Doctoral Dissertation Improvement: Altitudinal Variation in Tarsier (Genus Tarsius) Behavior and Morphology in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

这项研究的目的是确定海拔在多大程度上是印度尼西亚中苏拉威西Lore Lindu国家公园上山林中侏儒(Tarsius Pumilus)表现出异常行为和形态背后的驱动力。关于侏儒鞑靼的数据极其有限，因为该物种最近才在其自然栖息地被观察到。一项初步研究表明，侏儒鞑靼可能表现出适应高海拔森林的独特特征。考虑到灵长类动物形态和行为的变化是已知的，沿着海拔倾斜的资源的变化，这个项目探索侏儒鞑靼是否受到类似的海拔影响。研究人员测试了有关觅食、活动范围、栖息地使用、群体组成、交流、身体大小和肢体比例等方面的海拔差异的假设。使用雾网捕获迟滞者，然后使用无线电遥测设备跟踪，以便收集行为数据。还收集了生态数据，包括海拔、昆虫和树木丰度、森林组成、温度和降雨量。这项研究对于了解海拔如何影响灵长类动物的形态和行为的变化，哪些选择性力量参与了苏拉威西族迟钝动物的进化和物种形成，以及灵长类动物的体型进化具有重要意义。研究迟滞动物形态和行为的变化如何与生态变化相关，对于理解灵长类早期进化，特别是在体重模式方面具有重要意义。这项研究是对最近重新发现的濒危灵长类物种的首次长期实地研究，该物种仅限于苏拉威西岛。有关其栖息地用途的信息将有助于制定特定物种的保护计划。此外，这项研究将通过培训当地的野外助理、国家公园警卫以及当地大学的印度尼西亚教职员工和研究生来支持当地经济。

The goal of this research is to determine the extent that altitude is the driving force behind the unusual behavior and morphology exhibited by pygmy tarsiers (Tarsius pumilus) in the upper montane forest of Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Data on pygmy tarsiers are extremely limited since the species was only recently observed in its natural habitat. A pilot study indicated that pygmy tarsiers may exhibit unique traits that are adaptations to high altitude forest. Given that changes in primate morphology and behavior are known to result from variation in resources along elevational clines, this project explores whether pygmy tarsiers are subject to analogous altitudinal effects. The researchers test hypotheses concerning altitudinal differences in foraging, ranging, habitat usage, group composition, communication, body size, and limb proportions. Tarsiers are captured using mist nets and then followed using radio telemetry equipment in order to collect behavioral data. Ecological data are also collected, including altitude, insect and tree abundance, forest composition, temperature, and precipitation. This study is important to understanding how altitude contributes to variation in primate morphology and behavior, which selective forces were involved in Sulawesi tarsier evolution and speciation, and primate body size evolution. Studying how variation in tarsier morphology and behavior relate to ecological change has implications for understanding early primate evolution, especially in terms of body mass patterns. This research represents the first long-term field study of a recently rediscovered and endangered primate species that is restricted to the island of Sulawesi. Information on its habitat usage will contribute to formulating a species-specific conservation plan. In addition, this research will support the local economy with the training of local field assistants, a national park guard, and Indonesian faculty and graduate students at a local university.