Pitheciine Action Group
The International Context:
Pitheciins and Patterns of Seed
Predation in the Neotropics,
Africa and Asia
Norconk, M.A., B.W. Grafton &
W.S. McGraw
Fruit eating predominates primate feeding strategies with morphological
indicators, such as expanded molars, appearing early in the fossil record.
While many modern primates are recognized as important seed
dispersers, little is known about the nutritional, morphological or
behavioral limitations imposed on seed-eating primates. We surveyed
the literature and found 18 genera that met our criteria and used this
database of seed predators to ask two questions. Do primate seed
predators share plant taxa used as feeding sources (suggesting a
common nutritional reward)? And, are there any common morphological
traits that characterize all seed-eating primates? A total of 81 plant
families (331 genera) were documented as used by primate seed
predators worldwide, with 19 plant families (23.4%) shared by all three
primate radiations. Neotropical seed predators (the pitheciines and
Cebus spp) included significantly more seed species in their diets
(Kruskal-Wallis, p < 0.002) than either prosimians or Old World
monkeys. Of several morphological specializations possibly linked to seed
predation, only mandibular robusticity appeared to be shared among
primate seed predators. Based on dietary and morphological indicators,
pitheciins appear to be the most specialized primate seed predators, but
almost ¼ of the plant families (principally Euphorbiaceae, Papilionaceae,
Mimosaceae, Sapindaceae and Moraceae) were shared by all three
radiations of primates suggesting possible convergence on resources
with relatively high rewards or low levels of feeding deterrents.
Return to symposium programme
Pitheciins and Patterns of Seed
Predation in the Neotropics,
Africa and Asia
Norconk, M.A., B.W. Grafton &
W.S. McGraw
Fruit eating predominates primate feeding strategies with morphological
indicators, such as expanded molars, appearing early in the fossil record.
While many modern primates are recognized as important seed
dispersers, little is known about the nutritional, morphological or
behavioral limitations imposed on seed-eating primates. We surveyed
the literature and found 18 genera that met our criteria and used this
database of seed predators to ask two questions. Do primate seed
predators share plant taxa used as feeding sources (suggesting a
common nutritional reward)? And, are there any common morphological
traits that characterize all seed-eating primates? A total of 81 plant
families (331 genera) were documented as used by primate seed
predators worldwide, with 19 plant families (23.4%) shared by all three
primate radiations. Neotropical seed predators (the pitheciines and
Cebus spp) included significantly more seed species in their diets
(Kruskal-Wallis, p < 0.002) than either prosimians or Old World
monkeys. Of several morphological specializations possibly linked to seed
predation, only mandibular robusticity appeared to be shared among
primate seed predators. Based on dietary and morphological indicators,
pitheciins appear to be the most specialized primate seed predators, but
almost ¼ of the plant families (principally Euphorbiaceae, Papilionaceae,
Mimosaceae, Sapindaceae and Moraceae) were shared by all three
radiations of primates suggesting possible convergence on resources
with relatively high rewards or low levels of feeding deterrents.
Return to symposium programme
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SYMPOSIUM
Pitheciins: Ecology & Conservation
XXI Congress of the International Primatological Society
Pitheciins: Ecology & Conservation
XXI Congress of the International Primatological Society
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