Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
us to include anthropological factors into the ecological equation of under-
standing primate behavior and evolution at areas of interface (Fuentes and
Hockings,
2010
). The chapters in this topic (see Part II) indicate some of
these patterns and suggest that they are tied to human-directed changes to the
ecological conditions, the behavior of humans and macaques, and the extent
to which macaques fit within a local culture's attitudes and beliefs (Fuentes
et al
.,
2005
). By focusing on human perceptions, patterns of behavior, and
ecological contexts of the human-macaque interface, we gain a better under-
standing of how the characteristics of the interface itself affect the behavior
of humans and macaques that are living together (Fuentes and Hockings,
2010
; Fuentes,
2006a
; Riley,
2007
; Wolfe and Fuentes,
2007
; Riley and
Fuentes,
2010
).
The evolutionary biological approach
The ethnoprimatological approach focuses on understanding human-macaque
relationships by exploring the role of macaques in the local people's culture and
how the two species interact. Its main focus is at the proximate level of behav-
ior, as it explores how macaques and humans interact, and how people think
and feel about the primates they are living with. While very useful for char-
acterizing human-macaque interfaces zones, ethnoprimatologists have not yet
directly investigated how the two species have evolved together, and specific-
ally how they have influenced each other's reproductive biology (although they
recognize and suggest this is happening). Of particular importance will be to
increase efforts to understand the impact that human activity and the anthropo-
genic environment have on the genetic evolution of synathropic macaque pop-
ulations. To do this, we will need to begin conducting more detailed studies on
how the anthropogenic environment affects the mortality, reproductive success,
and population genetics of macaques living beside humans. An evolutionary
biological approach will provide a fuller picture of synanthropic macaques and
will also allow us to potentially determine key traits involved in their ability to
living in and adjusting to human-affected environments.
When primates first encounter humans, they quickly flee and it takes time
for them to grow used to being near people. Across primate species there are
very large differences in the speed they will accustom, or habituate, to being
near people, and this can take a few weeks to several years (Williamson and
Feistner,
2003
). A key measurable factor in habituation is the distance at which
the animal flees from humans. Researchers of canine domestication refer to
this range as the animal's “flight distance” (Coppinger and Coppinger,
2001
),
a distance that lowers as the animal becomes less fearful of human presence.
