Species differences in tolerance to environmental change

Abstract

The central issue in considering tolerance to environmental change — the secret of survival for both individuals and species — lies in the ability to locate, consume and process adequate food; only then can individuals breed successfully to perpetuate the species. Food location involves the use of special senses and postcranial musculoskeletal system in locomotor aspects of positional behaviour. Food consumption or intake involves postural behaviour and manual activity and/or oral movements. Food processing involves mechanical breakdown of food in the mouth and chemical breakdown in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as transport through the whole digestive system. These three crucial facets of behaviour will be examined in turn for primates living in different environments, with special emphasis on their capabilities to cope with changes, whether natural or induced by humans.