Social and environmental drivers of capuchin movement ecology: a long-term perspective

The emerging field of movement ecology, facilitated by recent advances in biologging technology, provides a powerful framework for studying animal behavior and inferring ecological patterns. Yet, the characteristically short time-series data from biologgers limits our ability to understand how movement patterns are linked to long-term processes like climate and demographic change. Long-term field sites hold valuable longitudinal data on animal movements, including handheld-GPS locations and historical records from field notes and hand-drawn maps. These data are often archived and underused due to justifiable doubt over their utility in modern analytical frameworks. Nonetheless, they offer a remarkable opportunity to expand the temporal scope of movement ecology into the past and address pressing questions about animal movement in a rapidly changing world. In my PhD research, I explore the social and environmental factors shaping the movement ecology of white-faced capuchins (Cebus imitator), using three decades of movement data from 13 social groups at the Lomas Barbudal Monkey Project in Costa Rica. In chapter 1 and chapter 2, I introduce new methodological frameworks for validating and accurately interpreting non-collar movement data relevant to many longitudinal studies. I then demonstrate the insights these data can offer in chapter 3, revealing how longterm movement data can shed light on longstanding ecological theories and the effects of relatively rare but ecologically significant events, such as El Niño and immigration. Lastly, in chapter 4, I examine how group size, neighboring group sizes, and seasonality interact to influence the dynamics of competition, space partitioning, and daily movement patterns of capuchins. In my General Discussion, I outline future directions for long-term movement research, including new approaches to accelerating historical translations using machine learning and developing mechanistic models to enhance our understanding of the cultural inheritance of spatial information. Despite the crucial role of longitudinal studies in uncovering long-term ecological phenomena, interest and funding for such research are noticeably declining, jeopardizing the preservation of these valuable datasets. In an era dominated by cutting-edge technologies producing state-of-the-art animal movement data, unconventional data sources from longitudinal studies risk being overlooked and lost to time. To counter this, I introduce methodologies to validate and revive these data, supporting long-term animal movement projects across various systems and taxa. My thesis highlights the essential role of longitudinal movement data in revealing ecological insights that might otherwise remain hidden, advocating for a broader, long-term perspective in movement ecology.