Doctoral Dissertation Improvement: Reproductive Ecology of an Endangered Primate: Diet and Foraging Behavior Alteration in Adult Female Sanje Mangabeys (Cercocebus sanjei)

博士论文改进：濒危灵长类动物的生殖生态学：成年雌性桑杰曼加贝（Cercocebus sanjei）的饮食和觅食行为改变

• 批准号: 0925901
• 负责人: Joanna Lambert
• 金额: $ 1.48万
• 依托单位: University of Texas at San Antonio
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-09-01 至 2011-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0925901&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Improvement; Reproductive; Ecology

This study contributes to delineating interrelationships between primate reproduction and environment and provides understanding of how variation in female reproductive patterns represents an adaptive response to local conditions to ensure reproductive success. It is presently unknown which reproductive strategy is dominant among primates; i.e., the "classic pattern", where conception is correlated with high food availability; the "alternative pattern", where lactation correlates with high food availability; or "aseasonality", where no discernable pattern in births is observed. This study will examine reproductive seasonality in the Endangered Sanje mangabey (Cercocebus sanjei), endemic to the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania. The main objective is to determine whether females express reproductive seasonality, and if reproductive patterns are influenced by extrinsic factors, such as food availability, and/or intrinsic factors, such as female dominance and body condition. The inter-relationship between these variables will also be investigated. As such, this project aims to understand the complex relationship between extrinsic and intrinsic variables acting upon primate reproduction and, therefore, informs important theoretical areas within primate ecology and evolutionary biology. The intellectual merit of this study includes the elucidation of the reproductive ecology of this species. The strategies for successful acquisition of energy and nutrients during reproductive periods will be examined as will the risk of parasitism during reproductive phases and the role of geophagy in relation to parasitism and/or pregnancy. Data will be collected on the social and foraging behavior of 22 adult female Sanje mangabeys over one annual cycle. Fecal and urine samples will be collected to determine parasite prevalence between reproductive and non-reproductive periods, and energy balance, respectively. Food consumed by females will be analyzed for nutritional content, and 12 ecological plots will be monitored monthly in order to assess food availability within the habitat. The remaining population of Endangered Sanje mangabeys is only partially protected and subject to habitat loss in a substantial area of their distribution. As such, the broader implications of this study include providing information on their reproductive ecology, especially resources vital for female reproductive success, which is key to successful conservation measures. In addition, the Tanzanians participating in the project will be vital to conservation efforts, and the attendant knowledge transfer will promote their continued employment and foster local appreciation of Tanzanian biodiversity. Finally, this project will provide research experience for a graduate student and provide the basis for a doctoral dissertation.

这项研究有助于描述灵长类动物繁殖与环境之间的相互关系，并提供对女性生殖模式的变异如何代表对当地条件的适应性反应，以确保生殖成功。目前尚不清楚哪种生殖策略在灵长类动物之间占主导地位。即，“经典模式”，其中构想与高食物的可用性相关； “替代模式”，其中泌乳与高食物的可用性相关；或“阿森特性”，没有观察到出生中可辨别的模式。这项研究将检查濒临灭绝的桑杰·曼加比（Cercocebus sanjei）的生殖季节性，该季节​​是坦桑尼亚Udzungwa山特有的。主要目的是确定女性是否表达生殖季节性，以及生殖模式是否受外在因素的影响，例如食物的可用性和/或内在因素，例如女性优势和身体状况。这些变量之间的相互关系也将进行研究。因此，该项目旨在理解作用于灵长类动物繁殖的外在和内在变量之间的复杂关系，因此，在灵长类动物的生态学和进化生物学中为重要的理论领域提供了信息。这项研究的智力优点包括阐明该物种的生殖生态。 在生殖期间成功获取能量和营养的策略将被检查，而在生殖阶段的寄生虫风险以及与寄生虫在寄生和/或怀孕方面的作用。将收集有关22名成年女性Sanje Mangabeys的社会和觅食行为的数​​据。将收集粪便和尿液样品，以确定生殖期和非生殖时期和能量平衡之间的寄生虫患病率。女性消费的食物将进行营养含量，并将每月监测12个生态地块，以评估栖息地中的食物可用性。其余的濒危Sanje Mangabeys人口仅受到部分保护，并在其分布的大量区域内遭受栖息地丧失。因此，这项研究的更广泛含义包括提供有关其生殖生态学的信息，尤其是对女性生殖成功至关重要的资源，这是成功保护措施的关键。此外，参加该项目的坦桑尼亚人对保护工作至关重要，随之而来的知识转移将促进其继续就业，并促进对坦桑尼亚生物多样性的当地欣赏。最后，该项目将为研究生提供研究经验，并为博士学位论文提供基础。