Title
Chapter Title: Long-Term Field Studies—Africa
Book Title: The International Encyclopedia of Primatology
Author(s)
Chapman, Colin A.; Corriveau, Amélie; Schoof, Valérie A. M.; Paim, Fernanda Pozzan; Valenta, Kim
Published
2017
Abstract
Primates are long-lived animals with complex life histories, which slowly impact their environment through seed dispersal and herbivory. As a result, short-term studies only provide a snapshot of a primate's life and poorly represent their environmental effects. Therefore long-term studies are needed. The need for long-term studies has taken on urgency because humans are changing the environment, particularly in Africa. For example, assessments suggest that global temperatures could increase by 5.8°C this century. Our ability to predict primate responses to climate change is poor. In areas becoming hotter and drier, food trees will die and primates will die along with them, or move. All forests occupied by primates are changing, either representing succession resulting from previous anthropogenic disturbance or because of climate change.
Keywords
behavioral ecology;ecology;habitat;primate

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