ANT 322
Primate Biology and Behavior

Test 1 Review Guidelines

Mechanics:

• The test multiple choice, 50 questions, 5 answer choices per question, 2 points each.

• There will be two bonus questions worth 2 points each for extra credit.

• Tests will be graded on a curve, as stated in the syllabus

What to study:

• Class notes, including online powerpoint supplements

• Textbook:  Chapters 1 and 2

• Below are items to review and what you want to know (most boldface terms and concepts) and do not need to know (specific primate examples of these key terms unless otherwise specified).

  • Phylogenetic and ontogenetic:  definitions.
     

  • Levels of study and explanation: ultimate and proximate
     

  • Ethnographic studies, ethograms, habituated, anthropocentric (primates as referential models, indicator species). Definitions only.
     

  • Comparative biology
     

  • Classification schemes aid in studying: 

    • Activity pattern (nocturnal, diurnal, cathemeral, energy minimizers and maximizers). You do not have to know specific primate examples other than most prosimians are nocturnal and most anthropoids are diurnal.  
       

    • Diet (insectivory, faunivory, folivory and frugivory).  Definitions only; no need to know specific primate examples except that most prosimians are insectivores.
       

    • Habitat use and ranging (day ranges, daily paths, home range), definitions of these terms only.
       

    • Locomotor systems:  vertical clinger and leaper, brachiator, arboreal quadruped, terrestrial quadruped, knuckle-walking, biped; definitions only.  You do not have to know specific primate examples--these will be part of the question.  Example:  Humans walk on two legs habitually and are known as?  Answer:  bipeds
       

    • Group size:  gregarious, solitary, cohesiveness, fission-fusion, influence of evolution on cognition.  You do not have to know which primates are characterized as any of the above; focus on the definitions.
       

    • Social and reproductive units (socionomic sex ratio, dispersal:  female or male-based, philopatry, matrilocal/matrilineal, patrilocal/patrilineal).  Definitions only; no need to know specific primate examples.
       

    •  Primate mating systems:  monogamy and polygamy (polygyny, polyandry); definitions only, no need to know specific primate examples.
       

  • Where primate research takes place:  Studies in the wild, field studies (provisioning), captive studies
     

  • How did primate research change from the 1960's to 1970's?  What had the focus been and what did it become?
     

  • What is meant by:  reproductive success, fitness, inclusive fitness, and adaptive behaviors?
     

  • Sociobiology, behavioral ecology:  general definition.  What is meant by primate research shifting toward strategic models?  In other words, what is a strategic model?
     

  • Behaviors looked at in terms of:  genotype, and phenotype (strategies:  feeding, social, reproductive, life history)
     

  • Primates are complex because of lots of variation in life history traits (Examples of life history traits:  long lifespan, delayed maturation, etc.)
     

  • Items related to primates having a large neocortex:

    • What is the social brain hypothesis? 
       

    • How does neocortex size relate to competitive versus cooperative behavior?
       

    • What is an ecological advantage to a larger neocortex?
       

    • What is meant by two traits varying isometrically versus allometrically?
       

    • What are the social consequences of a larger brain in term of extended life histories?
       

    • Presocial and altricial: definitions.
       

  • Sexual dimorphism definition
     

  • BMR definition.  How does it relate to body weight and diet?
     

  • What is the Jarman/Bell Principle?
     

  • Taxonomic groups

    • Order:  Primates--what are the key primate characteristics differentiating us from other mammals?
       

    • Two suborders with two naming systems:  Prosimii/Anthropoidea and Strepsirhini/Haplorhini (why are there two systems--on which primate is this based?)
       

    • Three infraorders of Prosimii:  Lemuriformes, Lorisiformes, Tarsiiformes--what are some basic characteristic similarities and differences among these groups?  Be able to identify that lemurs are of the infraorder Lemuriformes, that bushbabies are galagos and they and pottos and lorises are of the infraorder Lorisiformes, and that tarsiers are of the infraorder Tarsiiformes
       

    • Two infraorders of Anthropoidea:  Platyrrhini and Catarrhini--How do they differ in terms of their dental formula/pattern and where are they found today? 
       

    • Platyrrhini:  Superfamily Ceboidea.  You do not need to know the families.  Be able to recognize some common names of New World Monkeys such as howler monkeys, spider monkeys, marmosets, tamarins, and muriquis.  Know that some platyrrhines have prehensile tails and know what a prehensile tail is.
       

    • Catarrhini:  Superfamilies Cercopithecoidea and Hominoidea.  You do not have to know any features or traits at this time. 

      • Cercopithecoidea includes baboons, macaques, guenons, colobus, and langurs.  You do not have to know the families.
         

      • Know the families of Hominoidea only, and the common names of its members:

        • Hylobatidae:  gibbons and siamangs
           

        • Pongidae:  orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos,
           

        • Hominidae:  humans
           

    • Clades, cladistics

      
       

  • Systematics:  Chapter 2 (pp. 66-68) Definitions

    • Specialized traits are derived; used to distinguish a species from its last common ancestor

    • Generalized or primitive traits are traits shared through descent from a common ancestor

    • Homology

    • Parallel evolution

    • Convergent evolution

    • Homoplasies

    • Trichromatic vision

    • Mutations

    • Molecular clock

    • mtDNA vs. nuclear DNA (undergoes recombination)
       

  • Phylogenetic analysis of behavior:  Please read pages 68-72 for the general theme or idea and be able to answer a question about what is discussed in a broad sense; there are no specific questions from these pages.