Doctoral Dissertation Research: Risk perception and anti-predator strategies in an Amazonian primate

捕食风险被认为是影响灵长类行为的关键因素；然而，由于捕食事件很少被目击，捕食压力对灵长类社会性的影响程度尚不清楚。此外，现有的关于灵长类捕食者-猎物相互作用的数据主要集中在灵长类上，很少考虑捕食者的行为。问题仍然存在：灵长类是如何应对捕食的可能性的，这些应对机制是否会阻止捕食者的狩猎？这项由俄亥俄州立大学博士生Dara Adams(俄亥俄州立大学)在Dawn Kitchen博士的指导下进行的研究，将结合实验方法，在秘鲁亚马孙地区的一个野外地点研究秃脸萨基猴(Pithecia Irrorata)和它们的捕食者--包括它们的主要猫科捕食者之一--眼镜蛇(Leopardus Pardalis)之间的捕食-猎物动力学。该项目将利用1)生态和行为数据来评估栖息地结构，包括树高、林下和树冠覆盖度，是否影响这些灵长类动物的感知捕食风险和反捕食者行为；2)无线电项圈耳环猫的远程相机陷阱和GPS遥测，以确定萨奇斯是否调整与猫科动物运动和活动有关的行为；以及3)捕食者模型(章鱼、蛇和鹰)和音频回放实验，以确定萨奇斯如何对警报呼叫做出反应，这些呼叫中可能传达的信息，以及这些呼叫是否突出于埋伏式捕食者，并导致它们狩猎行为的变化。合并灵长类和捕食者行为的数据将提供更全面的图景，有助于跨物种和生态环境的比较。这种方法很少被应用于灵长类研究，并将为关于捕食压力对灵长类生态和进化的影响程度的辩论提供急需的经验数据。这个博士论文项目将支持一名女研究生和秘鲁本科生的学术培训，加强秘鲁、巴西和美国大学之间的研究联系，并通过秘鲁当地学校的教育项目提高儿童对科学和保护的兴趣。最后，在野外对萨基猴和捕食者(包括豹猫)的监测将支持当地的保护倡议。保护方面的影响尤其重要，因为该地区正在经历快速发展，包括增加伐木和采矿。

Predation risk is assumed to be a critical factor influencing primate behavior; however, because predation events are rarely witnessed, the degree to which predation pressure affects primate sociality is poorly understood. Furthermore, the data that do exist on primate predator-prey interactions are focused on primates, with little co-consideration of predator behavior. The question remains: How do primates cope with the possibility of predation and do these coping mechanisms thwart hunting by predators? This study by doctoral student Dara Adams (Ohio State University), under the guidance of Dr. Dawn Kitchen, will incorporate experimental methods to investigate predator-prey dynamics between bald-faced saki monkeys (Pithecia irrorata) and their predators - including one of their main felid predators, ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) - at a field site in Amazonia Peru where both predators and prey live at high densities. The project will utilize 1) ecological and behavioral data to assess whether habitat structure, including tree height, understory and canopy coverage, affect perceived predation risk and anti-predator behaviors in these primates; 2) remote camera traps and GPS telemetry on radio-collared ocelots to determine whether sakis adjust behavior in relation to felid movement and activity; and 3) predator models (ocelot, snakes and eagles) and audio playback experiments to determine how sakis respond to alarm calls, what information may be conveyed in these calls, and whether these calls are salient to ambush-style predators and result in changes to their hunting behavior. Incorporation of data on both primate and predator behavior will provide a more holistic picture that lends itself to comparisons across species and ecological contexts. Such an approach rarely has been applied to primate studies and will contribute much-needed empirical data to the debate regarding the degree to which predation pressures have impacted primate ecology and evolution.This doctoral dissertation project will support academic training of a female graduate student and Peruvian undergraduates, strengthen research connections between Peruvian, Brazilian, and US universities, and promote interest among children in science and conservation through an educational program at a local school in Peru. Finally, monitoring of saki monkeys and predators, including ocelots, at the field site will support local conservation initiatives. The conservation implications are particularly important because the region is undergoing rapid development, including increased logging and mining.