Reference no: EM132654094

Suppose a graduate student study primate sociality (the area that examines reasons why primates live in groups). They observed a group of howler monkeys in northern Argentina to determine whether competition over resources or predation avoidance is the primary factor favoring group living.

(a) Describe both the Resource Defense Model and the Predation Avoidance Model.

(b) One piece of data they obtained was that larger howler groups had larger territories. If the howlers formed groups for resource defense, what would be the expected relationship between group size and territory size? [The answer to this question should include something like, "As groups size increases, territory size is expected to (increase, decrease, stay the same."] Explain how this data supports the Resource Defense Model.

(c) Another piece of data they obtained was that predation rates were the same regardless if howlers lived in large or in small groups. If howlers formed groups to avoid getting eaten, what would be the expected relationship between group size and predation rates? Explain why this data contradicts the Predation Avoidance Model. [The answer to this question should include something like, "As groups size increases, predation rate is expected to (increase, decrease, stay the same."]