Fur rubbing as evidence for medicinal plant use by capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus): Ecological,social,and cognitive aspects of the behavior.
详细信息
- 作者：Baker ; Mary Elizabeth.
- 学历：Doctor
- 年：1998
- 毕业院校：University of California
- ISBN：9780599081543
- CBH：9909811
- Country：USA
- 语种：English
- FileSize：11390773
- Pages：363
文摘
Free-ranging capuchin monkeys Cebus capucinus) were studied at the Refugio de Vida Silvestre,Curu,Costa Rica for a total of approximately 15 months over a seven year period from 1991-1996. The wild-life refuge consists of human-altered habitats,secondary forest and dry tropical forest. During the research project,capuchin monkeys were observed applying over their bodies plant material of five,possibly six,genera Citrus,Clematis,Piper,Sloanea and two unidentified mushrooms). The monkeys are precise in their selection and utilization of these plants. The first three of these plants are known to contain secondary compounds which have anti-insect and/or medicinal benefits. The ethnographic record shows that indigenous peoples throughout the New World use these plants for similar purposes and in similar ways. The intent of this dissertation is twofold. The first is to provide an overview of behavioral patterns for comparison with research conducted at other wildlife refuges and national parks. The groups selected for this study were restricted to those whose home ranges were in the predominantly human-impacted areas. Ambient and behavioral data were collected and analyzed to provide an ecological and behavioral adaptations of the capuchins at Curu. The second purpose of this research is to present a detailed discussion of fur rubbing behavior. This behavior is not restricted to this population or species of capuchin monkeys； it is seen in all four species of Cebus,and in both captive and feral groups. This thesis will provide the first systematic inquiry into the function of the behavior. To better understand the more elusive issues of cognition,field experiments were included to answer such questions as "How do the monkeys recognize proper rubbing material?"； "What evidence is there that this is a learned behavior?"； and "What is the function of this behavior?".