Thesis (M.A.)--Kent State University, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed March 27, 2008). Advisor: Chet C. Sherwood. Keywords: hippocampus, spatial memory, diet, habitat, home range, activity pattern, primate, independent contrast. Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-89).

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The taxonomic configuration of the Order Primates in three different schemes (morphological, immunological, and cladistic) is examined. Multivariate techniques of analysis are used to testthe taxonomies, one against the others, resulting in a quantitative comparison. The analysis reveals both the similarities and differences among the taxonomies, resulting ultimately in a composite classification of the Order Primates. The composite taxonomy is a quantitatively meaningful and qualitatively interpretable result.

This thesis presents the results of the first long-term field study of the buffy-headed marmoset, Callirhrix flaviceps, a rare primate species with a small natural range in southeastern Brazil. The introductory discussion presents the species in the context of a review of the available literature on the taxonomy, evolution, behaviour and ecology of the primates of the family Callitrichidae. The study animals, study site and methodology are then described. A detailed description of seasonal fluctuations in the abundance and distribution of dietary resources at the site provides a frame of reference for the analysis of the study group's behaviour. General patterns in the group's use of time and space are outlined in the context of these variables and comparisons are made with other callitrichid species. A number of behavioural strategies are identified. A more detailed analysis of seasonal patterns in the group's foraging and feeding behaviour emphasizes the systematic nature of its exploitation of resources. The gum-feeding adaptation of the marmosets is seen as having far-reaching implications for many aspects of their behaviour and ecology. Behavioural specialisations for the capture of certain types of prey and the exploitation of secondary and disturbed forest habitats are also proposed. It is concluded that most features of the group's foraging behaviour support predictions drawn from optimality models, in the context of an overall 'time-minimising' strategy in particular. As much of the behavioural repertoire of this species appears to be broadly similar to that of other callitrichids, these findings offer a number of important insights into their ecological adaptations.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Universität Zürich, 1993.

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Texte remanié de: Diss.--Philosophy--University of Alberta, 1977. / Bibliogr. p. 270-282. Thèse soutenue sous le titre : "Auditory regions of strepsirhine primates, tree shrews, elephant shrews and lipotyphlous insectivores"

La préhension manuelle, impliquée dans l’acquisition de nourriture et la locomotion, est commune à tous les primates. Toutefois, les mécanismes de son émergence et de son évolution restent encore à élucider. Quels sont les facteurs 1) écologiques (propriétés de la nourriture et du substrat) conduisant à une plus grande utilisation de la main chez les premiers primates et 2) fonctionnels (posture corporelle, cinématique du membre supérieur) impliqués dans l’évolution de la préhension des primates?Afin d’apporter des éléments de réponse, cette thèse a pour objectif de déterminer les stratégies comportementales et cinématiques de la préhension non contrainte d’espèces représentatives des grands groupes phylogénétiques primates (microcèbe, lémur catta, capucin, gorille, chimpanzé, humain).Tout d’abord, les stratégies comportementales du microcèbe, présentant des convergences avec les premiers primates, suggèrent que l’arboricolie et l’omnivorie ont joué un rôle important dans l’émergence des capacités de préhension des primates. Ensuite, l’analyse de la préhension du gorille et de l’humain montre une influence limitée des postures corporelles sur les stratégies articulaires du membre supérieur. Enfin, la comparaison de toutes les espèces montre que certains invariants cinématiques de la préhension liés à la vitesse du poignet existent indépendamment des espèces et que d’autres semblent être lié au comportement des espèces. En outre, deux stratégies articulaires divisent les espèces favorisant les rotations (gorille et chimpanzé) de celles privilégiant les flexions-extensions (lémur, capucin, humain). Ces stratégies articulaires semblent avoir évolué indépendamment de leurs capacités préhensiles.L’ensemble de ces résultats est discuté au regard des données comportementales et fonctionnelles connues et confronté aux théories actuelles sur l’origine et l’évolution de la préhension. / Manual prehension, involved in food acquisition and locomotion, is common to all primates. However, the mechanisms of its emergence and evolution still remain to be elucidated. This prompts questions such as 1) what are the ecological factors (food and substrate properties) leading to an increase of the use of the hand in early primates, and 2) what functional factors (body posture, kinematics of the forelimb) are involved in the evolution of prehension in primates?The thesis project aims to determine the behavioural and kinematic strategies of unconstrained prehension in representative species of the major lineages of primates (the mouse lemur, lemur catta, capuchin, gorilla, chimpanzee, human).The behavioural strategies of the mouse lemur, convergent on early primates, suggest that arboreality and omnivory have played an important role in the origin of prehensile abilities in primates. The analysis of prehension in gorillas and humans shows a limited influence of body posture on the angular joint excursions and kinematic strategies. A comparison of all the species reveals that some kinematic invariants in the wrist velocity profile exist, independent of the species. Yet others appear to be related to the specific behaviour of the species. Moreover, two joint motion strategies divide the species, one favoring the rotations (gorillas and chimpanzees) and one involving more flexion-extension movements (lemurs, capuchins, humans). These joint motion strategies seem to have evolved independently of grasping ability.The results are discussed in the context of current work and theories on the origin and the evolution of prehension in primates.

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No description available.