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

博士论文研究：栖息地对树栖猴的位置行为和细枝使用的影响

• 批准号: 0244773
• 负责人: David Watts
• 金额: $ 1万
• 依托单位: Yale University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-03-15 至 2004-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0244773&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Research; Habitat; Effects

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.

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元素的相互关系来解释现存和灭绝的灵长类动物的形态和行为适应。然而，系统发育历史、当前的行为特化和栖息地特征的复杂相互作用使这一练习变得困难。更具体地说，关于灵长类的位置行为和支持使用是基于系统发育限制而被程式化和固定的，还是高度灵活和特定于环境的，存在着争论。缺乏调查不同生境和季节间位置行为和支持使用差异的研究，导致了关于灵长类适应和使用给定栖息地的假设。这些问题对形态学者和生态学家提出了挑战，他们致力于构建灵长类物种位置行为的“典型”轮廓，这些轮廓最终被用来重建进化历史。这些问题在非洲树栖尾猴的研究中变得特别相关。在两个地点(象牙海岸的泰森林和乌干达的Kibale森林)之间对多种分类群的比较研究结果在位置行为和支持用途的某些方面有所不同，特别是在这两个地点进行了研究的红色根瘤猴(Piliocolobus Badius)。这表明栖息地对位置行为和支持使用的影响需要进一步研究。阿伦森的研究将通过比较位于乌干达Kibale国家公园内的Ngogo的三种树栖猴子(红鳞猴、红尾猴和灰脸颊红尾猴)的位置行为、支持使用和栖息地偏好，为这场辩论做出贡献。阿伦森将通过连续的焦点采样和对每个物种中高度习惯化的群体进行分组扫描，记录关于位置行为和支持使用的数据。栖息地结构和使用模式将使用每日跟踪、样带和物候调查来衡量。主要的重点将放在所有分类群中的细枝使用上，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，因此表明不同分类群和身体大小的位置和支撑偏好不同。然后将这些数据与邻近的坎亚瓦拉(对于所有三个物种)和泰森林(对于巴迪乌斯)的类似数据进行比较。阿伦森的研究超越了对Kibale猴子的研究，具有广泛的意义。虽然他的研究将研究灵长类进化生物学中的一个重要问题，但它也将为保护灵长类及其栖息地的决策提供参考。通过检查森林干扰或伐木对它们行为的灵活性或静态程度，人们可以评估人类可能对灵长类种群的整体健康和生存产生的潜在影响。他还将与乌干达研究人员和现场助理合作，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在它们的故乡进一步研究非人类灵长类动物。最后，他的结论将提供给其他研究人员，以比较非洲以外的其他灵长类物种和栖息地，从而开发出更全面的灵长类生物学、行为和进化的肖像。