Long-term effect of a simple nest-box on the reproductive efficiency and other life traits of an Aotus lemurinus lemurinus monkey colony: an animal model for malaria research

BACKGROUND: The long-term effect of a PVC pipe nest-box on the reproductive efficiency and other life traits of an Aotus monkey-breeding colony have not been characterized. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed laboratory records of the Gorgas Memorial Institute (GMI) Aotus monkey colony in Panama for the period 1999-2010 and found a 273% increase in the annual mean life births in the following 7 years after the introduction of a PVC pipe nest-box in 2002, as well as increases in the mean body mass and survival of laboratory-bred monkeys. Other life traits such as inter-birth interval, parity, birth sex distribution, mortality, and longevity were also determined. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a PVC pipe nest-box significantly improved the reproductive efficiency and other life traits of the GMI Aotus breeding colony.