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

本研究的目的是确定海拔在印度尼西亚苏拉威西岛中部洛林杜国家公园的高山森林中，侏儒眼镜猴（Tarsius pumilus）表现出的不寻常行为和形态背后的驱动力程度。关于侏儒眼镜猴的数据非常有限，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，侏儒眼镜猴可能表现出适应高海拔森林的独特特征。鉴于已知灵长类动物形态和行为的变化是由海拔曲线上的资源变化引起的，本项目探讨了侏儒眼镜猴是否受到类似的海拔影响。研究人员测试了关于觅食、范围、栖息地使用、群体组成、交流、体型和肢体比例等海拔差异的假设。眼镜猴是用雾网捕获的，然后用无线电遥测设备跟踪，以收集行为数据。还收集了生态数据，包括海拔、昆虫和树木丰度、森林组成、温度和降水。该研究对了解海拔对灵长类动物形态和行为的影响、苏拉威西眼镜猴进化和物种形成的选择力以及灵长类动物体型的进化具有重要意义。研究眼镜猴形态和行为的变化与生态变化的关系，对理解早期灵长类动物的进化，特别是在体重模式方面具有重要意义。这项研究代表了对一种最近重新发现的濒危灵长类物种的首次长期实地研究，这种物种仅限于苏拉威西岛。有关其生境使用情况的资料将有助于制订一项特定物种的养护计划。此外，这项研究将通过培训当地的实地助理、一名国家公园警卫以及当地一所大学的印尼教员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.