Models:Primate Behaviorial EcologyModels:Primate Behaviorial Ecology

Goals for today...Goals for today...

• Introduce select models that have been Introduce select models that have been used in the past to predict primate used in the past to predict primate behavior. behavior.

• Talk about historical changes in how we Talk about historical changes in how we interpret primate behaviorinterpret primate behavior

• What is the future of primate studies in What is the future of primate studies in the wild?the wild?

Phase 1: Classification ModelsPhase 1: Classification Models

• Crook and Gartlan model (handout in Crook and Gartlan model (handout in coursepak). coursepak).

– Lots of exceptionsLots of exceptions– Roughly correlated with ecological variablesRoughly correlated with ecological variables– where does this lead research?where does this lead research?

Phase II: Comparative ApproachPhase II: Comparative Approach

• Compare species and look for patterns (Clutton-Brock and Harvey).

– Nocturnal primates smaller than diurnals.

Frugivores smaller than folivores.

Red colobus

Black and white colobus

Frugivores have larger home ranges

than folivores.

Folivores are found in higher

population densities than frugivores.

Sympatric congener studiesSympatric congener studies

• SympatricSympatric- species - species who live in same areawho live in same area

• CongenerCongener-Species in -Species in the same genusthe same genus

• Niche-Niche-organism’s organism’s “ecological address”“ecological address”

• Ecology important!!!Ecology important!!!

Phase III: Deductive approachPhase III: Deductive approach

• InductiveInductive

Moves from specific to Moves from specific to general statementgeneral statement

““Every time I throw a ball Every time I throw a ball up it comes back down up it comes back down again so next time it again so next time it should do the same should do the same thing”thing”

• DeductiveDeductive

Moves from general to Moves from general to specificspecific

““Due to Newton’s law of Due to Newton’s law of gravity, everything that gravity, everything that comes up must come comes up must come down, so when I kick a down, so when I kick a ball up, it should come ball up, it should come

down again.down again. “ “

Predictive modelsPredictive models

• Wrangham’s model for Wrangham’s model for primate social groups. primate social groups. (handout in course pak, (handout in course pak, Strier pg 28). Strier pg 28).

Terborgh and Janson modelTerborgh and Janson modelGroup size is influenced by tradeoff between:

•Predation pressure•Feeding success•Size of resources

Handout in coursepack, Strier pg 20.

Role of PredationRole of Predation• Graphs from Isbel article (coursepak). Graphs from Isbel article (coursepak).

Waves in Primatology theoryWaves in Primatology theory

Descriptive Comparative DeductiveNew technology

DNACortisol