Chapter 8. Primate Ecology

Ecology

Interactions between organisms and their environment

2 Main Concerns Living As A Primate

1. How/what to eat

2. How to avoid being eaten

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

Rate animal extends energy at rest, or basic body maintenance. (larger animals, higher BMR)

Active Metabolic Rate (AMR)

Energy Required For activities above baseline.

Growth Rate (GR YARIS WHEEEEE)

Building new tissue requiring energy beyond BMR/AMR.

Primate Diets; Generalizations

• Rely on diff types of food over others

• Insectivores < Frugivores < Folivores
  

Spatial Distribution

Food varies in density, primates need to travel to find food

Ranges

Area a group can be found

Home Range

Total Area Used By Group

Day Range

Area Used By Individual on Daily Basis

Territoriality

Protecting a groups territory from others

Diet + Range + Territoriality = ____________

Resource Distribution TUNG TUNG TUNG SAHUR!!!!

Ways To Avoid Predators

• Alarm call

• Swarm predators (group)

• Associate with other primate species

The 3 D’s (deez nuts)

• Detection

• Deterrence

• Dilution

Sociality Benefits

• Access Males

• Decreased predation

• Resource controls

Sociality Costs

• Increased competition

• Increased exposure to disease

• Increased Incest