The Use of Fallback Foods in a Population of Black Handed Spider Monkeys at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve, Belize

atmire.migration.oldid1259
dc.contributor.advisorPavelka, Mary
dc.contributor.authorGriffin, Neil
dc.date.accessioned2013-08-27T21:16:27Z
dc.date.available2013-11-12T08:00:15Z
dc.date.issued2013-08-27
dc.date.submitted2013en
dc.description.abstractSeasonal fluctuations in preferred food availability cause some non-human primate species to occasionally rely on less-preferred food types, called fallback foods. Periodic reliance on fallback foods has led, in some cases, to the evolution of morphological traits geared towards their exploitation. However, in species without these traits, fallback foods may instead beget behavioural modifications. Using 21 months of data, I analysed the use of fallback foods, and their behavioural consequences, in a population of highly frugivorous spider monkeys. Spider monkeys have previously been suggested to fall back on leaves, however I found that flowers, not leaves, were used as a fallback food. Seasonal reliance on flowers led to decreases in time spent travelling and increases in time spent feeding, as well as decreases in subgroup size. I interpreted these behaviours as an energy-minimizing strategy adopted to offset the low per-capita energy available in flowers as compared to fruit.en_US
dc.identifier.citationGriffin, N. (2013). The Use of Fallback Foods in a Population of Black Handed Spider Monkeys at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve, Belize (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/28409en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/28409
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11023/896
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectPhysical
dc.subject.classificationfallback foodsen_US
dc.subject.classificationSpider Monkeyen_US
dc.subject.classificationPrimatologyen_US
dc.subject.classificationFeeding Ecologyen_US
dc.subject.classificationflowersen_US
dc.subject.classificationnutritional ecologyen_US
dc.titleThe Use of Fallback Foods in a Population of Black Handed Spider Monkeys at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve, Belize
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineAnthropology
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts (MA)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
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