Primate Ecology and Conservation

生态学中的一个基本问题是决定控制动物密度的因素，关于这个问题的争论分为自下而上和自上而下的两个过程。随着需要为濒危物种制定知情的管理计划，理解动物数量的决定因素具有了新的重要性。关于灵长类动物，这些理论问题至关重要，因为热带森林正在经历快速的人为变化。虽然人们对这些威胁非常关注，但除了提供明显的解决方案(例如，减少狩猎)之外，很少有研究提供其他解决方案。这是因为评估许多潜在因素的相对重要性的工具尚未开发，而且缺乏长期数据。我的研究将提供一套新的综合工具，以理解提出的影响人口动态的因素的重要性。它将测试这些工具的应用，从个人层面(个人适合度)，到群体层面，最后到景观层面。

A fundamental issue in ecology is determining factors regulating animal density and debate over this issue is dichotomized between bottom-up verses top-down processes. Understanding determinants of animal abundance has taken on a new importance with the need to develop informed management plans for endangered species. With respect to primates, these theoretical issues are critical because tropical forests are undergoing rapid anthropogenic transformation. While there is great concern over these threats, there are few studies that go beyond providing obvious solutions (e.g., decrease hunting). This is due to the fact that the tools to evaluate the relative importance of the many potential factors have not been developed and to the lack of long-term data. My research will provide a new set of integrative tools to understand the importance of factors proposed to influence population dynamics. It will test the application of these tools from the individual level (individual fitness), to the group level, and finally to a landscape level.