Primate exam 2

Primate Behavior Exam 2

What two key factors determine biomes?

Temperature and Precipitation determine major biomes.

What biomes do primates inhabit – how do different biomes affect primate adaptations

• Major Primate Biomes of the Earth are Tropical.

• Primate biomes include Tropical rainforest, Tropical dry forests, Tropical grassland, Savanna, Temperate forests, and Semi-desert Scrub

• Primates living in different biomes have developed different adaptations for survival these adaptations span physical traits, dietary preferences, social structures, and behavioral strategies.

Tropical forests include rainforest, deciduous forest, savanna, desert, AND non tropical temperate forests– how do abiotic factors vary among these biomes

abiotic factors such as temperature, rainfall, soil, sunlight, and seasonal variability create distinct environments, shaping the biodiversity and ecosystem structure in each biome.

Characteristics of forest layers – emergent, canopy, understory, forest floor

• Emergent layer 

  • Tallest layer 

  • Area where the sun hits the most 

• Canopy layer 

  • Second highest amount of sunlight 

  • Second tallest layer 

• Understory layer 

  • Less sunlight  

• Forest floor 

  • Not much sunlight 

  • Lowest layer 

What is Leibig’s law of minimum

Factor(s) which are limited in supply (food, water, space) will limit the size of the population and may affect behavior and other adaptations. 

Levels of ecological study?

What are limiting factors that affect primates living in different habitats and what are some challenges primates might face in various habitats?

• Limiting factors Dietary challenges -Secondary compounds are
  poisons which leaves often use as a protection
  against folivores

• Mechanical Properties of Foods

• Predators

• Some Challenge sleeping sites, seasonal foods, Locomotor challenges, Dietary challenges

Trophic levels –what are they?

• A group of organisms that occupy the same position in a food chain. There are two basic types.

• Autotrophic Level-- the producers (such as plants) which can directly use solar energy.

• Heterotrophic Level-- the consumers who obtain energy either directly or indirectly from the plants.

What are primate nutritional requirements? What must all animals (including primates) get from their foods to keep them healthy?

Nutritional Requirements At its simplest all mammals must have: 

• Source of energy (carbohydrates, fats or even protein),

• ability to maintain, repair and build tissue (protein), 

• regulate body process (vitamins and minerals).

How do primates meet these needs? Carbohydrates, protein, fat

Through the use of different foraging strategies: The types of food resources used and how primates search for them

Why are ripe fruits a high-quality food? Why don’t all primates just eat ripe fruits

Ripe fruits are ideal for primates due to high sugar content, easy digestibility, and nutrients. However, not all primates rely solely on them because fruits are seasonal, competition is high, and some species need more protein or fiber. Dietary diversity helps primates adapt to different habitats.

Why are insects a “perfect food”? Why don’t all primates eat insects?

They are the““perfect food” because there packed with protein, fat, carbohydrates -BUT hard to catch! Body size limits

What are some primate sources of protein?

Invertebrates (insects) , Vertebrates (animals) , Leaves and Flowers

What are some challenges in obtaining protein resources?

Costly to find (insects and animals), and don’t provide a large amount of food (non-social insects).

Are vitamins and minerals important to primates? How might these be obtained?

Vitamins and minerals Vitamin C – Haplorrhine Primates can’t make this Minerals GEOPHAGIA (Soil) -de-toxify leaf toxins, add minerals Help eliminate internal parasites (endoparasites).

What are some ecological constraints on primate feeding behavior?

Ecological Constraints on Primate Feeding Behavior. Getting the right mix
of food greatly complicates foraging strategies. Chemical defenses of
potential food items and Limited availability. Also Distribution of Foods,
Incomplete Nutrition and Fiber Content

What role does body weight play in determining primate foraging strategies?

A primateʼs body size puts considerable restrictions on its feeding options.
Most differences in primate behavior and ecology are correlated with
absolute body size

How does BMR (basal metabolic rate) relate to body weight? Provide some examples.

• basal metabolic rate(BMR): the amount of energy consumed by a resting organism simply to maintain its basic functions.

• basal metabolism (BMR) for small versus larger animals: relative to body weight, smaller animals require more energy than larger animals.

• This has a major effect on foraging strategies of large versus small primates. Large animals need more food overall, but have lower energy requirements per unit body weight than smaller animals.

• Smaller animals need less food overall, but have higher energy requirements per unit body weight than larger animals

What are some examples of primate dietary adaptations?

• Insects are ideal: can provide all nutrients, protein, vitamins etc.! It is worth having adaptations to capture insects efficiently.

• Medium primates (500 grams - 1 KG): Crowned Lemur makes it hard to get all energy requirements just from insects – must also add more abundant energy sources--gums, flowers, fruits.

• Larger primates (> 5 KG): Two strategies, e.g. Colobinae and Gorillas, Chimpanzees

• Chimpanzee: Mix of foods: leaves, social insects, animals, fruits AND behavioral adaptations- tool use.

• Colobus monkey: Digestive adaptations such as sacculated stomachs or more volume in large intestine to digest leaves in their diet

How does a primate’s diet affect their morphology and locomotion?

A primate's diet influences its morphology and locomotion. Fruit-eaters have flat molars, while leaf-eaters have robust molars for fibrous materials. Body size varies with dietary needs, and locomotion types, like brachiation, evolve based on feeding habits. Folivorous primates develop larger guts for cellulose digestion, while frugivorous ones have simpler systems for quick digestion, enhancing their food processing efficiency.

What kind of a diet are humans adapted for?

a high-quality diet

What factors influence primate ranging patterns?

Ranging behavior is affected by habitat and feeding ecology. Ranging and habitat:
distribution of important limiting factors. Also affected by body size:. Smaller ranges:
small body size, small group size; Larger ranges: large body size, large group size
Reproductive state can also affect it.

What patterns do we see in primate mortality rates and health?

• Male primates suffer higher mortality rates than females.

• Juveniles and infants suffer higher mortality rates than older animals.

• Juvenile primate mortality rates often reach 50%, from gorillas to ring-tailed lemur

What factors affect mortality rates?

General disease, Dental Health, Social systems and Predation

How are ecology and health patterns related?

• DIET can affect this. Chimpanzees and Orang-utans eat more sugary fruits.

• HABITAT and LOCOMOTION can affect this.

• Orang-utans are more consistently arboreal.

• SOCIAL SYSTEMS can affect this. Large social groups in chimpanzees related to more “inter-personal” injuries

How do primates respond to predation?

• All Primates Respond Behaviorally to Predation Risks.

• Alarm call

• Vigilance

• Direct Attack - Mobbing

• Avoidance/Flight

How are anti-predator behaviors affected by body size?

• Smaller Primates, small social groups or forage: Concealment/camouflage,
  Vigilance, Avoidance/flight

• Larger primates, larger permanent social groups: Mobbing, Direct attack
  

Can primates be predators themselves?

Primates can also be predators : chimpanzees on colobus monkeys,
bushbabies.

How might polyspecific relationships help primates avoid predation?

• Polyspecific associations: periods when two different species move and rest as one group.

• Predators, especially the harrier hawk, are seen more frequently when young

• lemurs are most vulnerable: when infants are born or being weaned.
  Ring-tailed lemurs and sifakas form Poly specific associations when predation encounters are high
  

What is “Behavioral Ecology”?

• how primates use their habitat, obtain resources necessary for their survival
  and avoid predation.

• As members of an ecological community, primates have evolved ecological
  and behavioral strategies that enable them to survive.

How does environment and ecology affect social behavior?

What are the different types of primate social groups?

• One Male, One Female (Monogamous)

• One Male, Many Females (Polygynous)

• One Female, Many Males (Polyandrous)

• All Males

• Many Males, Many Females

How are social groups different from social organization?

Social Organization - patterns of relationships between individuals living within the same social group and social structure (here one male groups)