Primatology Flashcards
(27 cards)
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How is the body size of primate species related to their behavioural ecology?
Primate body size is related to ecological factors such as diet, locomotion, and social systems. Larger primates like gorillas typically have a folivorous diet, slower life histories, and more terrestrial behavior, while smaller primates like marmosets have faster life histories, are more arboreal, and feed on insects or fruits.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of methods used to test hypotheses about primate traits?
Strengths include archaeological, comparative, and experimental evidence which allow us to test predictions and infer evolutionary processes. Weaknesses include limited fossil records, potential biases in interpreting evidence, and the difficulty of applying controlled experiments to wild primates.
How can sexual selection explain morphological differences between male and female primates?
Sexual selection can explain traits like sexual dimorphism, where males are larger or have more elaborate features (e.g., mandrills’ bright coloration) to attract females or intimidate rivals. These traits increase male reproductive success through mate competition or female choice.
Describe three defining features of the order primates and explain their adaptive origins.
- Forward-facing eyes for stereoscopic vision, crucial for arboreal navigation. 2. Grasping hands with opposable thumbs for better locomotion and manipulation of objects. 3. Large brains relative to body size, supporting complex social structures and learning abilities in variable environments.
Explain the importance of monophyletic taxa in cladistic classification, using tarsiers as an example.
Monophyletic taxa refer to a group that includes a common ancestor and all its descendants. Tarsiers are considered a separate clade from other primates, which shows their distinct evolutionary path, and their position in primate phylogeny helps clarify the divergence between early primate lineages.
What are the key characteristics of tarsiers?
Tarsiers are small, nocturnal primates with huge eyes adapted for their nocturnal lifestyle, and they are exclusively faunivorous. They have a unique leaping behavior and are the only primates that do not consume plant food.
What is the difference in social and mating systems among platyrrhines?
Platyrrhines, or New World monkeys, exhibit diverse social structures, including pair-living, one-male multi-female, and multi-male multi-female groups. Mating systems also vary, with some species exhibiting cooperative breeding and paternal care.
How does sexual selection influence the behavior of primates?
Sexual selection influences male primates to develop traits that increase their chances of mating, such as larger body size, bright colors, or vocalizations. Females often select mates based on these traits, leading to male-male competition and female choice.
How does the body size of primates affect their diet and ecological niche?
Larger primates like orangutans tend to have slower metabolic rates and rely on high-quality diets such as fruits, while smaller primates like tamarins require more frequent food intake and may rely on insects and sap.
Explain the importance of comparative evidence in testing hypotheses about primate behavior.
Comparative evidence involves comparing species or populations to infer evolutionary patterns. It helps test hypotheses about the adaptive significance of traits, such as tool use or social structure, by examining similar traits across different primate species.
What are the primary features that distinguish catarrhines from platyrrhines?
Catarrhines (Old World monkeys and apes) typically have downward-facing nostrils and a more diverse range of social systems compared to platyrrhines, which have side-facing nostrils and are mostly arboreal.
What is the significance of long interbirth intervals in primates?
Long interbirth intervals reflect the high investment required for offspring care in primates. This is particularly important for species with slow reproduction rates, like great apes, where the extended juvenile period allows for more complex social learning and brain development.
How do ecological factors influence primate social systems?
Ecological factors like food availability and predation risk shape primate social systems. For example, high food competition may favor larger groups, while predation risk may promote more solitary or smaller group living, depending on the species.
How does the sexual dimorphism in body size relate to social and mating behaviors in primates?
Sexual dimorphism in body size often correlates with polygynous mating systems where males compete for access to females. Larger males may dominate and control access to females, while smaller males may use alternative strategies like sneak copulation.
What are the defining features of strepsirrhines?
Strepsirrhines are characterized by a wet nose (rhinarium), a reliance on scent for communication, and a more nocturnal lifestyle. Examples include lemurs, lorises, and galagos.
What ecological niches do lemurs fill on Madagascar?
Lemurs fill a wide range of ecological niches from insectivory to frugivory, with species adaptations like the bamboo lemur’s ability to process toxic bamboo and the aye-aye’s unique percussive foraging for insects.
What are the primary adaptations that support arboreal life in primates?
Arboreal primates have adaptations such as grasping hands, opposable thumbs, prehensile tails, and increased arm mobility, which help them navigate and forage in trees.
How do the social systems of colobines differ from those of cercopithecines?
Colobines tend to have smaller group sizes due to their folivorous diet and lower competition for food, whereas cercopithecines, like baboons and macaques, have larger groups and more complex social structures, often with male dominance hierarchies.
What is the role of parental care in primate evolution?
Parental care in primates, particularly male involvement in infant care, has evolved to ensure higher survival rates of offspring. This is particularly notable in species like titi monkeys and tamarins, where males contribute to carrying and food sharing.
How does the concept of cooperative breeding relate to primate social systems?
Cooperative breeding, seen in callitrichids, involves extended family groups where non-parental individuals help raise offspring. This strategy increases reproductive success by ensuring better care and protection for the young.
What are the advantages of tool use in primates?
Tool use in primates, such as capuchins using stones to crack nuts, increases foraging efficiency and provides access to higher-quality food, thereby improving overall nutrition and energy balance.
How do mating systems vary across primate species?
Mating systems in primates range from monogamy in species like gibbons, to polygyny in orangutans, to promiscuous mating systems in species like chimpanzees and bonobos, depending on factors like resource distribution and sexual competition.
Why are tarsiers considered an enigmatic group in primate evolution?
Tarsiers are considered enigmatic due to their unique characteristics, such as their large eyes and faunivorous diet, which set them apart from other primates. Their evolutionary relationship with other primate groups is still debated.
