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Perceived predation risk has a large impact on how prey species utilise landscapes. In an effort to reduce predation risk, individuals tend to utilise safer areas more than unsafe areas. How perceived predation risk affects the utilisation of landscapes by animals is termed a “landscape of fear”. Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) have a landscape of fear that operates in both horizontal and vertical planes. Within this landscape, vervets perceive the safest area to be up in a tree, under the canopy. To reduce predation risk, vervets use various predator-specific alarm calls and have been found to eavesdrop on the alarm calls of other species (e.g. birds). In this study, I explored whether vervet monkeys were able to associate eavesdropped alarm calls with specific predator types (i.e. aerial and terrestrial) as they do with their own predator specific alarm calls. To do this, I first quantified the three-dimensional landscape of fear for vervet monkeys by measuring giving up densities in artificial patches. I then used playbacks of the vervets’ aerial and terrestrial predator alarm calls, the alarm call of a red-backed shrike, and a mixed-species flock mobbing call to manipulate perceived predation risk. By comparing changes in foraging intensity within the patches, I quantified the specific reactions of the vervet monkeys to aerial and terrestrial predators. In addition, I found that the monkeys did not eavesdrop on the red-backed shrike call. However, the vervets did eavesdrop on bird mobbing calls, and associated the calls with the location of the potential treat and reacted as if it was a particular predator type. Specifically, the vervets reacted to mobbing calls played from up in a tree the same way as they did if an aerial predator was present, and calls from the ground as if a terrestrial predator was present. Thus, this suggests that they were able to associate a non-functional referential call (i.e. the mobbing call) with specific information, gathered from the location of the calls, and interpreted it in a referential manner. Moreover, intensity of these reactions (as measured by total feeding effort) indicated that vervets saw aerial predators as a greater threat compared to terrestrial predators. Ultimately, my results suggest that vervets can associate eavesdropped calls with specific predators, and this likely provides a fitness benefit in a dangerous and unpredictable world. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

The samango monkey (Cercopithecus mitis erythrarchus) is the southern most representative of the polytypic mitis group. The samango is also the only truly arboreal guenon to have radiated as far as 30°S. At southern latitudes a greater seasonality of climate and an attendant seasonal shift in food availability is expected to restrict the foraging strategy of the arboreal guenon. In the absence of arboreal congenerics and few frugivorous bird and bat species, the samango experiences a level of competitive release at Cape Vidal not found in other equatorially located mitis populations. In this thesis I examine and contrast the diet and feeding behaviour of the mitis species group. In this way I illustrate the consequences of seasonality of food abundance and competitive release on the foraging strategy of the samango, and provide an explanation for the unique distribution of the samango monkey as the only arboreal guenon in southern Africa. Despite seasonality in climate and abundance of food resources, my data show that, in general, samango monkeys at Cape Vidal are not food limited. For this reason Cape Vidal samangos have large troop sizes (25+), use small home ranges (15 ha) and have the highest density (2.02 ind/ha) of any C. mitis population researched to date. Fruit forms an important part of the diet year-round and therefore, energy and carbohydrate are abundant. There is very little intra-group aggression for food, although interindividual distances are greatest when feeding. There are age-sex differences in the diet, and adult males eat more fruit while females eat more leaves than other age-sex classes. The most important aspect of the feeding strategy of the samango is concerned with obtaining adequate protein in the diet, and throughout the range of the mitis group, populations differ most in feeding strategies used to secure protein-rich foods, such as young leaves, flowers and invertebrates. In this respect seasonal nutrient (protein) availability, rather than seasonality of food abundance per se, is the most limiting component of the forest environment. Unlike equatorial populations of mitis that derive most of their protein from insects, samangos are unable to adopt a similar strategy. Insects were available to the monkeys, and then only in low numbers, in the wet summer season at Cape Vidal. Samango monkeys, therefore, make greater use of a wider variety of plant items for protein acquisition. During the wet summer months, insects, flowers and young leaves are used by samangos to obtain sufficient protein for important reproductive activities, such as lactation, and initial growth of the infant. During the drier winter months only mature leaves and small quantities of young leaves are available as protein resources, consequently samangos use more mature leaf in the diet than other C. mitis populations. Adaptations of the gut and specialized gut microflora permit this high degree of folivory in the diet (Bruorton and Perrin 1988) of the samango monkey. This is a characteristic that does not appear to be shared with other arboreal guenons. In so far as protein is essential for reproduction, folivory in c. mitis has been important in permitting this arboreal guenon species-group to radiate into southern latitudes where protein is more seasonally available. The ability of samango monkeys to eat large quantities of leaves at anyone time, accounts for their unique position as the only arboreal guenon species in southern Africa. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1990.

Many studies have documented adverse affects to inequitable situations in non-human primates. The behaviors that have predominantly been examined include food taking, collecting, giving, and refusals between the primate subjects and the experimenters. However, no studies had looked at the affective responses to inequity in primates. In a recent study, four-year old children who were rewarded inequitably accepted the reward, however they showed affective signs of dissatisfaction. For this study, we looked for affective displays in capuchins during inequitable exchange tasks. We predicted that the capuchins that were experiencing inequity would show more signs of agitation and aggression than those in equitable situations. We saw no increase in agitation or aggression when subjects were treated inequitably. There was higher aggression towards partners who received the lower reward in inequitable situations and less agitation seen by partners during frustration controls. Future studies may find our hypothesized results using different methodologies.

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Thesis (M.A.)--Texas State University-San Marcos, 2007. / Vita. Appendices: leaves 74-84. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-92).

Thesis (M.A.)--Texas State University-San Marcos, 2007. / Vita. Appendices: leaves 74-84. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-92).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-05-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:17:41Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 carvalho_fm_me_jabo.pdf: 732796 bytes, checksum: 9bcaa86558c023e3a8b866ae27e2da36 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / As alterações constantes do meio ambiente com diminuição do habitat natural dos primatas brasileiros têm estimulado o desenvolvimento de biotecnologias na área da reprodução, visando à preservação de espécies. Este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar, pela primeira vez, técnicas de criopreservação de sêmen de Alouatta caraya. Foram colhidas 26 amostras de sêmen de seis Alouatta caraya machos adultos e sadios, mantidos em cativeiro no Centro Nacional de Primatas (CENP), Ananindeua, PA. As amostras foram analisadas imediatamente após a colheita quanto aos parâmetros volume, pH, concentração, motilidade total e progressiva, integridade de membrana plasmática, integridade de acrossoma, atividade citoquímica mitocondrial, estresse oxidativo (TBARS) e fragmentação de DNA (SCSA). Após as análises iniciais, as amostras foram congeladas com quatro diluidores diferentes – Test-gema de ovo com glicerol 3 ou 4% e Test-lecitina de soja com glicerol 3 ou 4%, utilizando máquina de congelação automática TK 3000. As amostras foram descongeladas e analisadas aos 10, 40 e 80 minutos pós-descongelação. Diluidores à base de gema de ovo foram mais adequados para congelação de sêmen dessa espécie, quando comparados aos diluidores à base de lecitina de soja. Não houve diferença estatística quanto à concentração de glicerol, porém para o diluidor à base de gema de ovo, a concentração de 4% apresentou melhores resultados. Este trabalho trouxe informações inéditas a respeito de características seminais e aspectos da criopreservação de sêmen dessa espécie, todavia os protocolos de congelação testados não foram considerados adequados para a preservação das amostras estudadas / The constant environmental changes with reduction of the natural habitat of the Brazilian primates require the development of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) for species conservation. The objective of this study was to evaluate, for the first time, cryopreservation techniques for Alouatta caraya semen. Twenty-six semen samples were collected from six captive adult Alouatta caraya from the National Primate Center, Ananindeua, PA – Brazil. Samples were analyzed immediately after collection for the following parameters: volume, pH, concentration, total and progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, oxidative stress (TBARS), and DNA fragmentation (SCSA). After initial evaluation, samples were frozen in four different extenders – Test-egg yolk with 3 or 4% glycerol and Test-soy lecithin with 3 or 4% glycerol – using an automatic freezer TK 3000. Samples were thawed and analyzed for the same parameters at 10, 40 and 80 minutes post-thaw. Egg yolk-based extenders seemed better for cryopreservation of semen from this species when compared to soy lecithin-based extenders. Although there was no statistical difference between the different glycerol concentrations, for the egg yolk-based extenders, 4% glycerol had better results. This study brought novel information on semen characteristics and cryopreservation aspects for this species, although the protocols tested were not considered suitable for the cryopreservation of the samples studied

O gênero Cebus, representado por quatro espécies e várias subspécies, encontra-se geograficamente distribuído desde a América Central até o sul da América do Sul. Entretanto, sua anatomia é ainda muito pouco conhecida. É de fácil adaptação, podendo sobreviver em pequenas matas e restingas, mas a contínua destruição de seu habitat vem ameaçando, de forma progressiva, sua sobrevivência, o que vem ressaltar a importância de estudos dessa natureza. Considerando-se ainda as importantes funções do cerebelo, no controle e manutenção do equilíbrio corporal e do tono muscular, bem como no estabelecimento da postura e da harmonia e coordenação de movimentos, o presente trabalho tem a proposta de analisar, no C. apella, macro e mesoscopicamente, a disposição das estruturas de seu cerebelo. Com isso, tem-se por objetivo o melhor conhecimento do cerebelo do C. apella, o que nos permitirá tecer ilações a respeito de suas potencialidades funcionais, em comparação a outros primatas não-humanos, a mamíferos domésticos e ao homem. Foram utilizados 20 animais, 16 para analise macroscópica e 4 para mesoscopia, fixados e conservados em formol 10%, pertencentes ao acervo de pesquisa do Prof. Dr. Zenon Silva, na Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, MG. Após conveniente preparo de cada peça, macroscopicamente foram observados os hemisférios cerebelares, que se mostram pouco desenvolvidos em relação ao verme. No corpo do cerebelo, foram identificadas três porções, os lobos anterior, posterior e flóculonodular, assim constituídos, respectivamente: língula, lóbulo central, bastante desenvolvido, assim como suas asas, cúlmen e lóbulo quadrangular anterior; declive, lóbulo, quadrangular posterior, folha do verme, lóbulos semilunares, bem caracterizados na região equatorial dos hemisférios, sendo um superior e um inferior, túber, pirâmide, tonsilas bem desenvolvidas, e lóbulo biventre também bem demarcado. São bem evidentes as fissuras primária (entre os lobos anterior e posterior), horizontal (entre os lóbulos semilunares superior e inferior), secundária (pós-piramidal) e a póstero-lateral (separando o nódulo e a úvula e os hemisférios do lobo floculonodular), intraculminal e pós-clival. Outras fissuras menos evidentes são a pré-central, pré-culminal, pré-piramidal e intra-biventre. Os cortes para análise dos aspectos morfológicos internos, foram efetuados segundo os planos sagital mediano e horizontal, com espessura de 2 a 3 mm, sendo corados pelas soluções de Mulligan. As estruturas evidenciadas são descritas com detalhes comparando-se os dados obtidos com os da literatura consultada. Os termos anatômicos foram referidos segundo a Terminologia Anatômica (Internacional), 1ª. Edição brasileira - 2001, Ed. Manole Ltda. / The gender Cebus, represented by four species and several subspecies, it\'s found geographically distributed since Central America up to the south of South America however, its anatomy is still little well-known. Its from easy adaptation and can survive in small forests and restingas, but the continuous destruction of its habitat has been threatening, in a progressive way, its survival, what point the importance of these kinds of study. Considering still the important cerebellum\'s function at the control and maintenance of body equilibrium and muscle tonus, as well as the estabilishement of posture, harmony and movements coordenating, the present work proposes to analyze, on C. apella, macro and mesoscopically, the disposition of structures at its cerebellum. This way the objective is to know better C. apella\'s cerebellum, what will allow us to weave related to its functional potentialities comparing to other no-human primates, domestic mammals and human. Its was used 20 animals, 16 to macroscopic analysis and 4 mesoscopic fixed and kept in of formaldehyde 10%, belonging to the research of Professor Dr. Zenon Silva, at Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, MG. After convenient prepare of each part, it was macroscopically observed the cerebellum hemispheres that seems little developed in relation to the worm. At cerebellum\'s body, it was identified three portions, the previous lobe, posterior and floculonodular, like this respectively constituted: língula, central lobule plenty developed, as well as its wings, cúlmen and previous quadrangular lobule, declive, posterior quadrangular lobule, worm\'s leaf, semilunar lobules well characterized at equatorial region of the hemispheres, being one above and one below, túber, pyramid, well developed tonsil and biventer lobule also well demarcated. Its very obvious the primary fissure (between the previous and posterior lobe), horizontal (between the superior and inferior lóbules semilunar) secundary (post-pyramidal) and the posterolateral (separating the nodule and the uvula and the hemisphere of lobe floculonodular), intraculminal and post-clival. Other less obvious fissures are the pré-central, pré-culminal and intra-biventer. The cuts to morfological internal analysis were effected according to the average and horizontal sagittal plans, with tickness from 2 to 3 mm, being colours by muligan\'s solutions. The obvious structures are described with details comparing the data obtained with the researched literature. The anatomic terms were refered according to the Anatomic Terminology (International), first Brazilian edition- 2001, Ed. Manole Ltda.

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