Feeding and primate evolution Flashcards
Using a case study to illustrate your answer, how can forest composition be affected by the presence of primates?
Study in Peru looked at two parts of a forest, one with primates where it was protected and an area where primates had been hunted. The composition between the two parts of the forest had changed dramatically and changed how the tress were able to reproduce without primates as seed dispersers.
Not only to monkeys poop the seeds out but primates tend to drop a lot of food on the floor for other animals to eat and disperse.
How do plants attract primates?
By making parts of the plant attractive to primates. The plant can catch the eye of the primate for seed dispersal.
What adaptations do plants have to deter primates?
Physical deterrents like protective spines, shells and husks.
Chemical deterrents or secondary compounds
- Toxins/ Alkaloids are poisonous substances and are usually bitter tasting.
- Tannins are digestibility reducing substances because they bind with proteins.
Most leave or stems have some toxins or tannins but mature leaves have more.
What species has a highly toxic diet?
The bamboo lemur has a highly toxic diet. They consume enough cyanide to kill an adult male human.
There is an evolutionary arms race between plants and primates. Give an example of a species that developed a method to get around a desired plants physical adaptations
Cappuchins developed a method of eating a fine haired spiny fruit because if they didn’t eat them then they wouldn’t have much high quality food at that time of year.
They put the fruit into leaves and roll them up and down the trees branches to get rid of the hairs before eating them.
What are some of the primate adaptations to chemical deterrants?
Colobines have a sacculated stomach. Foregut digestion they break down things very early in the digestive tract so there is more time to deal with the toxins and tannins.
Cercopithecins have cheek pouches laced with amylase. The amylase is like an extension of the digestive system.
Geophaphy: Clay has a calming component for an upset stomach.
In humans geophagy is seen in pregnant women to calm morning sickness.
What are some of the other plant strategies to protect from primates?
Producing “en masse” or mast fruiting. Rapid flowering is beneficial because for example howler monkeys won’t be able to eat all of them but will still pollinate.
