Dissertation Research: Behavioral Ecology of Howling Monkeys (Alouatta palliata) in Nicaraguan Coffee Plantations

论文研究：尼加拉瓜咖啡种植园嚎叫猴（Alouatta palliata）的行为生态学

• 批准号: 9909022
• 负责人: Clifford Jolly
• 金额: $ 1万
• 依托单位: New York University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2000
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2000-04-01 至 2002-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9909022&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Behavioral; Ecology; Howling

This project will document and explain the feeding ecology, ranging behavior, activity patterns, and group structure of mantled howling monkeys (Alouatta palliata) that live in shade coffee plantations. Our results will allow us to both make valuable contributions to the understanding of how habitat affects primate ecology and social structure, as well as to develop plans for primate conservation that successfully incorporate economic development in habitat countries.Coffee cultivation has not resulted in widespread destruction of Latin America's forest ecosystems because coffee generally grows best when shaded from direct sunlight by trees. Forest trees are therefore left standing to shelter the coffee; such plantations are known as shade coffee. Although they differ from undisturbed forest in tree species composition and density, shade coffee plantations account for a significant portion of forested areas in Latin America, and provide habitat for birds and other forest animals. The researchers will conduct a 15-month study of howling monkeys that live in shade coffee plantations on Mombacho Volcano, southwestern Nicaragua. They will collect approximately 1500 hours of detailed observational data on three groups of howlers that will detail their feeding ecology, ranging behavior, and activity patters. Along with detailed data on the vegetation in the plantation, these data will allow them to determine which tree species and habitat features are vital to the survival of monkeys in coffee plantations. These data will also allow the researchers to explore theoretical issues regarding the effects of plant food abundance and diversity on primate foraging strategies. Ultimately, they hope to use these data to create a certification program for "eco-friendly" coffee using the howling monkey as an indicator species and focus for creating community support for wildlife conservation in agricultural lands, within and beyond Nicaragua.

这个项目将记录和解释饲养生态学，测距行为，活动模式，和群体结构的mantled嚎叫猴（Alouatta palliata）生活在阴凉的咖啡种植园。 我们的研究结果将使我们能够为理解栖息地如何影响灵长类动物生态和社会结构做出宝贵的贡献，并制定灵长类动物保护计划，成功地将栖息地国家的经济发展纳入其中。咖啡种植并没有导致拉丁美洲森林生态系统的广泛破坏，因为咖啡通常在树木遮挡阳光直射时生长得最好。 因此，森林树木被留下来保护咖啡;这种种植园被称为树荫咖啡。 虽然它们在树种组成和密度上与未受干扰的森林不同，但遮荫咖啡种植园占拉丁美洲森林面积的很大一部分，并为鸟类和其他森林动物提供栖息地。 研究人员将对生活在尼加拉瓜西南部蒙巴乔火山阴凉咖啡种植园的嚎叫猴子进行为期15个月的研究。 他们将收集大约1500小时的详细观察数据，这些数据将详细描述三组吼猴的进食生态、测距行为和活动模式。 沿着关于种植园植被的详细数据，这些数据将使他们能够确定哪些树种和栖息地特征对咖啡种植园中猴子的生存至关重要。 这些数据还将使研究人员能够探索有关植物食物丰富度和多样性对灵长类动物觅食策略影响的理论问题。 最终，他们希望利用这些数据创建一个“生态友好”咖啡认证计划，使用嚎叫的猴子作为指示物种，并重点创建社区支持尼加拉瓜内外农业用地的野生动物保护。