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Animal-plant interactions are often mediated by chemical compounds. It has been widely reported that herbivore damage to plants induces chemical defenses which may then affect subsequent interactions with both invertebrate and vertebrate herbivores. Our study investigated the effects of the interaction between larvae of an unidentified nymphalid butterfly and the tanimbuca tree (Buchenavia ochroprumna Eichl.; Combretaceae) on subsequent folivory by a primate, the golden-backed uacari (Cacajao ouakary (Spix, 1823); Pitheciidae). Primate-feeding observations, records of the extent of nymphalid--B. ochroprumna interactions, and tree distribution occurred in Jau National Park, Amazonas State, Brazil. The values of Ivlev's electivity index showed that C. ouakary strongly rejected trees infested by caterpillars (-0.68), whereas non-infested trees were highly selected by them (+0.84). Given this behavior, we suggest that C. ouakary may be deterred by (i) caterpillars, (ii) change in leaf chemical composition induced by caterpillars, or (iii) a combination of both. Key words: avoidance, Buchenavia ochroprumna, Cacajao ouakary, igapo, induction, lepidopteran herbivory, secondary compounds. Resume: Les interactions animaux--plantes sont souvent mediees par des composes chimiques. De nombreux rapports font etat du fait que les dommages causes aux plantes par les herbivores induisent des mecanismes de defense chimiques qui pourraient avoir une incidence sur les interactions subsequentes avec des herbivores tant invertebres que vertebres. L'etude s'est penchee sur les effets de l'interaction entre des larves d'un papillon nymphalide non identifie et l'arbre tanimbuca (Buchenavia ochroprumna Eichl.; Combretacees) sur la folivorie subsequente d'un primate, Cacajao ouakary (Spix, 1823) (Pitheciides). Des observations de l'alimentation du primate et sur l'ampleur des interactions entre le nymphalide et B. ochroprumna et la repartition de l'arbre ont ete effectuees dans le parc national Jau (Etat de l'Amazonas, Bresil). Les valeurs de l'indice d'electivite d'Ivlev montrent que C. ouakary rejettent fortement les arbres infestes de chenilles (-0,68), alors qu'ils montrent une forte preference pour les arbres non infestes (+0,84). Au vu de ce comportement, nous proposons que (i) les chenilles, (ii) une modification de la composition chimique des feuilles induite par les chenilles ou (iii) une combinaison de ces deux phenomenes pourrait avoir un effet repulsif sur C. ouakary. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : evitement, Buchenavia ochroprumna, Cacajao ouakary, igapo, induction, herbivorie des lepidopteres, composes secondaires., Introduction Food-item choices of primates are based on a variety of factors including abundance of preferred and fallback foods according to seasonal availability (Hanya and Bernard 2012; Matsuda et al. [...]

Sounds produced by human activities are often loud and may mask acoustic signals used by other species for communication. To circumvent this, some animals use various strategies, including shifting modality completely or complementing acoustic information by using additional modalities to communicate. Here we used pied tamarins (Saguinus bicolor) as models to explore whether shifts in communication modalities occur under increased anthropogenic noise or deploy them complementarily. We predicted that in circumstances where noise could impede acoustic communication the study animals would exhibit more scent-marking behaviour (i.e. olfactory communication) while reducing the emission of long calls (i.e. acoustic communication). We collected information on vocal and scent-marking behaviour in nine groups of wild pied tamarins in urban forests in Manaus, Amazonian Brazil. We found that scent marking occurrence increased with noise amplitude, though long call numbers did not change. Thus, our results do not suggest a complete shift between channels but complementation of information, where scent marking may compensate for the impacts of anthropogenic noise on the acoustic channel. This is an interesting result from a conservation perspective as pied tamarins may be capable of coping with city noise to communicate with conspecifics, a key tenet of species survival. Some species shift communication channels in response to anthropogenic noise. Pied tamarins do not reduce the number of long calls in response to anthropogenic noise, but the occurrence of scent markings increases with noise levels. Pied tamarins do not shift between channels, but scent marking may be used to complement information between channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit availability experienced by different primate species is likely to vary due to species‐specific fruit use, even within the same habitat and timeframe. Pitheciines, primates of the subfamily Pitheciinae, particularly favor the seeds of unripe fruits. Researchers consider this dietary characteristic an adaptation to increase access to fruit resources. However, the relative advantages of pitheciines over sympatric non‐pitheciine non‐seed‐eating primates regarding species‐specific fruit availability is not well studied. In a 26‐ha forest within the city of Manaus, Amazonian Brazil, we assessed the wild‐food feeding behavior of free‐ranging groups of golden‐faced sakis (Pithecia chrysocephala) and sympatric common squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus). We hypothesized that sakis would have greater and more consistent access to wild fruit due to (1) a wider variety of fruit species in their diet, and (2) longer consumption periods per fruit species. We recorded the plant species, part (pulp or seed), and developmental stage (ripe or unripe) of wild fruit consumed by both species. We also conducted monthly fruit censuses of 1000 trees and vines to estimate overall wild fruit abundance. As an indicator of fruit availability, we calculated the proportion of available fruiting trees and vines for each primate species separately based on their observed diet. Throughout the year, the proportion of available trees and vines was significantly higher and more temporally stable for sakis than for squirrel monkeys. This was because sakis used shared fruit species longer than squirrel monkeys by consuming both ripe and unripe fruit. Although sakis had a broader fruit repertoire than squirrel monkeys, it did not contribute to the higher fruit availability. Thus, the fruit feeding system of sakis identifies aspects of a niche that is less restricted in the timing of fruit consumption, which led to a relative advantage in fruit availability. Research Highlights: We examined the advantages of saki feeding system in fruit availability by direct comparison with sympatric squirrel monkeys.Sakis consumed fruits earlier and for longer periods than squirrel monkeys.The proportion of available fruiting trees/vines was considerably higher and more temporally stable for sakis than for squirrel monkeys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand hygiene is the primary measure in hospitals to reduce the spread of infections, with nurses experiencing the greatest frequency of patient contact. The "5 critical moments" of hand hygiene initiative has been implemented in hospitals across Australia, accompanied by awareness-raising, staff training and auditing. The aim of this study was to understand the determinants of nurses' hand hygiene decisions, using an extension of a common health decision-making model, the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), to inform future health education strategies to increase compliance. Nurses from 50 Australian hospitals (n = 2378) completed standard TPB measures (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control [PBC], intention) and the extended variables of group norm, risk perceptions (susceptibility, severity) and knowledge (subjective, objective) at Time 1, while a sub-sample (n = 797) reported their hand hygiene behaviour 2 weeks later. Regression analyses identified subjective norm, PBC, group norm, subjective knowledge and risk susceptibility as the significant predictors of nurses' hand hygiene intentions, with intention and PBC predicting their compliance behaviour. Rather than targeting attitudes which are already very favourable among nurses, health education strategies should focus on normative influences and perceptions of control and risk in efforts to encourage hand hygiene adherence.