Energetics at the urban edge: Environmental and individual predictors of urinary C-peptide levels in wild chacma baboons (Papio ursinus).

摘要: Abstract As human-modified landscapes encroach into natural habitats, wildlife face a reduction in food sources but also gain access to calorie-rich, human-derived foods. However, research the energetics of living within and adjacent urban rural is lacking. C-peptide - proxy for insulin production diagnostic tool assessing pancreatic function humans domestic animals can be quantified non-invasively from urine (uCP) may provide way investigate energetic correlates human-altered landscapes. UCP increasingly used studies primate energetics, here we examine predictors variation uCP levels n = 17 wild chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) at edge on Cape Peninsula, South Africa. We find that was positively associated with provisioning negatively night fasting. were comparable between winter summer significantly lower during spring, possibly driven by consumption energy-rich seeds more foods winter. elevated pregnant females similar lactating cycling females. no effect dominance rank uCP. Samples collected synthetic Salivettes had than directly pipetted samples. Overall, our results indicate reliable, non-invasive measure energy balance intake baboons, suggest potential benefits edge. More broadly, offer unique insight environmental control hormone-behaviour relationships species crossing environments.