A behavioral and genetic study of the color vision polymorphism in wild squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus).

详细信息   

• 作者：Montague ; Michael J.
• 学历：Doctor
• 年：2011
• 导师：Di Fiore, Anthony,eadvisorJolly, Clifford J.ecommittee memberDisotell, Todd R.ecommittee memberRaaum, Ryan L.ecommittee memberBoissinot, Stephaneecommittee member
• 毕业院校：New York University
• Department：Anthropology
• ISBN：9781267049292
• CBH：3482913
• Country：USA
• 语种：English
• FileSize：5488781
• Pages：348

文摘

Trichromatic color vision is universal among humans, apes and Old World monkeys because all of these taxa possess three genetic loci that code for opsin proteins with different spectral sensitivities. By contrast, most South American taxa possess only two opsin loci, and polymorphism at the X-chromosome locus allows for populations of both dichromatic and trichromatic animals to exist. I studied this aspect of squirrel monkey Saimiri sciureus ) biology in a wild setting in Amazonian Ecuador to test hypotheses about the maintenance of the polymorphism. I collected activity and ranging data and assessed the behavioral ecology of the species. The results support the idea that S. sciureus exhibit large home ranges, substantial home range overlap, interspecific associations with other primate species, and a reliance on a variety of fruits that display a wide variation of colors. In order to facilitate an understanding of individual color vision capabilities, I collected biological samples from animals living in different social groups. I first conducted genetic tests on the samples to clarify sample quality, animal identity, and kinship structure within two social groups. The results indicate that female group members are philopatric. I used the same samples to assess color vision genotypes for 62 animals in the population and discovered that each of the three opsin alleles are present. Females possessed one of six possible phenotypes, but since one allele was found at a low frequency, two phenotypes were rare among males and females. I accumulated behavioral observations for a subset of known individuals and compared behavioral patterns among males and females. Females tended to be found in proximity to other females, and their behavior, relative to males, was characterized by more insect foraging and higher rates of insect captures, capture attempts and behaviors related to detecting insects. Finally, I compared behavioral observations of dichromatic females with those of trichromatic females. There were no differences in behaviors related to fruit foraging, insect foraging or searching for insect prey. When observations were assessed according to ambient light levels, the results suggest that trichromatic females and dichromatic females adjust their search behavior in dim light.