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The influence of habitat on behaviour in a group of St. Kitts green monkeys
Author(s) -
Chapman Colin
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1985.tb05660.x
Subject(s) - cercopithecus aethiops , ecology , biology , habitat , agonistic behaviour , home range , abundance (ecology) , peninsula , range (aeronautics) , aggression , social psychology , psychology , virus , materials science , virology , composite material
The relationships between specific ecological variables and the expression of behaviours were investigated in a group of green monkeys ( Cercopithecus aethiops ) inhabiting an ecologically diverse home range on the dry savanna‐like peninsula of St. Kitts, West Indies. The group's behaviour was shown to vary between areas that differed with respect to four factors produced from a factor analysis of 20 ecological variables. A number of relationships between behaviour and ecology were found that have not been previously described. Social behaviours were negatively related to cover, while attention behaviours were positively related to cover. Agonistic behaviours and affiliative behaviours were positively related to food abundance. Open areas with edge proved to be important to the group, and a number of behaviours were expressed for longer durations and/or more frequently in these areas. Comparisons of this study with others illustrates a need to examine carefully behavioural ecological relationships using quantitative methodology.