the significance of sleeping trees as well as surrounding trees in the selection process. During our boat surveys, we observed that adult females and young individuals stayed higher in the canopy than adult males. This pattern may be driven by their increased vulnerability to predation. Finally, we suggest that the selection of particular sleeping tree features (i.e. tall, high first branch) by proboscis monkeys is mostly influenced by antipredation strategies

Faecal particle size in free-ranging proboscis monkeys, Nasalis larvatus: variation between seasons

Reducing the size of food particles is crucial for herbivores. Seasonal dietary changes are known to influence animals’ chewing efficiency. Proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) are foregut fermenters, with a high chewing efficiency allowing them to achieve very fine faecal particles. In this study, we investigated how proboscis monkeys’ chewing efficiency varies between wet and dry seasons, hypothesising differences possibly related to diet change. Faecal particle size analysis is an established approach to estimate chewing efficiency in mammalian herbivores. We analysed 113 proboscis monkey faecal samples collected in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, between 2015 and 2017. By following standard sieve analysis protocols, we measured a mean particle size MPS0.025–8 of 0.45 ± 0.14 mm, and confirmed a previous result that proboscis monkeys have a very low faecal MPS. This study highlights a seasonal influence on proboscis monkeys’ chewing efficiency, with smaller MPS (better chewing efficiency) during the wet season. During that time of the year, individuals may potentially change their diet, as all faecal samples contained intact seeds. Whether the seasonal MPS difference in proboscis monkeys is smaller than in other colobines due to their “rumination” strategy remains to be investigated

Seed dispersal by proboscis monkeys: the case of Nauclea spp.

Frugivorous vertebrates such as primates are important dispersal agents in tropical forests, although the role of folivorous colobines is generally not considered. However, recent studies reported seed dispersal by endo- and epizoochory in colobine primates, including the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), suggesting that the role colobines play in seed dispersal might have been underestimated. In the Lower Kinabatangan Floodplain in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, we investigated whether seeds were still able to germinate after being ingested by proboscis monkeys. Faecal samples (n = 201) from proboscis monkeys were collected between 2015 and 2017. Intact seeds belonging to eight plant species were found in 77% of the faecal samples. Nauclea spp. were the most abundant plant species, accounting for 98% of all intact seeds. This study is the first to conduct germination trials on seeds defecated by proboscis monkeys. Higher germination success was recorded in ingested Nauclea spp. seeds than in control seeds, from both ripe and unripe Nauclea orientalis fruits (P < 0.001). Therefore, we suggest that proboscis monkeys play a role in seed dispersal by enhancing the germination success of defecated seeds for at least some plant species. Similar to other colobines, although proboscis monkeys may provide a lower contribution to seed dispersal (low seed diversity over short distances) than other sympatric frugivores, this study emphasises that proboscis monkeys do contribute to the dispersal of intact seeds, such as Nauclea spp., in potentially suitable riverine habitats

Proboscis monkey, Nasalis larvatus: feeding ecology and seed dispersal in a fragmented forest landscape

La biodiversité mondiale est fortement menacée, essentiellement dans les zones tropicales et, en particulier, en Asie du sud-est. Les pressions qui pèsent sur les écosystèmes sont toutes d’origine anthropique, les principales étant la perte, la fragmentation et la dégradation des habitats naturels. De fait, depuis les années 70, l’île de Bornéo fait face à des diminutions considérables de son couvert forestier, engendrées par des déboisements sélectifs à grande échelle des forêts de basse altitude, riveraines et côtières, par les feux intentionnels et par les conversions des forêts en terres agro-industrielles, essentiellement les plantations de palmiers à huile. Ces dernières constituent actuellement de véritables barrières aux déplacements de nombreuses espèces animales, notamment les primates.Endémique de l’île de Bornéo, le nasique, Nasalis larvatus, est aujourd’hui une espèce en danger d’extinction. Dans la région Kinabatangan (notre site d’étude, État de Sabah), les plantations de palmiers à huile représentent la principale menace pour ses populations. Pour assurer la conservation de cette espèce dans ce paysage très fragmenté, de nouvelles zones doivent être identifiées, protégées et réhabilitées. C’est dans ce contexte que s’intègre notre projet de recherche dont les principaux objectifs sont de déterminer les espèces végétales-clés dans l’alimentation de N. larvatus, ainsi que d’évaluer le rôle que joue le nasique dans la dispersion des graines.Notre étude fournit les premières données alimentaires pour plusieurs groupes de N. larvatus, le long du fleuve Kinabatangan [Lots 5, 6 et 7 du Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary (LKWS)], illustrant un régime alimentaire diversifié (89 taxons végétaux), davantage frugivore lors de la saison des pluies (Chap. 3). L’analyse des particules fécales de N. larvatus indique une variation saisonnière de l’efficacité de mastication, indiquant un changement alimentaire entre la saison sèche et la saison des pluies (Chap. 4). De plus, notre étude montre que la composition nutritionnelle et minérale des végétaux consommés par les nasiques varie selon l’espèce consommée, le type d’aliment (jeune feuille ou fruit immature) ingéré et la distance aux cours d’eau (Chap. 5). Nous observons également que les graines de huit espèces de plantes sont déféquées intactes par ces primates et que, parmi elles, les graines de Nauclea spp. germent davantage que celles issues des fruits de Nauclea orientalis (Chap. 6). Finalement, nous mettons en évidence que 45 espèces de mammifères et d’oiseaux dépendent de l’espèce d’arbre N. orientalis pour se reposer et se nourrir, le long des rives du fleuve Kinabatangan (Chap. 7). Par le biais de méthodes variées (ex :observations directes, camera traps, DNA metabarcoding, analyses fécales et nutritionnelles, et tests de germination), notre projet de recherche a contribué à améliorer les connaissances sur l’écologie alimentaire du nasique et a mis en évidence le rôle insoupçonné que joue cette espèce de colobiné dans la dispersion des graines. De plus, elle a souligné l’importance de préserver les zones riveraines, tant pour N. larvatus que pour les autres espèces animales. Ces données écologiques sont utiles tant pour les projets de restauration des habitats dégradés que pour les programmes d’éducation et de sensibilisation à la conservation de la nature à Sabah. Notre étude souligne l’urgence de mieux protéger, de réhabiliter et d’assurer la connectivité des forêts riveraines du fleuve Kinabatangan, afin d’assurer la conservation à long terme de N. larvatus et des autres espèces animales de la région. Nous recommandons la plantation de certaines espèces végétales-clés, telles que Ficus racemosa, Nauclea orientalis et Octomeles sumatrana lors des programmes de restauration des habitats dégradés et d’établissement de corridors forestiers.Doctorat en Sciencesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

IPV PRO&POL : Violences entre partenaires : impact, processus, évolution et politiques publiques

Context and objectives Violence between partners (IPV) has become a major societal challenge. Since 2001 in Belgium, a public policy has been concerted between the Federal State, the Communities and the Regions, involving multiple sectors and actors: police, justice, health, aid and assistance or education. The objective of the IPV-PRO&POL project was to study the issue of IPVs as much from the perspective of the impact of the phenomenon and the complexity of the processes involved as from the perspective of the public policy practices developed, and more particularly the effectiveness of multi-level governance and transversal practices. The research took place during a period marked by the #MeToo movement (2017), the evaluation of the Istanbul Convention implementation and political debates within the Senate, as well as the pandemic crisis during the last phase of the research.Brussels : Belgian Science Policy Office 2022IPV-PRO&POL : Intimate Partner Violence: impact, processes, evolution and related public policies in Belgiu

IPV-PRO&POL Intimate Partner Violence: impact, processes, evolution and related public policies in Belgium Charlotte

Violence between partners (IPV) has become a major societal challenge. Since 2001 in Belgium, a public policy has been concerted between the Federal State, the Communities and the Regions, involving multiple sectors and actors: police, justice, health, aid and assistance or education. The objective of the IPV-PRO&POL project was to study the issue of IPVs as much from the perspective of the impact of the phenomenon and the complexity of the processes involved as from the perspective of the public policy practices developed, and more particularly the effectiveness of multi-level governance and transversal practices. The research took place during a period marked by the #MeToo movement (2017), the evaluation of the Istanbul Convention implementation and political debates within the Senate, as well as the pandemic crisis during the last phase of the research