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Techniques for the Study of Primate Population Ecology (1981) / Chapter Skim
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HABITAT USE
Pages 128-134

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From page 128...
... In one, called the focal animal technique, the investigator focuses on a single animal for extended periods. He records the activity of that animal for a period of time, then switches to another animal and records its activities for another period.
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From page 129...
... When using the focal animal technique one should consider carefully beforehand how to analyze and present the data. In some studies, frequency is most useful (the number of figs consumed by a monkey or the number of interactions between animals)
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From page 130...
... The longer one watches animals, the larger their home range proves to be, but after a certain number of hours of observation one usually knows most of the home range. There may be seasonal variation or changes in the home range, so it is frequently informative to compute the number of hectares used by the animals each month and to compare the areas used in different seasons.
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From page 131...
... More refined studies of habitat use are becoming common. For example, it is of interest in some studies to record the sizes of the branches on which the primates move and feed (Fleagle, 1978)
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From page 132...
... These include partially eaten flowers, fruits, and leaves. Feces can be collected and examined for plant and insect fragments, seeds, and other evidence of foods eaten.
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From page 133...
... Direct or indirect sampling measures are used, depending on whether visual contact can be maintained with individuals throughout the observation period. Ideally one might wish to know how much of each type of food an animal consumes throughout a day.
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From page 134...
... Some authors are relating food preferences by species and season to the avoidance of toxic secondary compounds such as tannins, saponins, and alkaloids. The problems encountered by folivorous primates in feeding on potentially toxic compounds in leaves are shared by other arboreal mammals including marsupials and edentates (see McKey et al., 1978; Montgomery, 1978)
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Key Terms

  • home range
  • food item
  • scan technique
  • item consumed
  • focal animal

  • animal technique
  • food intake
  • observation period
  • nutritional analyses
  • items consumed

  • stomach contents
  • animals spend
  • toxic secondary
  • watches animals
  • consider carefully

  • quently informative
  • involving secondary
  • tized animal
  • measuring tape
  • extended periods

  • dead animals
  • preparing food
  • timed observations
  • moisture content
  • range proves

  • accurate weights
  • secondary compounds
  • analyses require
  • food preferences
  • simply drying


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