Primates_3

Behavioural Ecology

The study of behaviour from an evolutionary and ecological perspective.

Natural Selection

The process where individuals better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Socioecology

The approach that explains variation in the social systems of animals relative to ecological and biological factors.

Sexual Dimorphism

Differences in size or appearance between males and females of the same species.

Monogamy

A mating system where one male mates with one female.

Polygyny

A mating system in which one male mates with multiple females.

Polyandry

A mating system where one female associates with multiple males.

Infanticide

The act of a male killing infants, often to enhance his reproductive success by eliminating competition.

Group Living

A social structure where primates live in groups to share resources, provide protection, and enhance survival.

Dietary Specializations

Adaptations in physical traits related to specific food sources, influencing body size, teeth form, and digestive systems.

Fission-Fusion Dynamics

A social system where group size and composition change depending on resource availability.

Ecological Intelligence Hypothesis

The theory suggesting that frugivorous primates have larger brains to navigate and remember food sources.

Testis Size

In some primates, the size of the testes relative to body size reflects mating systems, with larger testes associated with promiscuous species.

Dominance Relations

The hierarchy among individuals that affects access to resources and mating opportunities within social groups.

Mating System

The pattern by which a species mates, including monogamous, polygynous, polyandrous, and promiscuous systems.

Social Structure

The complex relationships and interactions within a group, affecting social behaviour and organisation.

Resource Competition

The rivalry between individuals or groups for limited resources such as food, mates, or territory.

Morphology

The study of the form and structure of organisms, including their shapes, sizes, and structure of complex parts.

Energetic Efficiency

The effectiveness of an organism in extracting energy from food sources and utilizing it for survival and reproduction.

Nurturing Behaviour

Caregivers’ actions towards offspring that enhance their survival and welfare, including feeding and protection.

Social Bonds

The connections and relationships that form between individuals, often influenced by ecological conditions and mating strategies.

Competition

The interaction between individuals or groups where one side's gain is another side's loss, often over resources.

Territoriality

The behaviour by which an animal or group of animals defends a territory from others of the same or different species.

Home Ranges

The area for which an animal or group of animals regularly travels to feed, reproduce, and fulfill other life functions.