Question

Describe some aspect of primate behavior that shows the influence of the physical environment (e.g., food resource distribution, presence or absence of predators, and so on).

Answer 1

below are some primats behavior that shows the influence of the physical envioronment- As per Body Size their are some advantages for larger animals require fewer calories per unit of weight than smaller animals because they have a smaller ratio of surface area to mass than smaller animals.Diet-While small-bodied primates focus on high-energy foods, larger ones don’t necessarily need to. For gorillas eat leaves, pith from bamboo stems, and other types of vegetation, and they don’t need to use much energy searching for food, since they are frequently surrounded by it.Other then body size Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) The BMR concerns metabolism, the rate at which the body uses energy to maintain all body functions while in a resting state.For some smaller primates like -galagos, tarsiers,require an energy-rich diet high in protei, fats and carbohydrates Some larger primates, which tend to have a lower BMR and reduced energy requirements relative to body size, can do well with less energy-rich foods, such as leaves.

Distribution of Resources Various types of foods are distributed in different ways. Fruits, nuts, and berries in dispersed trees and shrubs occur in clumps. These can most efficiently be exploited by smaller groups of animals, so large groups frequently break up into smaller subunits while feeding. Such subunits may consist of one-male– multifemale groups. Species that feed on abundantly distributed resources may also live in one-male–multifemale groups.Predation Primates, depending on their size, Their responses to predation depend on their body size, social structure, and the type of predator. Typically, where predation pressure is high and body size is small, large communities are advantageous.