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Ontogenetic resource partitioning in white-faced sakis (Pithecia pithecia)

Robl, Nicholas
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1228418482

Abstract Details

2008, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Anthropology.
The wide diversity of feeding strategies among primates is intrinsically linked to the phenotypic variation that exists among species. Often overlooked in studies of primate feeding strategies is the phenotypic variation that exists within a species, where subgroups of individuals (i.e. sex or age classes) may exhibit more phenotypic variation than that which exists among similar members of different species. Such variation may lead conspecifics to adopt individual feeding strategies that rival the differences observed between species. The differences in feeding strategies among individuals, or resource partitioning, may be not only a byproduct of phenotypic variation, but may also effectively reduce competition for resources among conspecifics. In primates, resource partitioning among age classes may be particularly important in promoting juvenile survival during the extended developmental period, both by allowing immature individuals to focus on the resources they can exploit most efficiently and by reducing competition for resources with adults. This study investigated dietary variation between juveniles and adults in a group of white-faced saki monkeys (Pithecia pithecia) along three niche dimensions: microhabitat, food type, and time. White-faced sakis are an interesting group to study resource partitioning because they routinely encounter mechanical challenges (i.e. hardness and toughness) when exploiting seeds. These properties may provide an additional mechanism by which age groups differ in their abilities to exploit food items. Differences in body size, and by extension, differences in masticatory morphology, may provide a phenotypic mechanism for differential resource usage. Here, the most pronounced differences between juvenile and adult feeding strategies occurred during seasonal food scarcity, when juveniles exhibited significantly reduced dietary diversity relative to adults and utilized significantly smaller food patches. There were no differences in feeding habits between age groups when food became more abundant. The mechanical properties of foods items were not a significant factor in dietary differences between age groups, although these results must be interpreted cautiously due to small sample size. That juveniles and adults exhibited variation in feeding strategy suggests that this may be an important component of primate life histories and should be considered in any analyses of ecological systems.
Marilyn Norconk, PhD (Advisor)
Chris Vinyard, PhD (Committee Member)
Richardq Meindl, PhD (Committee Member)
Ecology
ontogeneny; white-faced saki; resource partitioning; intraspecific; mechanical properties; feeding ecology; pithecia

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Robl, N. (2008). Ontogenetic resource partitioning in white-faced sakis (Pithecia pithecia) [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1228418482

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Robl, Nicholas. Ontogenetic resource partitioning in white-faced sakis (Pithecia pithecia). 2008. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1228418482.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Robl, Nicholas. "Ontogenetic resource partitioning in white-faced sakis (Pithecia pithecia)." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1228418482

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.