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，研究了印度尼西亚苏拉威西岛中部狭窄地峡的东猕猴和黑猕猴的生态和行为。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，以前曾被归为同一物种。尽管缺乏地理或气候障碍，这两个物种之间的差异仍然存在。这表明，两个物种的生态和行为特征可能是保持两个物种在同一区域内不同的机制。这项调查的重点将是确定和审查这些机制。了解M. tonkeana和M. hecki之间是否存在生态和行为上的分离，将增加我们对这两种形式在一个平行或可能的共生区域中作为不同实体维持的方式的理解。该研究为理解和解释猕猴属和其他近亲灵长类动物多样性的维持和最终创造提供了新的模型。这项拟议的研究与试图了解灵长类动物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.