Dissertation Research: Mechanism Governing Intraspecific Feeding Selectivity in Mantled Howler Monkeys Alouatta Palliata

论文研究：鬃毛吼猴 Alouatta Palliata 种内摄食选择性的机制

• 批准号: 9705856
• 负责人: Carol Berman
• 金额: $ 1.18万
• 依托单位: SUNY at Buffalo
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1997
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1997-07-15 至 1998-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9705856&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Mechanism; Governing; Intraspecific

All animals, including humans, are selective about the food they eat, (i.e., they chose particular items for food from a suite of resources that are potentially available to them). Much is unknown about the cues and criteria that animals use to choose adequate diets. This is especially true among plant-eating primates with simple stomachs (e.g. howler monkeys), who must choose a diet that is not only adequate in energy, but that also has an adequate mix of nutrients and low levels of toxins and indigestible carbohydrates. Wild howlers eat from the leaves of particular trees but ignore those of other trees of the same species. This study aims to identify the factors that govern such intra-specific food choices. It is an initial step toward understanding factors that govern choices across many food species. Trees of the same species that are used and ignored will be compared for: 1) chemistry (nutrients, structural carbohydrates, and toxins), 2) location, shape and structure, 3) productivity, 4) abundance, and 6) danger of predation. An understanding of the criteria these primates use to choose adequate diets will contribute to a greater understanding of their ecological needs and of their complex behavioral adaptations to a forest environment.

包括人类在内的所有动物都对所吃的食物有选择性（即，它们从可能可用的一系列资源中选择特定物品作为食物）。关于动物用来选择足够饮食的提示和标准，未知。在用简单的胃（例如howl猴）的植物饮食灵长类动物中，这尤其如此。 狂野的吼叫者从特定树木的叶子中吃掉，但忽略了同一物种的其他树木的叶子。这项研究旨在确定控制这种特异性食物选择的因素。 这是迈向理解许多食品选择因素的第一步。将比较使用和忽略的同一物种的树木：1）化学（营养，结构碳水化合物和毒素），2）2）位置，形状和结构，3）生产力，4）4）丰度和6）捕食危险。这些灵长类动物用于选择适当饮食的标准的理解将有助于更加了解其生态需求以及对森林环境的复杂行为适应。