Collaborative Research: Ecological and Functional Morphology of Feeding in Free-Ranging Mantled Howling Monkeys

生物人类学家长期以来一直对饮食和喂养对灵长类生物学各个方面的影响感兴趣，包括灵长类进化，行为和形态。灵长类头骨和牙齿结构的比较研究，对食物选择和觅食行为的实地研究，以及对圈养灵长类动物摄食动力学的实验室研究，都为这一奋进做出了重大贡献。然而，这些研究项目从未完全整合，每个项目固有的假设限制了将饮食和喂养与灵长类生物学和适应性联系起来的假设的强度。例如，实验室研究的一个假设是，实验室中记录的进食行为和下颌肌肉活动准确地反映了野生灵长类动物在自然栖息地进食的行为。同样，当应用实地工作的灵长类动物喂养的进化问题，它必须假设，实地观察有关的咀嚼功能，在实验室中观察到的。本研究的目标是整合多个实验室和现场的方法到一个研究觅食在自由放养的披着嚎叫的猴子在庄园拉太平洋哥斯达黎加。首先，使用专门为该项目设计的新技术，当这些动物在自然栖息地进食时，将记录它们的下颌肌肉的肌电数据。第二，将量化记录期间消耗的食物的机械特性。第三，牙齿磨损将在记录期之前和之后立即量化。最后，在记录期间将收集个体的摄食和测距行为。本研究的数据将被用来证明灵长类动物如何使用他们的下颌肌肉在喂养他们的天然食物，并产生有关下颌肌肉功能的颌骨结构的生态相关的假设。下颌肌肉活动数据还将与食物机械特性、进食行为和牙齿磨损的进展相关。更广泛地说，这项拟议中的研究将是第一次将联合收割机实验室记录下颌肌肉功能的技术与灵长类动物进食生态、行为和牙齿形态的实地研究相结合。此外，该项目的综合性质将确定灵长类动物摄食器官，摄食行为和饮食中的适应和功能之间的其他联系，这些联系可能在任何一个独立的研究项目中都不明显。 这项研究的更广泛影响包括促进四所大学具有不同专业领域的科学家之间的合作，并通过学生积极参与该项目的研究来培训学生。综合方法将为这些学生提供现场技术，肌电图，机械性能和行为数据收集和分析方面的实践培训。还预计，mantled嚎叫猴喂养行为的信息将有利于保护管理决策的长期可持续性，这些灵长类动物及其栖息地在中美洲和南美洲。最后，该项目由一名少数民族女性研究人员领导，从而有助于少数民族在科学领域的代表性。

Biological anthropologists have a long-standing interest in the influence of diet and feeding on all aspects of primate biology, including primate evolution, behavior and morphology. Comparative studies of the structure of primate skulls and teeth, field studies on dietary selection and foraging behaviors, and laboratory studies on the dynamics of feeding in captive primates have all contributed significantly to this endeavor. However, these research programs have never been fully integrated, and assumptions inherent to each limit the strength of hypotheses linking diet and feeding to primate biology and adaptations. For example, an assumption of lab research is that feeding behaviors and jaw-muscle activity recorded in the lab accurately reflect those of wild primates feeding in their natural habitats. Likewise, when applying field work to questions about the evolution of primate feeding, it must be assumed that field observations are related to masticatory function as observed in the lab.The goal of this study is to integrate multiple lab and field methods into a study of foraging in free-ranging mantled howling monkeys at Hacienda La Pacifica, Costa Rica. First, using new technology designed specifically for this project, electromyographic data will be recorded from their jaw muscles while these animals feed in their natural habitat. Second, the mechanical properties of the foods consumed during the recording period will be quantified. Third, tooth wear will be quantified immediately prior to and following the recording period. Finally, feeding and ranging behaviors of individuals will be collected during the recording period. Data from this study will be used to demonstrate how primates use their jaw-muscles during feeding on their natural foods and to generate ecologically relevant hypotheses relating jaw-muscle function to jaw structure. The jaw-muscle activity data will also be correlated with food mechanical properties, feeding behaviors and the progression of tooth wear. More generally, the proposed research will be the first of its kind to combine lab-based techniques for recording jaw-muscle function with field research on primate feeding ecology, behavior and dental morphology. Moreover, the integrative nature of this project will identify additional links between adaptations and function in the primate feeding apparatus, feeding behavior and diet that may not be evident from any one independent research program. Broader impacts of this study include the promotion of collaboration between scientists at four universities with different areas of expertise and the training of students through their active participation in research for this project. The integrative approach will provide these students with hands-on training in field techniques, electromyography, and mechanical properties and behavioral data collection and analysis. It is also expected that information on mantled howling monkey feeding behaviors will benefit conservation management decisions regarding the long-term sustainability of these primates and their habitats in Central and South America. Finally, this project is led by a minority female researcher, thereby contributing to minority representation in the sciences.