Doctoral Dissertation Improvement: Investigating How Ecology and Demography Influence Folivorous Primate Biomass in Eastern Ecuador.

了解灵长类动物生物量的决定因素是解释行为适应和指导保护规划的一个重要方面。由于灵长类动物群落中表现出的大多数变异都可以用食叶物种来解释，因此以前的研究主要集中在食叶灵长类动物身上。影响叶植物生物量的主要因素有叶片质量、季节、生境异质性和资源竞争。然而，大多数研究都集中在旧大陆的灵长类动物身上。由于新大陆猴表现出不同的消化形态，结果可能不具有代表性。更重要的是，以往的研究大多是单独（单变量）调查可能的影响因素。然而，最近在古生物学和生态学方面的研究揭示了通过多变量方法对复杂过程的更完整的理解。本研究将采用这种多变量方法调查影响最富营养的新热带灵长类动物红吼猴（Alouatta seniculus）生物量的因素。在前人研究成果的指导下，我们确定了10个生态变量，并对15个人口和行为变量进行了独特的预测组合。每个单独变量的独特特征允许识别驱动人口密度的最重要因素。该项目将是同类项目中首次采用如此广泛的方法。它还将提供比较基础，以确定影响生物量的因素在不同灵长类动物辐射的分类群中是否相似。这项研究将在厄瓜多尔的Yasuni国家公园进行，这是一个生物多样性极其丰富的地区，也是联合国教科文组织的“人与生物圈保护区”之一。数据将在两个距离很近（相距约40公里）的地点收集，这些地点在红吼猴种群密度、一般生境特征和狩猎压力方面存在差异。数据收集将包括监测两种灵长类动物群落的人口统计和密度，观察总共7个群体的活动和范围行为，收集粪便样本和对蝇类侵害的视觉评估，以判断寄生虫负荷。栖息地的生态将根据植物和物候样带进行监测。将采集土壤和食物样本并分析其营养成分。最后，与当地华欧尼猎人的访谈和市场调查将有助于监测狩猎压力。就更广泛的影响而言，目标有三个方面。这项研究将提供关键数据，以纳入公园未来的管理计划。此外，这项研究还为厄瓜多尔和其他国家的助理提供培训和就业机会，并以厄瓜多尔（基多旧金山大学、厄瓜多尔天主教大学）、美国（康奈尔大学）和德国（汉堡大学）的机构合作为基础并鼓励这些机构的合作。最后，该项目鼓励当地社区积极参与公园和项目。在研究的准备阶段，与三个华欧拉尼印第安人社区建立了每月一次的会议，以协助保护工作，向他们提供有关其森林生态的信息，以及研究结果将如何影响他们的生活。

Understanding the determinants of primate biomass is an important aspect of deciphering behavioral adaptation and of guiding conservation planning. Because most of the variation exhibited in primate communities can be accounted for by leaf-eating species, previous research primarily focussed on folivorous primates. The major factors suggested to influence folivore biomass are leaf quality, seasonality, habitat heterogeneity, and resource competition. However, most research has focussed on primates of the Old World. Because New World monkeys exhibit a different digestive morphology, the results may not be representative. More importantly, most of the previous research has investigated possibly influencing factors individually (univariate). However, recent research in paleobiology and ecology has revealed a more complete understanding of complex processes through multivariate approaches.This study will take such a multivariate approach investigating the factors influencing the biomass of the most folivorous neotropical primate, the red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus). Guided by previous research results, we identified 10 ecological variables with unique predictive combinations for 15 demographic and behavioral variables. The unique signatures for each individual variable allow identifying the most important factors, which are driving population densities. The project will be the first of its kind to use such a wide-ranging approach. It will also provide a comparative basis to determine whether factors influencing biomass are similar across taxa from different primate radiations.The study will take place at Yasuni National Park, Ecuador, an area of extreme biodiversity and one of UNESCO's "Man and the Biosphere Reserves". Data will be collected at two sites in close proximity (ca. 40 km apart) differing in population density of red howler monkeys, general habitat characteristics, and hunting pressure. Data collection will include monitoring the demography and densities of the two primate communities, observation of the activity and ranging behavior of altogether 7 groups, and collection of fecal samples and visual assessment of bot fly infestations to judge parasite load. The ecology of the habitat will be monitored based on botanical and phenological transects. Soil and food samples will be taken and their nutrient content analyzed. Finally, interviews with local Huaorani hunters and market surveys will serve to monitor hunting pressure.In terms of broader impact, the aims are 3-fold. The study will provide key data to be incorporated into future management plans of the park. In addition, the study provides training and career opportunities for assistants from Ecuador and other countries and is build upon and encourages cooperation with institutions in Ecuador (Universidad San Franscico de Quito, Ponticifica Universidad Catolica de Ecuador), USA (Cornell University), and Germany (University of Hamburg). Lastly, the project encourages an active involvement of the local community in the park and the project. During the preparatory parts of the study monthly meetings with three Huaorani Indian communities have been established in order to aid in conservation efforts, provide them with information about the ecology of their forest, and how the results of this study may impact their lives.