Dissertation Research: Mechanism Governing Intraspecific Feeding Selectivity in Mantled Howler Monkeys Alouatta Palliata

论文研究：鬃毛吼猴 Alouatta Palliata 种内摄食选择性的机制

• 批准号: 9705856
• 负责人: Carol Berman
• 金额: $ 1.18万
• 依托单位: SUNY at Buffalo
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1997
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1997-07-15 至 1998-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9705856&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Mechanism; Governing; Intraspecific

All animals, including humans, are selective about the food they eat, (i.e., they chose particular items for food from a suite of resources that are potentially available to them). Much is unknown about the cues and criteria that animals use to choose adequate diets. This is especially true among plant-eating primates with simple stomachs (e.g. howler monkeys), who must choose a diet that is not only adequate in energy, but that also has an adequate mix of nutrients and low levels of toxins and indigestible carbohydrates. Wild howlers eat from the leaves of particular trees but ignore those of other trees of the same species. This study aims to identify the factors that govern such intra-specific food choices. It is an initial step toward understanding factors that govern choices across many food species. Trees of the same species that are used and ignored will be compared for: 1) chemistry (nutrients, structural carbohydrates, and toxins), 2) location, shape and structure, 3) productivity, 4) abundance, and 6) danger of predation. An understanding of the criteria these primates use to choose adequate diets will contribute to a greater understanding of their ecological needs and of their complex behavioral adaptations to a forest environment.

所有的动物，包括人类，对他们吃的食物都是有选择性的，他们从一系列可能可用的资源中选择特定的食物）。关于动物用来选择适当饮食的线索和标准，还有很多未知之处。这在以植物为食的灵长类动物中尤其如此，它们的胃很简单（例如吼猴），它们必须选择一种不仅能量充足，而且营养成分充足、毒素和难消化碳水化合物含量低的饮食。 野生吼猴吃特定树木的叶子，但不吃同种其他树木的叶子。本研究的目的是确定的因素，这种特定的食物选择。 这是了解许多食物种类选择的决定因素的第一步。被使用和被忽视的同一物种的树木将进行比较：1）化学（营养物质，结构性碳水化合物和毒素），2）位置，形状和结构，3）生产力，4）丰度，6）捕食的危险。了解这些灵长类动物选择适当饮食的标准将有助于更好地了解它们的生态需求及其对森林环境的复杂行为适应。