Class4

Primate diet essentials

Primates need protein, carbohydrates/fat, vitamins & minerals, and water.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

The rate at which energy is used or exchanged in life processes, measured in kcal/hour at rest.

Ecological pyramids

A representation of the distribution of biomass or energy among trophic levels in an ecosystem.

Frugivore

A primate that primarily eats fruit.

Folivore

A primate that primarily eats leaves.

Insectivore

A primate that primarily eats insects.

Omnivore

A primate that eats both plant and animal foods.

Mass-specific Metabolic Rate (MSMR)

The rate of energy expenditure per gram of body weight; an inverse measure of efficiency.

Jarman-Bell Principle

A principle indicating that smaller animals need high-energy foods while larger animals can eat lower-energy foods.

Plant defenses

Mechanisms like toxins and digestion inhibitors that protect plants from herbivores.

Adaptations for harvesting food

Anatomical and behavioral traits that help primates acquire food.

Cecotrophy

The practice of consuming feces to digest nutrients from food that the animal has previously eaten.

Camouflage

A form of protection where prey hides from predators to avoid being eaten.

Glucose

A simple sugar that serves as a primary energy source for most organisms.

Chitin

A structural polysaccharide found in the cell walls of fungi and the exoskeletons of arthropods, a source of fiber.

Chemical plant defenses

Substances produced by plants to deter herbivores, such as alkaloids and tannins.

Seasonal dietary changes

Variations in food availability and consumption based on seasonal climates.

Physiological demands

The body's requirements for energy and nutrients during growth and reproduction.

Anatomical specializations

Physical traits that have evolved to optimize food gathering, such as the aye-aye’s middle finger.

Behavioral specializations

Skills developed by primates for food acquisition, such as tool use and cooperative hunting.