Doctoral Dissertation Research: Habitat Effects on Positional Behavior and Fine Branch Use in Arboreal Cercopithecid Monkeys

对解剖学、进化和行为感兴趣的生物学家和人类学家依靠这些因素的相互关系来解释现存和已灭绝的灵长类动物的形态和行为适应。然而，系统发育历史、当前行为特殊化和栖息地特征的复杂相互作用使这项工作变得困难。更具体地说，争论存在于灵长类动物的位置行为和支持使用是基于系统发育约束的渠道和固定的，还是高度灵活和特定于环境的。由于缺乏对不同栖息地和季节的位置行为和支持使用变化的研究，导致对灵长类动物适应和特定栖息地使用的假设。这些问题挑战了形态学家和生态学家，他们致力于构建灵长类物种位置行为的“典型”概况，最终用于重建进化史。这些问题在非洲树栖猴的研究中变得尤为重要。象牙海岸的Tai森林和乌干达的Kibale森林的多个分类群的比较研究结果在位置行为和支撑物使用的某些方面存在差异，特别是红疣猴（Piliocolobus badius），两个地点都对其进行了研究。这表明生境对位置行为和支撑物使用的影响有待进一步研究。在乌干达Kibale国家公园内的Ngogo， Aronsen的研究通过比较三种树栖猴子（红猴，Piliocolobus badius；红尾猴，Cercopithecus ascanius；灰颊白眉猴，Lophocebus albigena）的位置行为、支持使用和栖息地偏好，将有助于这场辩论。阿伦森将通过连续的焦点采样和对每个物种高度习惯的群体的群体扫描，记录位置行为和支持使用的数据。栖息地结构和利用模式将通过日常跟踪、样带和物候调查来测量。在所有分类群中，主要的焦点将放在细枝的使用上，因为这些最小的可用支撑物代表了觅食的关键区域；它们也是最难导航的，因此表明了不同分类群和体型的不同的位置和支持偏好。然后将这些数据与邻近的Kanyawara（所有三种物种）和Tai森林（p.p hadius）的类似数据进行比较。阿伦森的研究具有广泛的意义，超出了对基巴莱猴的研究。虽然他的研究将研究灵长类动物进化生物学中的一个重要问题，但它也将为保护灵长类动物及其栖息地的决策提供信息。通过研究它们的行为在森林干扰或伐木的影响下是灵活的还是静止的，人们可以评估人类对灵长类动物种群整体健康和生存的潜在影响。他还将与乌干达的研究人员和实地助理合作，并分享他的成果和方法，以增加对这些问题的了解。这项研究还将使他能够培训和教育学生进一步研究非人类灵长类动物的原生栖息地。最后，他的结论将为其他研究人员提供参考，以比较非洲以外的其他灵长类物种和栖息地，从而对灵长类生物、行为和进化形成更全面的描述。

Biologists and anthropologists interested in anatomy, evolution, and behavior rely on the interrelationship of these elements to interpret both living and extinct primate morphological and behavioral adaptations. However, the complex interaction of phylogenetic history, current behavioral specializations, and habitat characteristics makes this exercise difficult. More specifically, debate exists on whether primate positional behavior and support use are canalized and fixed based on phylogenetic constraints, or are highly flexible and context specific. The lack of studies investigating variation in positional behavior and support use across habitats and seasons leads to assumptions concerning primate adaptations and the use of a given habitat. These issues challenge morphologists and ecologists engaged in constructing "typical" profiles of positional behavior for primate species, which are ultimately used to reconstruct evolutionary history. These questions have become particularly relevant in the study of African arboreal cercopithecid monkeys. Results of comparative studies of multiple taxa between two sites (Tai Forest, Ivory Coast, and Kibale Forest, Uganda) vary in certain aspects of positional behavior and support use, especially for the red colobus monkey (Piliocolobus badius), which was studied at both sites. This suggests that the influence of habitat on positional behavior and support use requires further study.Mr. Aronsen's research would contribute to this debate by comparing positional behavior, support use, and habitat preferences in three arboreal monkeys (red colobus, Piliocolobus badius; redtailed monkeys, Cercopithecus ascanius; and grey-cheeked mangabeys, Lophocebus albigena) at Ngogo, located within the Kibale National Park of Uganda. Mr. Aronsen will record data on positional behavior and support use using continuous focal sampling and group scans of highly habituated groups in each species. Habitat structure and patterns of use will be measured using daily follows, transects, and phenological surveys. Primary focus will be placed on fine branch use in all taxa, as these smallest available supports represent a key area for foraging; they are also the most difficult to navigate, thus indicating varying positional and support preferences across taxa and body sizes. These data will then be compared to similar data available from neighboring Kanyawara (for all three species) and the Tai forest (for P. badius).Mr. Aronsen's research has broad implications beyond the study of Kibale monkeys. While his study will examine a significant problem in primate evolutionary biology, it will also inform decisions regarding conservation of primates and their habitats. By examining how flexible or static their behavior is given forest disturbance or logging, one can evaluate the potential impact humans may have on a primate population's overall health and survival. He will also collaborate with Ugandan researchers and field assistants, and share his results and methods to increase knowledge of these issues. This research will also allow him to train and educate students to further study nonhuman primates in their native habitat. Finally, his conclusions will be made available for other researchers to compare other primate species and habitats beyond Africa, thus developing a more comprehensive portrait of primate biology, behavior, and evolution.