Primate Behavioral Ecology Flashcards
Primate behavioral ecology
How the environment affects behavior and patterns
Foraging locations for ring-tailed lemurs at beza mahafaly, Madagascar
Tend to be terrestrial - small group, high predation pressure; tend to stay in the middle of the tree to keep away from predators
Larger group can go anywhere to eat
Small group, low predation pressure; they go anywhere
Lemurs that are sympatric
Sifaka, ring-tailed lemurs
Live together in the same forest, they can understand each others predator calls
Polyspecific association: periods when two different species move and rest as one group; they don’t compete for food
Raptors relation to lemurs
They know when babies are being born; predators are seen more frequently when young lemurs are most vulnerable; suggests that animals are tracking each other
Habitat effects on behavioral ecology
Two localities: tsimanampetsotsa and beza mahafaly
Tsi: trees with spikes and little areas to sleep, cold, lemurs gather together to keep warm and watch out for predators, sleeping in limestone caves
Beza: big trees and easy to sleep
Primate 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
Primate Limiting Factors
Mortality, Disease, Injuries, and Predation
Patterns of Mortality
Male primates: suffer higher mortality rates than females -> males move out of native groups
Juveniles & Infants: suffer higher mortality rates than older animals, Juvenile primate mortality rates often reach 50% from gorillas to ring-tailed lemurs
Factors affecting Mortality patterns
- General Disease
- Parasitic/Endoparasitic Infestations
- Predation
Habitat effects on behavioral ecology- resource distribution and predation pressure (ring-tailed lemurs)
- The bigger the social group the more eyes to prevent/warn against predators
- Smaller groups tend to have higher predation pressure so they tend to stay in middle of tree to avoid predators
- Larger groups go anywhere
Sociality - Life in Groups
-Social groups: (Residence patterns) : individuals of the same species who interact socially more among themselves than w/others; exhibit different behaviors toward those not part of their social group- Move together and occupy the same home range
Permanent social groups
groups made up of the same adult individuals remain together
-70% of primate genera compared to ~20% other mammals
Types of primate social groups
- much variability
- socioecology is again key to understanding this
types: - one adult
- polygynous - one male/multifemale
- all male “bachelor” groups
- polyandrous -one reproductive female / multimale groups
- monogamous- one male/one female & dependent offspring
- multimale/multifemale
social group type:
One Adult
solitary forages
- galagos: males have huge range while females have smaller ranges and related mother/daughter overlap range have peaceful encounters, often fight w/unrelated female in overlap of ranges
- orangutans: males have huge range while females have smaller ranges, mothers often gather together when fruit abundant
social group types:
Polygynous - one reproductive male/multifemale
-most common primate social organization
-in some cases male tolerates yng males (may be sons)
-occurs in a # of ecological environments
-different types:
Patas monkey: female group males come and goes so females have strong relationships
Hamadryas baboon: male gathers females (father to boyfriend) females focus on relationship w/male dont have good relationships btwn females
social group types:
All male “Bachelor” groups
occur as a result of one male groups
social group types:
Polyandrous- one reproductive female/multimale
a rare social organization seen among some marmosets and tamarins
- may relate to “twinning” in these species & need for helpers
- one or a few males will be part of grp to minimize feeding competition
social group types:
Monogamous- one male/one female & dependent offspring
very rare social organization found in only 3% of all mammalian species
social group types:
Multimale/Multifemale
considerably complex relationships btwn individuals
-includes fission/fushion
Female Philopatry (baboons)
females stay in natal group (group born into)
= have many relatives to support them in various conflicts
-> males eventually leave their natal group because related females will not mate w/them
Male Philopatry (chimps)
males stay in natal group
=have many related males to support them in various conflicts
-> females eventually leave their natal group to avoid mating w/ related males
Cost & Benefits of Social Group Life
- survival advantages in shared info about resources and protection from predators
- provide opportunities for collective rearing of offspring & grooming
- costs in feeding competition for mates and resources and increased transmission of diseases and parasites
Primate strategies for living in social groups
a balance of competition and cooperation using Agonism and Dominance Hierarchies
Agonism
conflict behavior which can be either assertive or defensive
-can involve simply supplenting another ind. from feeding patch, threat gestures, as well as direct physical attack
Aggression
a specific form of conflict behavior characterized by physical &/or verbal (humans) attack
