Field Study Methods for Primate Locomotor Ecology and Biomechanics

Blanchard, Mary L.; Crompton, Robin H.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-1420-0_10

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The capacity for animals to change between locomotor modes -altering gait, limb posture or body position -fluidly and efficiently is key to locomotor success in multiple settings. This ability seems especially important in a complex arboreal milieu occupied by many mammalian species (Blanchard and Crompton, 2011;Fleagle, 2013). In the trees, some animals have the ability to switch between above-and below-branch movement, and primates seem particularly adept at this behavior compared with other mammals (Table S1; but see Fujiwara et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ability to change locomotor modes by adjusting gait and/or posture is key to movement and foraging success in a complex threedimensional arboreal environment (Blanchard and Crompton, 2011;Fleagle, 2013;Schmitt and Lemelin, 2002). One remarkable form of locomotor mode switching is the ability of an animal to drop below an arboreal support and adopt suspensory locomotion -any form of forward progression in which the body's center of mass (COM) lies below the point of contact (Stern and Oxnard, 1973).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gait kinetics of above- and below-branch quadrupedal locomotion in lemurid primates

Granatosky

Tripp

Schmitt

2016

Journal of Experimental Biology

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For primates and other mammals moving on relatively thin branches, the ability to effectively adopt both above-and below-branch locomotion is seen as critical for successful arboreal locomotion, and has been considered an important step prior to the evolution of specialized suspensory locomotion within our Order. Yet, little information exists on the ways in which limb mechanics change when animals shift from above-to below-branch quadrupedal locomotion. This study tested the hypothesis that vertical force magnitude and distribution do not vary between locomotor modes, but that the propulsive and braking roles of the forelimb change when animals shift from above-to below-branch quadrupedal locomotion. We collected kinetic data on two lemur species (Varecia variegata and Lemur catta) walking above and below an instrumented arboreal runway. Values for peak vertical, braking and propulsive forces as well as horizontal impulses were collected for each limb. When walking below branch, both species demonstrated a significant shift in limb kinetics compared with above-branch movement. The forelimb became both the primary weight-bearing limb and propulsive organ, while the hindlimb reduced its weight-bearing role and became the primary braking limb. This shift in force distribution represents a shift toward mechanics associated with bimanual suspensory locomotion, a locomotor mode unusual to primates and central to human evolution. The ability to make this change is not accompanied by significant anatomical changes, and thus likely represents an underlying mechanical flexibility present in most primates.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gait kinetics of above- and below-branch quadrupedal locomotion in lemurid primates

Granatosky

Tripp

Schmitt

2016

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…It has often been asserted that primates display the highest locomotor diversity compared to any other mammalian group (e.g. Vilensky & Larson, 1989;Cant, 1992;Blanchard & Crompton, 2011;Fleagle, 2013;Schmitt et al, 2016). This high degree of locomotor diversity observed in primates has been considered an essential adaptation potentially responsible for the evolutionary success of the order (Jones, 1916;Vilensky & Larson, 1989;Schmitt et al, 2016), and it is this assumption that has led to numerous studies documenting locomotor behaviors across a broad phylogenetic spectrum of primate species (Table S1 and Data S1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of locomotor diversity in mammals with analyses exploring the influence of substrate use, body mass and intermembral index in primates

Granatosky

2018

Journal of Zoology

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Locomotor diversity has meant many different things depending on the subject area or investigator. While no concrete definition of locomotor diversity is currently available, this has not stopped researchers from making a number of assertions about the underlying mechanisms that determine whether a species will have high or low locomotor diversity. Some of these claims include that: (1) arboreal primates demonstrate higher locomotor diversity than terrestrial species; (2) anatomically generalized and small‐bodied primates demonstrate higher locomotor diversity than anatomically specialized and large‐bodied taxa; and (3) primates demonstrate higher locomotor diversity compared to non‐primate mammals. None of these claims have been tested in any sort of comparative framework. Using previously published locomotor repertoire data from 110 mammalian species, this study co‐opted the Shannon–Wiener diversity index to calculate a singular measure of locomotor diversity. Phylogenetic analyses of these locomotor diversity indices reveal that within primates, small‐bodied species demonstrate greater locomotor diversity than large‐bodied taxa. However, this effect becomes non‐significant when accounting for differences in substrate‐use (i.e. arboreal vs. terrestrial). Anatomical specialization has no effect on locomotor diversity in primates. Furthermore, primates do not inherently have greater locomotor diversity than other mammalian taxa. Findings from this study suggest that movement on arboreal substrates requires all mammals, regardless of taxonomic affiliation, to demonstrate high locomotor diversity. These data further highlight the challenges faced by arboreal animals and raise the possibility that being able to switch fluidly and frequently between many different locomotor modes may be advantageous for animals moving in an arboreal milieu.

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“…Data collection followed Blanchard and Crompton [2011], itself based on earlier work [Crompton, 1983;Warren and Crompton, 1997] whereby ad libitum, continuous scan sampling is used to record data from any observed locomotor bout from any individual. A bout is defined as any occurrence of locomotion in a given mode that has an obvious beginning and end.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Locomotor Ecology of Propithecus verreauxi in Kirindy Mitea National Park

Furnell

Blanchard²,

Crompton³

et al. 2015

IJFP

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The locomotor behaviour of 2 groups of Propithecus verreauxi (Verreaux's sifaka) was studied over an 8-month period in Kirindy Mitea National Park (KMNP), Madagascar. This paper assesses the major characteristics of their locomotion, focusing on the extent that seasonal variation in climate and habitat, and local variation in habitat, is reflected in changes in locomotor behaviour. P. verreauxi is a committed leaper with a strong preference for vertical and angled supports. We found clear between-group differences in support orientation and diameter suggesting local variation in habitat. During the dry season, P. verreauxi utilizes smaller-diameter supports than in the rainy season. While this difference cannot yet be ascribed to any single cause, we discuss the factors which may contribute to this result.

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Field Study Methods for Primate Locomotor Ecology and Biomechanics

Cited by 13 publications

References 31 publications

Gait kinetics of above- and below-branch quadrupedal locomotion in lemurid primates

Gait kinetics of above- and below-branch quadrupedal locomotion in lemurid primates

A Review of locomotor diversity in mammals with analyses exploring the influence of substrate use, body mass and intermembral index in primates

Locomotor Ecology of Propithecus verreauxi in Kirindy Mitea National Park

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