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动物行为的一个关键因素，然而，由于捕食事件很少目睹，捕食压力影响灵长类动物社会性的程度知之甚少。此外，确实存在的灵长类动物捕食者-猎物相互作用的数据集中在灵长类动物身上，很少考虑捕食者的行为。问题仍然存在：灵长类动物如何科普捕食的可能性，这些应对机制是否阻碍了捕食者的狩猎？这项研究由博士生达拉亚当斯（俄亥俄州州立大学），在博士的指导下，黎明厨房，将纳入实验方法，以调查捕食者-猎物之间的动态秃头萨基猴（Pithiaporata）和他们的捕食者-包括他们的主要猫科动物捕食者之一，虎猫（Leopardus pardalis）-在亚马逊秘鲁的一个野外现场，捕食者和猎物都生活在高密度。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、林下植被和树冠覆盖率，是否会影响这些灵长类动物的感知捕食风险和反捕食行为; 2）对无线电项圈虎猫进行远程相机陷阱和GPS遥测，以确定sakis是否会调整与猫科动物运动和活动有关的行为;（3）捕食者模型（虎猫、蛇和鹰）和音频回放实验，以确定沙基斯如何对警报呼叫做出反应，这些呼叫中可能传达什么信息，以及这些呼叫是否对阿姆斯壮型捕食者显着并导致其狩猎行为的变化。将灵长类动物和捕食者行为的数据结合起来，将提供一个更全面的图景，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动物的研究，并将有助于急需的经验数据的辩论，在何种程度上捕食压力已经影响了灵长类动物的生态和进化。这个博士论文项目将支持学术培训的女研究生和秘鲁本科生，加强秘鲁，巴西和美国大学之间的研究联系，并通过在秘鲁当地一所学校的教育项目，提高孩子们对科学和自然保护的兴趣。最后，在实地监测萨基猴和捕食者，包括虎猫，将支持当地的保护措施。保护的影响特别重要，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.