Dissertation Research: Behavior and Ecology of the Aye-Aye (Daubentonia Madagascariesis)

论文研究：指猴的行为和生态学（Daubenonia Madagascariesis）

• 批准号: 8913021
• 负责人: Alison Richard
• 金额: $ 1万
• 依托单位: Yale University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1989
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1989-08-01 至 1991-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=8913021&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Behavior; Ecology; Aye

A doctoral student will conduct an eighteen-month study on the feeding ecology and behavior of the aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis), a nocturnal primate endemic to the island of Madagascar. No long term field studies have previously been conducted on this animal. The aye-aye has a considerable number of unique morphological characteristics, including a filiform middle finger on the hand, continuously growing incisor teeth, inguinal mammary glands, the largest brain size relative to body size of any prosimian primate, and it is the only Malagasy primate that is sexually dimorphic in body size. Its nocturnal and insectivorous habits set it apart from other primates of similar body weight. Like humans, the aye-aye has a significantly larger brain for its body size than closely related species. Since a large brain size may allow for more complex sensorimotor processes, permitting the exploitation of stationery or hidden foods not available to other species, Daubentonia and humans may each differ from closely related primates in their greater capacity to exploit difficult-to-access resources. Studies on the aye-aye's relationship to its environment may contribute to our search for general principles pertinent to the development of human social behavior. Since the aye-aye is one of the most endangered species of primates in the world, study of its behavior and ecology are of extreme importance in developing conservation management plans for this unique species.

一名博士生将进行为期18个月的研究， 指狐猴的摄食生态和行为 马达加斯加岛特有的夜行性灵长类动物 Madagascar. 以前没有长期的实地研究， 在这只动物身上。 指狐猴有相当数量的 具有独特的形态特征，包括丝状的 中指在手上，不断生长的门牙， 腹股沟乳腺，相对于身体最大的大脑尺寸 它是马达加斯加唯一一种 身体大小性别二型的灵长类动物。 其夜间 食虫习性使它有别于其他灵长类动物， 相似的体重。 和人类一样，指狐猴的大脑要大得多 其体型比近亲物种大。 由于大 大脑的大小可以允许更复杂的感觉运动过程， 允许利用文具或隐藏的食物， 对于其他物种来说，Daughonia和人类可能各自 与近亲灵长类动物的不同之处在于， 开发难以获取的资源。 指狐猴的研究 与环境的关系可能有助于我们寻找 有关人类社会发展的一般原则 行为 因为指猴是最濒危的动物之一 世界上最大的灵长类动物，研究其行为， 生态学在发展自然保护方面具有极端重要性 为这个独特的物种制定管理计划。