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Abstract ObjectivesTo investigate whether the Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico (Latitude: 18.1564°N; temperature range 19°C to 32°C) rhesus macaque population has acclimated to their tropical island conditions since arriving from Lucknow, India (Latitude: 26.8470°N; temperature range 8°C to 41°C) in 1938. Materials and MethodsUsing the derived skeletal collection, measurements were taken of long bone lengths, diaphyseal circumference, and body weight using 635 (237 males and 398 females) skeletally mature individuals. Measurements sampled colony members born over a 51‐year time span at Cayo Santiago, from 1951 to 2002. ResultsResults demonstrated that body weights and diaphyseal circumferences significantly declined in both males and females. Long bone lengths relative to body weight and diaphyseal circumference also increased in females. Whereas body weight, long bone length and diaphyseal circumference declined at near parallel rates in males. DiscussionThe population has acclimated to homogenous, tropical, conditions of the Caribbean island since their arrival over 80 years ago. Trends in both sexes aligned with Bergmann's rule, though females displayed a greater decline in body weight, as well as greater affinity with Allen's rule, than did males. Buffering effects related to male competition may be responsible for this discrepancy. Overall, the Cayo Santiago populations, as shown over a significant period (1951–2002) of their history, have acclimated to their island conditions by decreasing in size and altering body proportions.
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This content will become publicly available on July 4, 2025
Coming to the Caribbean: Eighty‐five years of rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta ) at Cayo Santiago—A rare nonhuman primate model for the studies of adaptation, diseases, genetics, natural disasters, and resilience
Abstract The Cayo Santiago rhesus macaque colony represents one of the most important nonhuman primate resources since their introduction to the Caribbean area in 1938. The 85 years of continuing existence along with the comprehensive database of the rhesus colony and the derived skeletal collections have provided and will continue to provide a powerful tool to test hypotheses about adaptive and evolutionary mechanisms in both biology and medicine.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1926601
- PAR ID:
- 10536814
- Editor(s):
- Bales, Karen
- Publisher / Repository:
- John Wiley & Sons
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- American Journal of Primatology
- ISSN:
- 0275-2565
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- acclimation diseases hurricane knowledge model Puerto Rico
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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