Dissertation Research: Natal Dispersal and Reproductive in the Monogamous Dusky Titi Monkey, Callicebus Moloch

在大多数脊椎动物中，在繁殖之前，儿子或女儿通常比异性的后代分散在离出生地更远的地方。理论表明，性别的分散取决于交配系统以及雄性和雌性在后代方面投入的照顾程度。在一夫多妻制的哺乳动物中，雄性通常提供的照顾很少，并且雄性比雌性分散得更远。相比之下，在一夫一妻制的鸟类中，雄性往往提供大量的照顾，雌性比雄性分散得更远。在少数一夫一妻制的哺乳动物中，雄性非常关心后代，人们对这种哺乳动物的散布知之甚少。通过遗传分析和行为观察，这项研究将调查暗色蒂蒂猴的出生分散模式，这是一种以父亲照顾为特征的南美一夫一妻制灵长类动物。这项研究还将调查成人的生殖行为。尽管雌性提提猴是一夫一妻制的，但它们会与雄性而不是配偶交配。利用基因技术和行为观察，这项研究将确定这些额外的配对是否会产生后代，并将调查指导雌性生殖决定的因素，以及它们是否会影响配对的成年人之间的父亲行为和社会动态。这一结果将扩大对影响一夫一妻制灵长类家庭群体稳定性的因素的理解。

In most vertebrates, either sons or daughters typically disperse farther from the birthplace than offspring of the other sex before breeding. Theory suggests that which sex disperses depends on the mating system and the degree to which males and females invest care in offspring. In polygynous mammals males usually provide little care, and males disperse farther than females. In contrast, in monogamous birds males often provide substantial care, and females disperse farther than males. There is little understanding of dispersal in the few monogamous mammals in which males care significantly for offspring. Through genetic analyses and behavioral observations, this study will investigate patterns of natal dispersal in the dusky titi monkey, a monogamous South American primate characterized by paternal care. The study will also investigate adult reproductive behavior. Despite pairing monogamously, female titi monkeys mate with males other than their mates. Using genetic techniques and behavioral observations, this study will establish whether these extra pair matings produce offspring and will investigate the factors that guide female reproductive decisions and whether they affect paternal behavior and social dynamics between paired adults. The results will broaden understanding of factors that affect the stability of the family group in monogamous primates.