Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree Completion
Spring 2008
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Department
Primate Behavior
Committee Chair
Dr. Lori K. Sheeran, Department of Anthropology
Second Committee Member
Dr. Megan D. Matheson, Department of Psychology
Third Committee Member
Dr. Andrew A. Piacsek, Science Honors Research Program
Abstract
Prior work has shown a relationship between tourist density and self-directed behaviors (SDBs) in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at the Valley of the Wild Monkeys. In this study, focal animal sampling was used to collect data on two groups, one with eight adults and the other with 20, during August 2007. Consistent with past research, we found that the quadrat of the study site where monkeys are at eye-level with humans was both least visited by the monkeys and had the highest SDB rates. Of the remaining tourist adjacent quadrats, monkeys spent significantly less time in these areas, but showed significantly fewer SDBs than in non-adjacent quadrats. A trend toward a positive correlation between tourist density and SDBs was found in one group in the quadrat of the study site at which monkeys are at eye-level with humans. The current research also compared SDB rates of the two groups (Y A-1 & Y A-2), and found a significant difference between males in the two groups. The difference in SDB rates of the males seems counterintuitive because Y A-1 had a new alpha male and a male immigrating. A possible explanation is that Y A-1 has been the subject of research and ecotourism for longer and is more habituated to human presence.
Recommended Citation
Yenter, Terrence A., "Self-Directed Behaviors in Tibetan Macaques (Maca Thibetana) as a Function of Tourist Density and Proximity at the Valley of the Wild Monkeys" (2008). Undergraduate Honors Theses. 117.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/undergrad_hontheses/117
Comments
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