ISSN:
0032-8332
Keywords:
Primates
;
Jarman-Bell principle
;
Methods
;
Cross-species comparison
;
Feeding strategy
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The feeding niche and the body size of any species are fundamental parameters that constrain the evolution of many other phenotypic characters. Moreover, previous work has shown that body size and diet are correlated, as a consequence of the negative allometry of metabolic rate. Unfortunately, the precise form of the association between body size and diet has never been specified, principally because no suitable cross-species measure of diet has been advanced. Here we develop a measure of diet that is sensitive over the whole spectrum of primate feeding niches, and use this measure to define the relationship between body size and diet for a sample of 72 primate species. Subsequently, we present several examples of how behavioral and ecological hypotheses can be tested by examining the extent to which particular species deviate from the general diet-body size pattern.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02389044
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