Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
suffering severe damage to their plantations and food stocks by macaque raid-
ing (Sussman and Tattersall,
1981
).
During the 1980s and 90s the population was estimated to be around 40,000
individuals, but since then macaque numbers have decreased due to trapping
and may now be under 10,000 individuals (Sussman
et al
., Chapter 8). The
macaque population on Mauritius has been considered an ecological disaster,
and has led to identifying long-tailed macaques as one of the worlds worst
invasive species because of the ecological damage and economic loss they
are reported to be causing (Lowe
et al
.,
2000
). Several authors have claimed
macaques have played a predominant role in the decline and extinction of sev-
eral bird populations on the island (Cheke,
1987
; Safford,
1997
), including
the dodo bird (Quammen,
1996
), despite Mauritius having a plethora of other
invasive species (Lorence and Sussman,
1986
). It has also been claimed that
the macaques have helped to disperse the seeds of exotic plants, perpetuat-
ing the spread of invasive flora (Cheke,
1987
). In addition to creating eco-
logical disturbance, they economically impact Mauritius as a crop pest, and
are estimated to be responsible for the loss of up to US $3 million per year in
damage to Mauritian farmers (Mungroo and Tezoo,
1999
). Despite reports of
severe negative impact, Mauritius has significantly prospered from the finan-
cial gains of several breeding facilities selling these macaques for biomed-
ical research (Padayatchy, Chapter 9; Maurin-Blanchet,
2006
; Stanley,
2003
).
Therefore, this population is actually the base of a major financial resource to
the Mauritian economy.
Ngeaur Island, Republic of Palau
Another location that macaques have colonized through enthnophoresy is
Ngeaur Island in the Republic of Palau (Wheatley, Chapter 10). Long-tailed
macaques first appeared on Ngeaur Island during German rule in the first dec-
ade of the 1900's (Poirer and Smith,
1974
; Wheatley, Chapter 10). Although
the origin of the monkeys is unclear, the Germans may have brought over sev-
eral monkeys that were eventually released into the wild. Genetic studies have
indicated greater variability than is typical of island populations, such as Bali
and Lombok (Matsubayashi
et al
.,
1989
), indicating that the monkeys were
probably brought from Asia mainland or the Greater Sunda Islands, such as
Sumatra or Java, and that there were possibly several repeated introductions.
The population has been reported to have fluctuated between 800 and 400
individuals since its introduction, with population losses being the result of
eradication efforts by the local communities (Farslow,
1987
; Wheatley
et al
.,
1999
,
2002
). The population has also survived several catastrophic events,
