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Selective pressures influencing color-vision in Neotropical primates

Seemiller, Eric S.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1309883439

Abstract Details

2011, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Anthropology.
Over the last two decades, the field of primate vision research has turned its attention to color-vision, or trichromacy. Because there is variability in the trichromatic phenotype, especially in Neotropical primates, researchers have proposed a number of selective pressures that might influence trichromacy. Here, I analyzed the role fruit foraging has on trichromacy. A short experiment was conducted on captive primates at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in which they were allowed to forage on cereal that differed only in color. Cereal was used that possessed many of the same qualities as fruit. I found that neither trichromatic nor dichromatic primates showed any strong preference for either red or green cereal. This suggests that leaf-eating likely has a more prominent role in the selection of trichromatic phenotypes. In a second experiment, one which aimed to assess the drawbacks of primate color-vision, a study was conducted at La Pacifica, Costa Rica. I hypothesized that because trichromacy loses efficiency in low-light settings, wild trichromatic primates would feed on the periphery of tree in order to increase ambient light. This was supported, as wild primates fed on the outer two layers of feeding trees more often than predicted by chance. This demonstrates that the drawbacks of trichromacy are not trivial and require compensation. Therefore, there is likely strong positive selection favoring trichromatic phenotypes.
Marilyn Norconk, PhD (Committee Chair)
Richard Meindl, PhD (Committee Member)
Chi-hua Chiu, PhD (Committee Member)
52 p.
Animals; Zoology
trichromacy; platyrrhines; natural selection

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Seemiller, E. S. (2011). Selective pressures influencing color-vision in Neotropical primates [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1309883439

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Seemiller, Eric. Selective pressures influencing color-vision in Neotropical primates. 2011. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1309883439.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Seemiller, Eric. "Selective pressures influencing color-vision in Neotropical primates." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1309883439

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1309883439
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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.