2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Primate sensory ecology approached through odorant analysis for dietary fruits of New World monkeys
Project/Area Number |
16K14818
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Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
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Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
Research Field |
Physical anthropology
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Research Institution | The University of Tokyo |
Principal Investigator |
Kawamura Shoji 東京大学, 大学院新領域創成科学研究科, 教授 (40282727)
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Research Collaborator |
ENDO Mizuki 河村研究室, 大学院生
Melin Amanda University of Calgary, Assistant Professor
SHIRASU Mika 東原和成教授研究室, 助教
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Project Period (FY) |
2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
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Keywords | 感覚進化 / 霊長類 / 果実採食 / 色覚 / 嗅覚 / 新世界ザル / オマキザル / 匂い物質 |
Outline of Final Research Achievements |
The senses play critical roles in helping animals evaluate foods, including fruits which can change both in color and scent during ripening to attract frugivores. While numerous studies have assessed the impact of color on fruit selection, little is known about fruit scent, and how olfactory and visual data are integrated during foraging. We combine behavioral data on wild white-faced capuchins (Cebus imitator) with measurements of fruit colors and scents from dietary plant species. We show frequency of olfactory behavior is positively correlated with increases in the volume of fruit odors produced during ripening. Monkeys with red-green colorblindness sniffed fruits more often, indicating that increased reliance on olfaction is a behavioral strategy that mitigates decreased capacity to detect red-green color contrast. These results demonstrate a complex interaction among fruit traits, sensory capacities and foraging strategies which help explain variation in primate behavior.
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Free Research Field |
自然人類学
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Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
ヒトを含めて霊長類は視覚の動物と考えられ、特に色覚は熟した果実の採食に重要と考えられてきた。しかし、霊長類の果実採食において匂い嗅ぎ行動が頻繁に観察されることや、色覚において不利とみられてきた「赤緑色弱」がカモフラージュ資源の獲得に有利であるという近年の知見などから、ヒトを含めた霊長類の感覚進化を再考する必要が生じた。本課題は、様々な植物種に対して、果実の色や匂いの多様な変化パターンに応じて、霊長類が色覚や嗅覚を相補的に柔軟に使い分ける戦略をとっている実態を明らかにした。
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