Primate societies have been classified into discrete categories based on the flexibility of their social organisation. However, due to growing evidence of intra-specific and temporal variation in grouping patterns, it has been suggested that instead, primate societies should be characterised by their relative degree of fission-fusion dynamics, which indicates the extent to which groups vary in spatial cohesion and the temporal variation in the size and composition of parties. While perceived predation risk and food availability are known to be key factors shaping primate societies, it is not clear if fission-fusion dynamics reflect short-term behavioural adaptations to these factors, and if social preferences also influence fission-fusion dynamics. Furthermore, little is known about the impact of fission-fusion dynamics on social relationships. These issues are addressed in this thesis by investigating the grouping patterns and social relationships of two troops (Gamgam and Kwano) of free-ranging olive baboons (Papio& hamadryas & anubis) in Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Nigeria. Grouping patterns were measured through association networks and the temporal variation in party size, party composition, and spatial cohesion, and were related to variations in food availability, predation risk, and habitat use. Variations in patterns of associations and fission-fusion dynamics were found both between troops, and between seasons within troops. As these variations could largely be accounted for by differences in ecology and demography, it seems that fission-fusion dynamics reflect a short-term optimisation of the trade-off between the cost and benefits of group living. The network of associations of the fluid Kwano troop, but not of the cohesive Gamgam troop, was found to be sub-structured in a way that indicates Infanticide avoidance may play an important role in association patterns. Both the frequencies of social behaviours, and the structures of networks based on five types of social interactions, were related to differences in fission-fusion dynamics. The degree of fission-fusion dynamics appears to influence social relationships, as a quantitative difference in social behaviour was linked to variation in fission-fusion dynamics.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第20218号 / 理博第4303号 / 新制||理||1618(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 古市 剛史, 教授 Fred Bruce BERCOVITCH, 教授 平井 啓久 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

Thesis (MSc (Biochemistry))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / This study describes: 1. The cloning of baboon cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage (CYP11A1) cDNA by in vitro site-directed mutagenesis. 2. The identification and sequencing of three baboon CYP11A1 mutants: CYP11A1a, CYP11A1b and CYP11A1c. 3. The expression and characterisation of baboon and human CYP11A1 cDNA, CYP11A1a, CYP11A1b and CYP11A1c in nonsteroidogenic COS-1 cells. The Km and V-values for the metabolism of 25-hydroxycholesterol were determined. 4. The construction of the first homology model of CYP11A1, using both mammalian (CYP2C5) and bacterial (CYP102) cytochromes P450 crystal structures as templates. 5. A structure/function study into the role of the amino acid residues Ile98, Lys103 and Thr291 in substrate binding and enzymatic activity. 6. The proposal of a topological model of the CYP11A1 active pocket as determined by substrate docking studies.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

No description available.

Papio ursinus are dietary generalists that exploit a diverse repertoire of food resources. This study explored the foraging strategies of a group of Papio ursinus and the foraging differences between subgroups classified by age and sex. Food resource preference, nutritional properties of food resources, and nutritional demands were examined to test the hypotheses that the foraging strategies exhibited by the subgroups would differ and that food selection is driven by nutritional demands. Adult females and juveniles were found to seek out food resources higher in proteins, while adult males were found to prefer food resources higher in carbohydrates. The findings support the alternative hypotheses and suggest that nutritional pressures are the best predictor of foraging optimization. A pilot study, involving the observation of a provisioned group of Macaca mulatta, that proved elemental to the formulation of the research design employed in the study of Papio ursinus, is also described.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

MENVSC / Department of Ecology and Resource Management

Comprendre l'émergence et la propagation des maladies infectieuses chez les animaux sauvages est devenue une priorité en santé publique et en conservation. En combinant la collecte de données et le développement de modèles épidémiologiques, cette thèse s'est focalisée sur la compréhension de deux phénomènes clés: (i) étudier comment l'hétérogénéité au niveau des individus, des groupes, de la population et de l'environnement influence la propagation de parasites et (ii) quantifier la transmission de bactéries résistantes aux antibiotiques depuis l'homme vers les animaux sauvages dans trois aires protégées d'Afrique (Tsaobis NP- Namibie, Lopé NP-Gabon et Dzanga-Ndoki NP- République Centrafricaine). Les principaux résultats de ce travail montrent que : (1) De multiples facteurs incluant la température, la pluie, l'utilisation du territoire, le genre, l'âge et la condition physique influencent la richesse spécifique de parasites gastro-intestinaux chez le babouin chacma, (2) Les contacts entre animaux autour des points d'attractions de l'habitat peuvent influencer de manière importante la propagation spatio-temporelle d'une maladie, (3) La transmission d'entérobactéries résistantes semble avoir lieu depuis les humains ou le bétail vers les animaux sauvages dans des zones où le contact entre ces populations est élevé, (4) Le gradient de densité de gorilles produit par la chasse peut générer une augmentation de prévalence d'un parasite avec la distance au point d'introduction. Les conclusions de ce travail ouvrent de nouvelles possibilités pour l'étude des maladies émergentes chez les animaux sauvages. / Understanding the emergence and spread of infectious disease in wild animal populations has become an important priority for both public health and animal conservation. Combining the collection of empirical data with the development of epidemiological models, this thesis focuses on understanding two key issues of wildlife epidemiology: (i) how heterogeneity at the individual, group, population and landscape level affects parasite spread (ii) investigating whether transmission of antibiotic resistant bacteria from humans to wildlife is occurring within three protected areas of Africa (Tsaobis NP-Namibia, Lope NP-Gabon and Dzanga-Ndoki NP-Central African Republic). The main findings of this work indicated that: (1) multiple-scale factors including temperature, rainfall, home range use, sex, age and body condition influence gastro-intestinal parasite richness among wild baboons; (2) animal contacts around ‘habitat hotspots' can substantially influence the spatio-temporal dynamics of a disease; (3) antibiotic resistant enterobacteria seem to be spreading from humans/livestock to wildlife when the territory overlap between these two populations is expected to be high; (4) gradients in gorilla density created by bushmeat hunting can reverse the expected pattern of decreasing parasite prevalence with distance to human-spillover. The conclusions of this work open new possibilities for studying the mechanisms explaining the spread of emerging infectious diseases among wild animals.

No description available.