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Cercopithecid locomotion, support use, and support availability in the Tai Forest, Ivory Coast
1Department of Anthropology, State University of New York at Stony Brook 11794, USA.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|August 1, 1996
Summary
African monkeys exhibit consistent locomotor behavior across diverse forest habitats. This stability in positional repertoires suggests preferred support selection overrides habitat structural differences in the Tai Forest.
Area of Science:
- Primatology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Habitat heterogeneity is theorized to influence Old World monkey evolution.
- The impact of distinct forest structures on African monkey positional behavior remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how locomotor behavior varies among five sympatric cercopithecid species in structurally different forest areas.
- To understand the relationship between habitat architecture and primate positional repertoires.
Main Methods:
- Fieldwork conducted in Tai Forest, Ivory Coast, with data collected on five cercopithecid species (Colobus badius, C. polykomos, C. verus, Cercopithecus diana, C. campbelli).
- Adult female behavior sampled using instantaneous time points (3-min intervals).
- Vegetative structure and substrate availability (size, location) quantified within species-used grid cells.
Main Results:
- Locomotor behavior remained consistent across different forest types for most monkeys.
- Species predominantly selected similar preferred supports regardless of forest structure.
- Habitat use patterns suggest a conservative approach to positional behavior.
Conclusions:
- Locomotor consistency in Tai monkeys is maintained by preferential support selection.
- This conservative behavior may be influenced by proximate and ultimate factors.
- Findings contribute to understanding primate adaptation to habitat heterogeneity.