Dissertation Research: A Comparative Study of Two Species of Macaque in Central Sulawesi

这是一项为期15个月的比较研究，研究对象是印度尼西亚中苏拉威西岛狭窄地峡中的东溪猕猴和赫基猕猴。地峡平均只有35公里宽，这两个物种的活动范围在这个狭窄的区域接触。这两个物种在形态上非常相似，以前曾被归类为同一物种。尽管没有地理或气候障碍，这两个物种之间的差异仍然存在。这表明，这两个物种的生态和行为特征可能是使这两个物种在一个附属区保持不同的机制。这项调查的重点将是确定和检查这些机制。了解托尼卡纳和赫基之间生态和行为分离的存在或不存在，将增加我们对这两种形式作为不同实体在共生或可能的共生领域中保持的方式的理解。这项研究可能有助于建立新的模型来理解和解释猕猴属和其他密切相关的灵长类动物的维持，并最终创造多样性。这项拟议的研究与试图了解灵长类和其他哺乳动物多样化的一般机制有关。

This is a fifteen month comparative study of the ecology and behavior of Macaca tonkeana and Macaca hecki in the narrow isthmus of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The isthmus averages only 35 km in width, and the ranges of these two species come into contact in this narrow area. The two species are morphologically very similar, previously having been classified as the same species. Differences between these two species have persisted despite the lack of geographical or climatic barriers to contact. This suggests that features of the ecology and behavior of the two species may serve as mechanisms to keep the two species distinct in an area of parapatry. The focus of this investigation will be to identify and examine these mechanisms. Knowledge of the presence or absence of ecological and behavioral separation between M. tonkeana and M. hecki will increase our understanding of the manner in which these two forms are maintained as distinct entities in an area of parapatry or possible sympatry. This study may contribute to new models for understanding and interpreting the maintenance, and ultimately, the creation of diversity in the genus Macaca and other closely related primates. The proposed research is relevant to attempts to understand general mechanisms of diversification in primates and other mammals.