Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T22:56:40.293Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

13 - Sympatric Gibbons in Historically Logged Forest in North Sumatra, Indonesia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 April 2023

By
Emma L. Hankinson ,
Vincent Nijman ,
Amanda H. Korstjens ,
Matthew G. Nowak  and
Ross A. Hill
Edited by
Susan M. Cheyne ,
Carolyn Thompson ,
Peng-Fei Fan  and
Helen J. Chatterjee
Susan M. Cheyne
Affiliation:
Borneo Nature Foundation
Carolyn Thompson
Affiliation:
University College London
Peng-Fei Fan
Affiliation:
Sun Yat-Sen University, China
Helen J. Chatterjee
Affiliation:
University College London
Get access

Summary

The complex structural canopy of tropical forests is extremely important for the survival and continued presence of arboreal primates. The destruction and degradation of tropical rainforest on the Indonesian island of Sumatra is causing significant declines in the endemic gibbon species residing in these shrinking habitats. This chapter compares recent density estimates of the lar gibbon (Hylobates lar) and the siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) in a historically logged area of lowland forest, Sikundur, north Sumatra, to range-wide densities of both species and the ecologically similar agile gibbon (Hylobates agilis) across the island. Density estimates for Sumatran gibbon species are largely influenced by altitude and habitat preference. Siamang densities in Sikundur were similar to previously obtained range-wide densities, whereas lar gibbon densities were lower than their reported natural density range. Sikundur’s degraded forest, consisting of reduced tree heights and low tree connectivity, has potentially impeded the ability of the lar gibbon to attain higher densities. However, the presence of these small apes in this degraded lowland forest, albeit at lower densities, demonstrates that these areas can still be important habitats for gibbons, and emphasises the importance of ongoing regeneration of previously degraded forest for the future survival of these species.

Keywords

rainforestssmall apesacoustic surveyshabitat destructionsSumatragibbons
Type
Chapter
Information
Gibbon Conservation in the Anthropocene , pp. 206 - 223
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aveling, R. and Mitchell, A. (1982). Is rehabilitating orangutans worthwhile? Oryx, 16(3): 263–271.Google Scholar
Bartlett, T.Q. (2007). The Hylobatidae, small apes of Asia. In Campbell, C., Fuentes, A., MacKinnon, K.S., Panger, M. and Bearder, S. (eds.), Primates in Perspective. Oxford University Press, New York: 274–289.Google Scholar
Bartlett, T.Q. (2011). The Hylobatidae, small apes of Asia. In Campbell, C., Fuentes, A., MacKinnon, K.S., Panger, M. and Bearder, S. (eds.), Primates in Perspective, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, New York: 300–331.Google Scholar
Börger, L., Dalziel, B.D. and Fryxell, J.M. (2008). Are there general mechanisms of animal home range behaviour? A review and prospects for future research. Ecology Letters, 11(6): 637–650.Google Scholar
Brandon-Jones, D., Eudey, A.A., Geissmann, T., et al. (2004). Asian primate classification. International Journal of Primatology, 25: 97–163.Google Scholar
Caldecott, J. (1980). Habitat quality and populations of two sympatric gibbons (Hylobatidae) on a mountain in Malaya. Folia Primatologica, 33: 291–309.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chesson, P. (2000). Mechanisms of maintenance of species diversity. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 31(1): 343–366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chivers, D.J. (1974). The Siamang in Malaya: A Field Study of a Primate in Tropical Rain Forest. Contributions to Primatology, Vol. 4. Karger, Basel.Google Scholar
Chivers, D.J. (1980). Malayan Forest Primates: Ten Years’ Study in Tropical Rain Forest. Plenum Press, New York.Google Scholar
Chivers, D.J. (1984). Feeding and ranging in gibbons: a summary. In Preuschroft, H., Chivers, D., Brockelman, W. and Creel, N. (eds.), The Lesser Apes. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh: 267–281.Google Scholar
Chivers, D.J. and Raemaekers, J.J. (1986). Natural and synthetic diets of Malayan gibbons. In Else, J.G. and Lee, P.C. (eds.), Primate Ecology and Conservation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 39–56.Google Scholar
Clarke, E.A., Reichard, U.H. and Zuberbuhler, K. (2006). The syntax and meaning of wild gibbon songs. PLoS ONE, 1(1): e73.Google Scholar
Elder, A. (2009). Hylobatid diets revisited: the importance of body mass, fruit availability, and interspecific competition. In Lappan, S. and Whittaker, D.J. (eds.), The Gibbons. Springer Science and Business Media, New York: 133–160.Google Scholar
Elder, A. (2013). Competition among three primate species at Way Canguk, Sumatra, Indonesia. Unpublished PhD thesis, Stony Brook University, New York.Google Scholar
Ellefson, J.O. (1968). Territorial behaviour in the common white-handed gibbon, Hylobates lar Linn. In Jay, P.C. (ed.), Primates: Studies in Adaptation and Variability. Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York: 180–199.Google Scholar
Ellefson, J.O. (1974). A natural history of white-handed gibbons in the Malayan peninsula. In Rumbaugh, D.M. (ed.), Gibbon and Siamang. Karger, Basel: 1–136.Google Scholar
Fan, P. and Bartlett, T.Q. (2017). Overlooked small apes need more attention! American Journal of Primatology, 79(6): e22658.Google Scholar
Fei, H., Scott, M.B., Zhang, W.E.N., et al. (2012). Sleeping tree selection of Cao vit gibbon (Nomascus nasutus) living in degraded karst forest in Bangliang, Jingxi, China. American Journal of Primatology, 74(11): 998–1005.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fei, H., Thompson, C. and Fan, P. (2019). Effects of cold weather on the sleeping behavior of skywalker hoolock gibbons (Hoolock tianxing) in seasonal montane forest. American Journal of Primatology, 81(9): e23049.Google Scholar
Fischer, J.O. and Geissmann, T. (1990). Group harmony in gibbons: comparison between white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) and siamang (H. syndactylus). Primates, 31: 481–494.Google Scholar
Fleagle, J.G. (2013). Primate Adaptation and Evolution, 3rd ed. Academic Press, San Diego, CA.Google Scholar
Gittins, S.P. (1979). The behaviour and ecology of the agile gibbon (Hylobates agilis). PhD thesis, University of Cambridge.Google Scholar
Gittins, S.P. and Raemaekers, J.J. (1980). Siamang, lar, and agile gibbons. In Chivers, D.J. (ed.), Malayan Forest Primates: Ten Years’ Study in Tropical Rain Forest. Plenum Press, New York: 63–105.Google Scholar
Grueter, C.C., Jiang, X., Konrad, R., et al. (2009). Are Hylobates lar extirpated from China? International Journal of Primatology, 30(4): 553–567.Google Scholar
Hamard, M.C.L., Cheyne, S.M. and Nijman, V. (2010). Vegetation correlates of gibbon density in the peat-swamp forest of the Sabangau catchment, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. American Journal of Primatology, 72: 607–616.Google Scholar
Hankinson, E.L., Hill, R.A., Marsh, C.D., et al. (2021). Influences of forest structure on the density and habitat preference of two sympatric gibbons (Symphalangus syndactylus and Hylobates lar). International Journal of Primatology, 42: 237–261.Google Scholar
Harrison, N.J., Hill, R.A., Alexander, C., et al. (2020). Sleeping trees and sleep-related behaviours of the siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) living in a lowland tropical rainforest, Sumatra, Indonesia. Primates, 61(1): 63–75.Google Scholar
Harrison, R.D., Sreekar, R., Brodie, J.F., et al. (2016). Impacts of hunting on tropical forests in Southeast Asia. Conservation Biology, 30(5): 972–981.Google Scholar
Hitchcock, P. and Meyers, K. (2006). Report on the IUCN-UNESCO World Heritage monitoring mission to the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, Indonesia. UNESCO, Jakarta.Google Scholar
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).(2016). Red list category summary for all animal classes and orders. In The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at www.iucnredlist.orgGoogle Scholar
Keller, C. (2019). Acoustic location systems (ALS) as a tool for group density, territory and behavioural analysis of wild white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) in a Sumatran lowland rainforest. Unpublished PhD thesis, Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Kwatrina, R.T., Kuswanda, W. and Setyawati, T. (2013). Sebaran dan kepadatan populasi siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus Raffles) di Cagar Alam Dolok Sipirok dan sekitarnya, Sumatera Utara. Jurnal Penelitian Hutan dan Konservasi Alam, 10(1): 81–91.Google Scholar
Lappan, S., Sibarani, M., Rustiati, E.L. and Andayani, N. (2017). Abrupt decline in a protected population of siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus) in southern Sumatra. Folia Primatologica, 88(3): 255–266.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Laumonier, Y. (1997). The Vegetation and Physiography of Sumatra. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Laumonier, Y., Uryu, Y., Stuwe, M., et al. (2010). Eco-floristic sectors and deforestation threats in Sumatra: identifying new conservation area network priorities for ecosystem-based land use planning. Biodiversity and Conservation, 19: 1153–1174.Google Scholar
Lee, D.C., Powell, V.J. and Lindsell, J.A. (2015). The conservation value of degraded forests for agile gibbons Hylobates agilis. American Journal of Primatology, 77: 76–85.Google Scholar
MacKinnon, J. (1973). Orangutans in Sumatra. Oryx, 12(2): 234–242.Google Scholar
MacKinnon, J. (1977). A comparative ecology of Asian apes. Primates, 18: 747–772.Google Scholar
MacKinnon, J. and MacKinnon, K.S. (1978). Comparative feeding ecology of six sympatric primates in West Malaysia. In Chivers, D.J. and Herbert, J. (eds), Recent Advances in Primatology, Vol. 1. Behaviour. Academic Press, London: 305–321.Google Scholar
MacKinnon, J. and MacKinnon, K.S. (1980). Niche differentiation in a primate community. In Chivers, D.J. (ed.), Malayan Forest Primates. Springer, Boston, MA: 167–190.Google Scholar
Margono, B., Turubanova, S., Zhuravleva, I., et al. (2012). Mapping and monitoring deforestation and forest degradation in Sumatra from 1990–2010. Environmental Research Letters, 7(3): 034010.Google Scholar
Margono, B., Potapov, P., Turubanova, S., Stolle, F. and Hansen, M.C. (2014). Primary forest cover loss in Indonesia over 2000–2012. Nature Climate Change, 4: 730–735.Google Scholar
Marsh, C.W. and Wilson, W.L. (1981). A survey of primates in peninsular Malaysian forest: final report for the Malaysian primate’s research programme. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Cambridge University.Google Scholar
Marshall, A.J. (2009). Competition and niche overlap between gibbons (Hylobates albibarbis) and other frugivorous vertebrates in Gunung Palung National Park, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. In Whittaker, D. and Lappan, S. (eds.), The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology. Springer, New York: 161–188.Google Scholar
Marshall, A.J. and Leighton, M. (2006). How does food availability limit the population density of white-bearded gibbons? In Hohmann, G., Robbins, M. and Boesch, C. (eds.), Feeding Ecology of the Apes and other Primates. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 311–333.Google Scholar
Nijman, V. (2010). An overview of international wildlife trade from Southeast Asia. Biodiversity and Conservation, 19(4): 1101–1114.Google Scholar
Nongkaew, S. (2010). Habitat selection between siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus Raffles 1821) and agile gibbon (Hylobates agilis Cuvier, 1821) in Bala Forest, Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, Narathiwat, Southern Thailand. Unpublished MSc thesis, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand.Google Scholar
Nongkaew, S., Bumrungsri, S., Brockelman, W. Y., et al. (2018). Population density and habitat of siamang and agile gibbon in Bala forest, southern Thailand. Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society, 62(2): 117–130.Google Scholar
O’Brien, T.G. and Kinnaird, M.F. (2011). Demography of agile gibbons (Hylobates agilis) in a lowland tropical rain forest of southern Sumatra, Indonesia: problems in paradise. International Journal of Primatology, 32(5): 1203.Google Scholar
O’Brien, T.G., Kinnaird, M.F., Nurcahyo, A., Prasetyaningrum, M. and Iqbal, M. (2003). Fire, demography and the persistence of siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus: Hylobatidae) in a Sumatran rainforest. Animal Conservation, 6: 115–121.Google Scholar
O’Brien, T.G., Kinnaird, M.F., Nurcahyo, A., Iqbal, M. and Rusmanto, M. (2004). Abundance and distribution of sympatric gibbons in a threatened Sumatran rain forest. International Journal of Primatology, 25: 267–284.Google Scholar
Palombit, R.A. (1992). Pair bonds and monogamy in wild siamang (Hylobates syndactylus) and white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) in northern Sumatra. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of California Davis.Google Scholar
Palombit, R.A. (1997). Inter- and intraspecific variation in the diets of sympatric siamang (Hylobates syndactylus) and lar gibbons (Hylobates lar). Folia Primatologica, 68: 321–337.Google Scholar
Priatna, D., Kartawinata, K. and Abdulhadi, R. (2004). Recovery of a lowland dipterocarp forest twenty two years after selective logging at Sekundur, Gunung Leuser National Park, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Reinwardtia, 12: 237–255.Google Scholar
Quinten, M., Stirling, F., Schwarze, S., Dinata, Y. and Hodges, K. (2014). Knowledge, attitudes and practices of local people on Siberut Island (West-Sumatra, Indonesia) towards primate hunting and conservation. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 6(11): 6389–6398.Google Scholar
Raemaekers, J.J. (1979). Ecology of sympatric gibbons. Folia Primatologica, 31: 227–245.Google Scholar
Raemaekers, J.J., Aldrich-Blake, F.P.G. and Payne, R.B. (1980). The forest. In Chivers, D.J. (ed.), Malayan Forest Primates: Ten Years’ Study in Tropical Rain Forest. Plenum Press, New York: 29–62.Google Scholar
Reichard, U.H. (1998). Sleeping sites, sleeping places, and pre-sleep behaviour of gibbons (Hylobates lar). American Journal of Primatology, 46(1): 35–62.Google Scholar
Reichard, U.H. and Barelli, C. (2008). Life history and reproductive strategies of Khao Yai Hylobates lar: implications for social evolution in apes. International Journal of Primatology, 29: 823–844.Google Scholar
Reichard, U.H. and Preuschoft, H. (2016). Why is the siamang larger than other Hylobatids? In Reichard, U.H., Hirai, H. and Barelli, C. (eds.), Evolution of Gibbons and Siamang. Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects. Springer, New York: 169–183.Google Scholar
Roth, T.S., Rianti, P., Fredriksson, G.M., Wich, S.A. and Nowak, M.G. (2020). Grouping behavior of Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) and Tapanuli orangutans (Pongo tapanuliensis) living in forest with low fruit abundance. American Journal of Primatology, 82(5): e23123.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Savini, T., Boesch, C. and Reichard, U.H. (2008). Home‐range characteristics and the influence of seasonality on female reproduction in white‐handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) at Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 135(1): 1–12.Google Scholar
SOCP (Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme). (2015). Sikundur Monitoring Post Annual Report for 2015. Available at www.issuu.com/stiftungpaneco1/docs/sikundur_annual_report_2015Google Scholar
Southwick, C.H. and Cadigan, F.C. (1972). Population studies of Malaysian primate densities. Primates, 13: 1–18.Google Scholar
Terleph, T.A., Malaivijitnond, S. and Reichard, U.H. (2015). Lar gibbon (Hylobates lar) great call reveals individual caller identity. American Journal of Primatology, 77: 811–821.Google Scholar
Tomich, T.P., Noordwijk, M.V., Budidarsono, S., et al. (2001). Agricultural intensification, deforestation, and the environment: assessing trade-offs in Sumatra, Indonesia. In Lee, D.R. and Barrett, C.B. (eds.), Tradeoffs or Synergies: Agricultural Intensification, Economic Development and the Environment. CAB International, Wallingford, UK: 221–244.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turubanova, S., Potapov, P.V., Tyukavina, A. and Hansen, M.C. (2018). Ongoing primary forest loss in Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia. Environmental Research Letters, 13(7): 074028.Google Scholar
Ungar, P.S. (1995). Fruit preferences of four sympatric primate species at Ketambe, Northern Sumatra, Indonesia. International Journal of Primatology, 16(2): 221–245.Google Scholar
van Schaik, C.P., Monk, K.A. and Robertson, J.M.Y. (2001). Dramatic decline in orang-utan numbers in the Leuser Ecosystem, Northern Sumatra. Oryx, 35: 14–25.Google Scholar
West, K.L. (1981). The behaviour and ecology of the siamang (Hylobates syndactylus) in Sumatra. MSc dissertation, University of California Davis.Google Scholar
Westaway, K.E., Morwood, M.J., Roberts, R.G., et al. (2007). Age and biostratigraphic significance of the Punung Rainforest Fauna, East Java, Indonesia, and implications for Pongo and Homo. Journal of Human Evolution, 53(6): 709–717.Google Scholar
Whitten, T., Damanik, S.J., Anwar, J. and Hisyam, N. (2000). The Ecology of Sumatra, Vol. I. Periplus, Singapore.Google Scholar
Wich, S.A., Vogel, E.R., Larsen, M.D., et al. (2011). Forest fruit production is higher on Sumatra than on Borneo. PLoS ONE, 6(6): e21278.Google Scholar
Wood, H., van Beek, L., Parker, E. and Mercer, E. (1996). Cambridge-Gunung Tujuh Expedition 1996. University of Cambridge, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Yanuar, A. (2001). The population distribution and abundance of primates in Kerinci-Seblat National 942 Park, Sumatra. Unpublished MSc thesis, University of Cambridge.Google Scholar
Yanuar, A. (2009). The population distribution and abundance of siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus) and agile gibbons (Hylobates agilis) in west central Sumatra, Indonesia. In Lappan, S. and Whittaker, D.J. (eds.), The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology. Springer, New York: 453–465.Google Scholar
Yanuar, A. and Chivers, D.J. (2010). Impact of forest fragmentation on ranging and home range of siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) and agile gibbon (Hylobates agilis). In Supriatna, J. and Gursky, S.L. (eds.), Indonesian Primates. Springer, New York: 121–156.Google Scholar
Yanuar, A. and Sugardjito, J. (1993). Population survey of primates in Way Kambas National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia. Tiger Paper, 20(3): 30–36.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×