Orangutans
Geographic Variation in Behavioral Ecology and Conservation
Published on 11. December 2008
Book
Hardback
440 pages
978-0-19-921327-6 (ISBN)
Description
This book describes one of our closest relatives, the orangutan, and the only extant great ape in Asia. It is increasingly clear that orangutan populations show extensive variation in behavioural ecology, morphology, life history, and genes. Indeed, on the strength of the latest genetic and morphological evidence, it has been proposed that orangutans actually constitute two species which diverged more than a million years ago - one on the island of Sumatra the other on Borneo, with the latter comprising three subspecies.
This book has two main aims. The first is to carefully compare data from every orangutan research site, examining the differences and similarities between orangutan species, subspecies and populations. The second is to develop a theoretical framework in which these differences and similarities can be explained. To achieve these goals the editors have assembled the world's leading orangutan experts to rigorously synthesize and compare the data, quantify the similarities or differences, and seek to explain them.
Orangutans is the first synthesis of orangutan biology to adopt this novel, comparative approach. It analyses and compares the latest data, developing a theoretical framework to explain morphological, life history, and behavioural variation. Intriguingly, not all behavioural differences can be attributed to ecological variation between and within the two islands; relative rates of social learning also appear to have been influential. The book also emphasizes the crucial impact of human settlement on orangutans and looks ahead to the future prospects for the survival of critically endangered natural populations.
This book has two main aims. The first is to carefully compare data from every orangutan research site, examining the differences and similarities between orangutan species, subspecies and populations. The second is to develop a theoretical framework in which these differences and similarities can be explained. To achieve these goals the editors have assembled the world's leading orangutan experts to rigorously synthesize and compare the data, quantify the similarities or differences, and seek to explain them.
Orangutans is the first synthesis of orangutan biology to adopt this novel, comparative approach. It analyses and compares the latest data, developing a theoretical framework to explain morphological, life history, and behavioural variation. Intriguingly, not all behavioural differences can be attributed to ecological variation between and within the two islands; relative rates of social learning also appear to have been influential. The book also emphasizes the crucial impact of human settlement on orangutans and looks ahead to the future prospects for the survival of critically endangered natural populations.
Reviews / Votes
This is a very important study. * Michel Cuisin, Mammalia *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Illustrations
83 line illustrations and 30 black and white halftone illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 260 mm
Width: 208 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
1164 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-921327-6 (9780199213276)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Serge A. Wich | S. Suci Utami Atmoko | Tatang Mitra Setia
Orangutans
Geographic Variation in Behavioral Ecology and Conservation
Book
01/2010
Oxford University Press
€97.80
Shipment within 15-20 days
Serge A. Wich | S. Suci Utami Atmoko | Tatang Mitra Setia
Orangutans
Geographic Variation in Behavioral Ecology and Conservation
E-Book
01/2010
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€70.99
Available for download
Persons
Serge Wich received his MSc in animal behaviour in 1995 at Utrecht University (the Netherlands) for which he conducted a study on food competition in wild Sumatran orangutans. In 2002, he received his PhD from the same university for a study on the structure and function of male Thomas langur long-distance vocalizations.In 2003, he started as a post-doc at Utrecht University to study 'cultural behaviour' of orangutans in two orangutans in two orangutan poplulations one on Sumatra and on on Borneo. Currently he is a visiting scientist at Great Ape Trust of Iowa from where he continues with field work on Sumatran orangutans and is currently also involved in studies on the orangutans and bonobos at Great Ape Trust.
Suci Utami Atmoko started conducting research on orangutans while at the Universitas Nasional in Jakarta where she received her BA for a study on female reproduction.She continued her orangutan research on male bimaturism research at Utrecht University where she obtained her PhD in 2000. Since then she has been involved in orangutan research and conservation activities in Borneo and Sumatra. She is currently a lecturer at Univeritas nasional (jakarta, Indonesia).
Tatang Mitra Setia started studying Indonesian primates in 1979 at the Ketambe research site. In 1988 he began his studies on social relationships of orangutans. In 1995 he received a MSc at Universitas Indonesia (Jakarta, Indonesia). He is involved in orangutan research on both Borneo and Sumatra and currently he is the Dean of the Biology Faculty of Universitas Nasional (Jakrta, Indonesia).
Carel van Schaik has studied primates in Indonesia and elsewhere since 1976. He received his MSc at Utrecht University (the Netherlands) for a study on behavioral ontogeny in orangutans. In 1985 he obtained his PhD at the same unviersity for a study on the socioecology of long-tailed macaques. After a post-doc at Princeton University, he worked as a lectured at Utrecht University and later as a Professor at Duke University. He is interested in the social evolution of primates and currently studies orangutans at two sites in Indonesia. He is the author of a large number of scientific articles and has edited several books on topics ranging from male infanticide to primate conservaton. Currently he is professor at and the director of the Antropological Institute & Museum of the University of Zurich, Switzerland.
Suci Utami Atmoko started conducting research on orangutans while at the Universitas Nasional in Jakarta where she received her BA for a study on female reproduction.She continued her orangutan research on male bimaturism research at Utrecht University where she obtained her PhD in 2000. Since then she has been involved in orangutan research and conservation activities in Borneo and Sumatra. She is currently a lecturer at Univeritas nasional (jakarta, Indonesia).
Tatang Mitra Setia started studying Indonesian primates in 1979 at the Ketambe research site. In 1988 he began his studies on social relationships of orangutans. In 1995 he received a MSc at Universitas Indonesia (Jakarta, Indonesia). He is involved in orangutan research on both Borneo and Sumatra and currently he is the Dean of the Biology Faculty of Universitas Nasional (Jakrta, Indonesia).
Carel van Schaik has studied primates in Indonesia and elsewhere since 1976. He received his MSc at Utrecht University (the Netherlands) for a study on behavioral ontogeny in orangutans. In 1985 he obtained his PhD at the same unviersity for a study on the socioecology of long-tailed macaques. After a post-doc at Princeton University, he worked as a lectured at Utrecht University and later as a Professor at Duke University. He is interested in the social evolution of primates and currently studies orangutans at two sites in Indonesia. He is the author of a large number of scientific articles and has edited several books on topics ranging from male infanticide to primate conservaton. Currently he is professor at and the director of the Antropological Institute & Museum of the University of Zurich, Switzerland.
Content
Introduction ; 1. Taxonomy, geographic variation and population genetics of Bornean and Sumatran orangutans ; 2. The functional significance of variation in jaw form in orangutans: The African apes as an ecogeographic model ; 3. Orangutan positional behavior: inter-specific variation and ecological correlates ; 4. A description of the orangutan's vocal and sound repertoire, with a focus on geographic variation ; 5. Orangutan life history variation ; 6. Orangutan distribution, density, abundance and impacts of disturbance ; 7. The effects of forest phenology and floristics on populations of Bornean and Sumatran orangutans: are Sumatran forests better orangutan habitat than Bornean forests? ; 8. Orangutan activity budgets and diet: A comparison between species, populations and habitats ; 9. Geographic variation in orangutan diets ; 10. Parasites and their impacts on orangutan health ; 11. The ecology of female reproduction in wild orangutans ; 12. Development of independence: Sumatran and Bornean orangutans compared ; 13. Ranging behavior of orangutan females and social organization ; 14. Geographical variation in orangutan long calls ; 15. Male-male relationships in orangutans ; 16. Orangutan mating behavior and strategies ; 17. Social organization and male-female relationships ; 18. Ecological sex differences in wild orangutans ; 19. Nest building in orangutans ; 20. Innovation and intelligence in orangutans ; 21. Orangutan cultures revisited ; 22. Orangutan population biology, life history, and conservation: Perspectives from PVA models ; 23. Orangutan rehabilitation and reintroduction: Successes, failures, and role in conservation ; 24. Geographic variation in orangutan behavior and biology: its functional interpretation and its mechanistic basis ; References ; Index