Chapter 5 Flashcards
Why do we study primates?
-We’re essentially studying ourselves
●Demonstrate our biological heritage as primates.
●Cast light on basic human behaviors and their ancestry.
●Window into the evolution of intelligence.
●Understand the evolution of language.
●Understand the origins of culture.
Studying primates can can inform us on Human Biology, Human Behavior, Human Evolution, Human Disease Susceptibility and Primate Extinction
How does one identify a primate? (see Table 5.1)
look at iphone pictures
What are the different kinds of primates? (see Table 5.3)
look at iphone pictures
How do primates get enough energy to survive and reproduce?
-primates need energy ( food) to survive, grow, maintain themselves, and reproduce.
4 factors that determine how much food is required: 1. Basal metabolic rate. 2- active metabolism 3. Growth rate 4. Reproductive effort
Food is not a limitless resource.
Trade offs must be made in how primates utilize their energy.
Primates Have evolved special adaptations in their teeth and digestive systems to maximize absorption of energy.
Body size and diet are related among primates.:
- the smallest species eat mainly insects and gum
- the largest species eat leaves, seeds, and herbs.
- fruit eating species fall in between.
The diet of a primate affects its home range as it influences behavioral characteristics like territoriality.
Availability of food:
- Leaves and seeds are more plentiful than fruits.
- Leaf eating monkeys have smaller home ranges.
Seasonality of food:
- Ripe fruits and leaves are not always present
- Larger home range to find that food in season
Primate diet examples:
Protein source- insects and leaves
Carbohydrates- fruit and gum
Fats and oils- insect and animal prey and seeds.
Primate diet requirements: Carbohydrates Amino acids( protein) Fats and oils Vitamins Minerals Water
Primates avoid:
Species have adapted to avoid ingestion
Concentrated in adult leaves
Examples - caffeine, tannins, alkaloids.
How do primates avoid being food?
- Many primates give alarm calls when they see predators and some species have vocalizations ( vervet monkeys give different calls when they are alerted to presence of leopards, small carnivores, eagles, snakes, baboons, and unfamiliar humans) for particular predators.
- they either flee or take cover.
- Some primates associate with members of other primate species.
- Primate Territoriality- territories defend mates and resources.
- Primate socialite- predators avoidance
Why do primates live in groups?
-primates are social as Predator avoidance - group size is an important adaptation for predators avoidance. - vocalization ( think vervet monkey) - inter specific association - increased group size Detection- more eyes to see predators Deterrence- mobbing behavior Dilution- lower risk of individual death. Feeding competition - defend food patches - female distribution related to resources Costs - more competition for food and mates - disease transmission Social engagements are good as welll
Why are primates vanishing?
-50% of primates are threatened with extension.
African apes dwindling -600 to 700 mountain gorillas remaining.
Orangutans - only 6000 left on Sumatra.
Humans are the main reason why primates are endangered currently.
Habitat destruction
-Subsistence hunting
-Bushmeat Trade
Pet trade
Disease- Ebola
Nocturnal v. diurnal
-Nocturnal - active only during the night.
Diurnal - active only during the day.
Sexual dimorphism
-Differences between sexually mature males and females in body size or morphology.
Incisors, canines, premolars, molars and dental formula
-incisors - the front teeth in mammals. In anthropoid primates, incisors are used for cutting, and there are won each side of the upper and lower jaw.
Canines- the sharp, pointed tooth that lies between the incisors and the premolars in primates.
Premolars- the teeth that lie between the canines and molars.
Molars- the broad, square back teeth that are generally adapted for crushing and grinding in primates. Anthropoid primates have 3 molars on each side of the upper and lower jaw.
Dental formula- the number of incisors, canines, premolars, and molars in the upper and lower jaws.
2-1-2-3 all apes and old world monkey and humans
2 incisors,1 canines, 2 premolars, 3 molars.
Types of Social organization
-Social Organization- the size, age-sex composition, and degree of cohesiveness of primate social groups.
Types of social organizations include:
- Solitary- females maintain separate home ranges or territories and associate with their dependent offspring. Males establish their own territories or home ranges, which may encompass the ranges of one or more adult females. All of the solitary primates are strepsirrhines, except for orangutans.
- Pairs - groups are composed of one adult male, one adult female, and immature offspring.
- Multiple males, one female- 1 adult female shares a territory with more than 1 adult male and offspring. Example marmosets and tamarins.
- One male, multiple females- Groups are composed of a number of adult females, one resident adult male, and immature offspring . Example monkeys, some langurs, and gelada baboons.
- Multiple males, multiple females- Groups are composed of a number of adult females, a number of adult males , and immatures. Example Macaques, baboons, capuchin, monkeys etc
Types of mating systems
-mating systems- the pattern of mating activity and reproductive outcomes.
Types of mating systems:
- Monogamy/ pair bonding- each male and female mates with only one member of the opposite sex.
- Polyandry- females mate with multiple males, but each of the males mates with only one female. Example marmosets and tamarins.
- Polygyny- males mate with multiple females, but each female mates with a single male.
- Polygynandry (promiscuity)- both males and females mate with more than one partner.
Basal metabolic rate
The rate at which animal burns energy while at rest.
Energy required to keep a resting animal alive.
Larger animals use less energy per unit of body weight than smaller animals.
Small animals need to eat high quality food or need to eat more often than larger animals.
Active metabolism
Can sometimes be twice the energy required to sustain the basal metabolic rate.
Growth rate
Additional energy needed during periods of growth in infants and juvenile primates.
