DEPARTMENT OF ETHOLOGY AND ECOLOGY Head of ... - DPZ

DEPARTMENT OF ETHOLOGY AND ECOLOGY 

Head of department: PD Dr. Peter M. Kappeler 

General research objectives 

Within the wide fields of behaviour and ecology, our current research activities focus 

on two central topics: primate social systems and community ecology. We conduct 

comparative field studies on these topics with lemurs in Madagascar and tamarins 

in Peru. Our field projects are multidisciplinary and involve a number of internal 

and external collaborations to study behavioral, endocrinological and genetic questions. 

By addressing similar questions in these different projects within a common 

theoretical framework, we create a basis for identifying basic processes and mechanisms 

in the evolution of primate behavior and ecology. Together with theoretical 

analyses, these results are being used to test hypotheses about the evolution of primate 

communities and to develop recommendations for conservation projects. 

Structure of department 

At the end of the year, the department consisted of the provisional head of the department, 

two postdoctoral scientists, two doctoral students supported by the DPZ, 

four doctoral students supported by the DFG, and one technician. The field stations 

in Madagascar and Peru are being operated by a total of three local doctoral students. 

Scientists 

PD Dr. Eckhard W. Heymann 

Dr. Dietmar Zinner 

Technician 

Ulrike Walbaum 

PhD Students 

Manfred Eberle 

Maren Huck 

Petra Löttker 

Julia Ostner 

Rodin Rasoloarison 

Léonard Razafimanantsoa 

Oliver Schülke 

Emerita Tirado 

Barbara Wimmer 

Department of Ethology and Ecology 

Undergraduate Students 

Alexandra Dill 

Marianne Feldmann 

Roland Hilgartner 

Tina Plasil 

Veromaritra Raharimanantsoa 

Romule Rakotondravony 

Odon Rakotonirainy 

Emilienne Rasoazanabary 

David Rasolofoson 

Inga Timmann 

Julia Trillmich 

Trainees 

Laura Bollwahn 

Melanie Dammhahn 

Julia Gombert 

Karoline Franz 

Wiebke Pflästerer 

Markus Port 

Primate Report 60, July 2001 43

Progress during the year 


The recommendations of the national scientific board with respect to this department 

still failed to be implemented in the previous year. Specifically, the position of 

the head of our department remained vacant during the past year, so that the planning 

of field studies and the recruitment of students continue to be difficult. Moreover, 

the department continues to be handicapped in internal comparisons because 

of the continued discrepancy with respect to the resources available to other departments. 

Despite these difficulties, several scientific projects were completed and even 

initiated during the previous year. Dr. Rodin Rasoloarison provided the salient contribution 

with his thesis on the taxonomic revision of Malagasy mouse lemurs, which 

he defended with honors before the University of Antananarivo. In his thesis, he described 

several new primate species, which also attached a lot of public interest. Dr. 

Barbara Wimmer defended her PhD thesis, which consisted of a comparative study 

An artificial nesthole of grey 

mouse lemurs, fitted with an 

IR-video camera to study patterns 

of infant care.(Foto: M. 

Eberle). 

44 Primate Report 60, July 2001


of the population genetics of four polygynous lemur species, at the University of Munich. 

Moreover, the PhD thesis of Dr. Johanna Fietz was honored with a prize from 

the DPZ. Manfred Eberle, Julia Ostner, Léonard Razafimanantsoa and Oliver 

Schülke spent most of the past year collecting data for their thesis projects in 

Kirindy or the laboratories of the DPZ. Preparations for a new project on the genetic 

population structure of Lepilemur ruficaudatus in the Forêt de Kirindy were successful 

concluded by Dr. Dietmar Zinner. Thesis topics for master’s theses in the 

past year included infanticide avoidance, vigilance and olfactory behavior of redfronted 

lemurs, group movements in sifakas and competition between nocturnal lemurs. 

The results of the research activities at Kirindy during the two preceding years were 

presented and discussed during a symposium. Several Malagasy and European students 

were trained in tropical ecology, and Kirindy was used by students and researchers 

from Germany, England, Italy and the U.S.. 

Research in Peru was mainly carried out within the framework of internal cooperations. 

Janna Kirchhof conducted first field work on the role of alarm calls in 

interspecific associations of tamarins for her dissertation. Towards the end of the 

year, Maren Huck and Petra Löttker started the field phase of the DFG-funded project 

on the proximate regulation and genetic consequences of the polyandric mating 

system of tamarins. The study on tamarin seed dispersal of the leguminose Parkia 

panurensis was finished with a diploma thesis. This thesis demonstrated that seed 

dispersal by tamarins influences the regeneration of this plant species in the study 

area. Recruitment success was higher around tamarin sleeping sites than under 

Parkia-parent trees. Apart from these projects, data collection on basic aspects of the 

feeding ecology and group dynamics of the tamarins and on the phenology of the 

15-20 m 

10-15 m 

5-10 m 

0-5 m 

Ground 

Saguinus fuscicollis 

Saguinus mystax 

0 10 20 30 40 50 

%ofpredation events 

A parameter of niche segregation between moustached tamarins (Saguinus mystax) 

and saddle-back tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis) is the differential use of strata when 

searching for and capturing animal prey. This results in differences in the spectrum of 

animal prey, which contributes to the reduction or avoidance of interspecific feeding 

competition. 



study area was continued. Once again unexpected events happened in the tamarin 

groups, which emphasize the dynamics and flexibility of the social organisation and 

mating system of tamarins. 

The hamadryas baboon project in Eritrea had to be stopped for the time being in 

March 2000. Due to the ongoing war between Eritrea and Ethiopia the schedule of 

the project had to be changed. The planned long-term observations of the baboons 

had to be cancelled and the participation of students in the project was not realized 

due to the risks. Despite the unfavorable conditions, several important questions in 

relation to the distribution, abundance and genetic population structure of hamadryas 

baboons in Eritrea could be studied successfully. 

Projects and partners in cooperation 

(I: interdepartmental projects, E: external cooperation; A: project completed, L: current 

project) 

Projects and Partners of the 


Conservation Biology of Malagasy lemurs and New World primates 

B. RAKOTOSAMIMANANA (Univ. Antananarivo, Madagascar), 

J.U. GANZHORN (Inst. of Zoology, Univ. Hamburg), S. GOODMAN (FMNH 

Chicago & WWF Madagascar), F. ENCARNACIÓN (Univ. Nacional Mayos 

San Marcos, Lima, Peru), H. VALDERRAMA FREYRE, R. PEZO (Univ. 

Nacional Amazonia Peruana, Iquitos, Peru), J.K. HODGES (Dept. of Reproductive 

Biology, DPZ), H. ZISCHLER (Working Group Primate Genetics, 

DPZ), P.M. KAPPELER, E.W. HEYMANN 

Population genetics of Lepilemur ruficaudatus in West-Madagascar 

D. ZINNER, R. HILGARTNER, P.M. KAPPELER, H. ZISCHLER 

(Working Group Primate Genetics, DPZ) 

Sexually selected traits in female primates 

D. ZINNER, C. NUNN (Univ. Virginia, VA, USA), C.P. van SCHAIK 

(Duke Univ., NC, USA), D. STAHL (Univ. St. Andrews, GB) 

Genetic population structure of baboons in Eritrea 

D. ZINNER, A. HAPKE, H. ZISCHLER (Working Group Primate Genetics, 

DPZ) 

E,I L 

I L 

E L 

I L 

Structure of neotropical primate communities 

E.W. HEYMANN, J.U. GANZHORN (Inst. of Zoology, Univ. Hamburg) 

Taxonomy and biogeography of Cheirogaleids 

E L 

R. RASOLOARISON, S. GOODMAN (FMNH Chicago & WWF Madagascar), 

A. YODER (Northwestern Univ., USA), J.U. GANZHORN (Inst. 

of Zoology, Univ. Hamburg), B. RAKOTOSAMIMANANA (Univ. Antananarivo, 

Madagascar), P.M. KAPPELER 

E L 





Feeding ecology and seed dispersal in sympatric tamarins 

A.C. SMITH (Univ. Stirling, GB), M. FELDMANN (Faculty of Biology, 

Univ. Göttingen), C. KNOGGE (Dept. of Veterinary Medicine and Primate 

Husbandry, DPZ), E. TIRADO, E.W. HEYMANN 

Adaptations of the visual system of diurnal and nocturnal 

primates 

L. PEICHL (MPI for Brain Research, Frankfurt), A. RANDRIANJAFY 

(Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza, Madagascar), 

H.M. BUCHANAN-SMITH (Univ. Stirling, GB), N. MUNDY (Univ. 

Oxford, GB), P.M. KAPPELER, E.W. HEYMANN 

Genetic analysis of the mating system of polygynous lemurs 

D. TAUTZ (Univ. Köln), H. ZISCHLER (Working Group Primate Genetics, 

DPZ), M. EBERLE, O. SCHÜLKE, B. WIMMER, D. ZINNER, 

P.M. KAPPELER 

Sozio-endocrinology of group-living lemurs 

M. HEISTERMANN, J.K. HODGES (Dept. of Reproductive Biology, DPZ), 

J. OSTNER, P.M. KAPPELER 

Proximate regulation and genetic consequences of the mating 

system of polyandric tamarins 

M. HEISTERMANN, J.K. HODGES (Dept. of Reproductive Biology, DPZ), 

U.-R. BÖHLE, C. SCHWIEGK, H. ZISCHLER (Working Group Primate 

Genetics, DPZ), M. HUCK, P. LÖTTKER, E.W. HEYMANN 

Ecology of male-female relationships in hamadryas baboons in 

Eritrea 

D. ZINNER, F. PELÁEZ, (Univ. Autónoma Madrid, E), I. LEINFELDER, 

R. DELEU (Univ. Antwerp, RUCA, B), J. SHOSHANI (Dept. of Biology, 

Univ. Asmara, Eritrea) 

Comparative aspects of lemur socio-ecology 

B. RAKOTOSAMIMANANA, L. RAZAFIMANANTSOA, V. RAHARIMA- 

NANTSOA, R. RAKOTONDRAVONY, O. RAKOTONIRAINY, E. RASO- 

AZANABARY, D. RASOLOFOSON (Univ. Antananarivo, Madagascar), 

A. RANDRIANJAFY (Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza, 

Madagascar), M. PERRET (MNHN, Laboratoire d'Ecologie, Brunoy, F), 

H. ERKERT (Univ. Tübingen), A. DILL, M. EBERLE, R. HILGARTNER, 

P.M. KAPPELER, J. OSTNER, T. PLASIL, O. SCHÜLKE, D. ZINNER 

Acoustic communication in lemurs and New World primates 

C. FICHTEL, J. KIRCHHOF, K. HAMMERSCHMIDT (Dept. of Neurobiology, 

DPZ), J. TRILLMICH, D. TODT (Inst. of Ethology, FU-Berlin), 

P.M. KAPPELER, E.W. HEYMANN 

E,I L 

E L 

E L 

I L 

I L 

E L 

E L 

E,I L 




Experimental study of infanticide risk in red-fronted lemurs 

(Eulemur fulvus rufus) 

T. PLASIL, H. LADICH (Inst. of Evolutionary Biology, Univ. Wien), 

C. FICHTEL (Dept. of Neurobiology, DPZ), P.M. KAPPELER 

E,I L 

Behavioural ecology and evolution of interspecific associations 

in callitrichines 

H.M. BUCHANAN-SMITH (Univ. Stirling, GB), E.W. HEYMANN 

Phylogeny of New World primates 

E L 

S. SINGER, H. ZISCHLER (Working Group Primate Genetics, DPZ), 

E.W. HEYMANN 

I L 

Scientific contributions 

Doctoral theses 

RASOLOARISON, R.: Taxonomy and biogeography of Microcebus spp. in the western 

portion of Madagascar. Département de Paléontologie et d’Anthropologie Biologique, 

University of Antananarivo, Madagascar (2000). 

WIMMER, B.: Study of the mating system and population structure of Mirza 

coquereli, Microcebus murinus, Eulemur fulvus rufus and Propithecus verreauxi 

verreauxi. Institute of Zoology, University of Munich (2000). 

Diploma theses 


DILL, A.: Aspects of infant care and development in sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi 

verreauxi, GRANDIDIER 1867, Primates: Indridae). Institute of Zoology, University 

of Würzburg (2000). 

FELDMANN, M.: Seed ecology of Parkiain the Amazon rainforest: Seed dispersal by 

tamarins (Callitrichidae), secondary seed dispersal, and seed predation. University 

Göttingen (2000). 

RAKOTONDRAVONY, R.: The locomotor behavior of female Propithecus verreauxi 

verreauxi (A. Grandidier, 1867) with and without infants. Département de Paléontologie 

et d’Anthropologie Biologique, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar 

(2000). 

TIMMANN, I.: Reciprocity of grooming in hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) 

and the market value theory. University Hamburg (2000). 


TRILLMICH, J.: The acoustic coordination of group movements in sifakas (Propithecus 

verreauxi). Free University Berlin (2000). 

Other contributions 

HEYMANN, E.W., CANAQUINY, J.E., ENCARNACIÓN C.F.: Report on a primate 

survey on the Río Curaray, northern Peruvian Amazonia. Report to the Margot 

Marsh Biodiversity Foundation. 

Congress contributions 


Tagung ZOO-Kunft 2000, Münster, 18.-20.02.00, HEYMANN, E.W.: Nahrungsökologie 

von Tamarinen und die Bedeutung für die Haltung in Gefangenschaft. 

13. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Tropenökologie (gtö) Jahrestagung, 

Würzburg, 01.-05.03.00, 

FELDMANN, M., HEYMANN, E.W.: Samenökologie von Parkia panurensis: bessere 

Überlebenschancen durch Ausbreitung. 

HEYMANN, E.W., KNOGGE, C., TIRADO HERRERA, E.R.: Vertebrate predation in 

sympatric tamarins, Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis. 

KAPPELER, P.M., WIMMER, B., TAUTZ, D.: Populationsdynamik und -genetik von 

Propithecus verreauxi (Primates: Indridae). 

ZINNER, D., HAPKE, A.: Ecological comparison of primates in Eritrea. 

6 th Workshop of the European Marmoset Research Group (EMRG), "Inter-disciplinary 

Forum for Discussion and Training in Primate Biological & Biomedical Research", 

Paris, France, 02.-05.04.00, HEYMANN, E.W.: Feeding ecology of tamarins 

– (what) can we learn for captive husbandry? 

8 th International Behavioral Ecology Congress (ISBE), Zürich, Switzerland, 08.- 

12.08.00, 

OSTNER, J.: Why living with many males? Possible benefits for females from a high 

number of males in redfronted lemur groups in the Kiringy forest, Madagascar. 

SCHÜLKE, O.: Pairliving and male resource-defense monogamy in a nocturnal lemur? 

KAPPELER, P.M., WIMMER, B., TAUTZ, D.: Intrasexual selection in sifakas (Propithecus 

verreauxi, Indridae: Primates). 

Chemical Signals in Vertebrates IX, Symposium on "Ecological and Evolutionary 

Aspects of Chemical Communication", Krakau, PL, 26.-30.07.00, HEYMANN, E.W.: 

Scent marking, paternal care, and sexual selection in New World primates. 

3 rd International Symposium-Workshop on Frugivory and Seed Dispersal, São 

Pedro, Brazil, 06.-11.08.00, KNOGGE, C.: The efficacy of two sympatric tamarin species 

(Saguinus mystax, Saguinus fuscicollis) as seed dispersers. 


Congreso Nacional de Psicobiología, PsicoB 2000, Oviedo, E, 15.-16.09.00, PELÁEZ, 

F., ZINNER, D., TORKLER, F.: Distribución y Hábitat de los Papiones Hamadryas 

(Papio h. hamadryas) en Eritrea. 

2 nd Göttinger Symposium „Primates in Biomedical Research: Diseases and Pathology“, 

Göttingen, 08.-09.11.00, HEYMANN, E.W.: Primate behavioural ecology and 

primate diseases: what`s in it for a future primatology? 

European Federation of Primatology (EFP) 2000 Meeting, London, GB, 28-29.11.00, 

OSTNER, J.: Why live with many males? The case of Eulemur fulvus rufus. 

SCHÜLKE, O.: Male resource-defense monogamy in a nocturnal lemur? 

93. Jahresversammlung, Deutsche Zoologische Gesellschaft, Bonn, 12.-15.06.00, 

KAPPELER, P.M., WIMMER, B., TAUTZ, D.: Genetic and social structure of a 

polygynous nocturnal lemur (Mirza coquereli, Primates: Cheirogaleidae). 

17. Ethologentreffen, Utrecht, NL, 15.-19.8.00, KAPPELER, P.M.: The evolution of 

lemur social systems: facts and questions about non-convergence. 

Seminar lectures 

Project weeks of the Ernst-Abbé-Gymmasium, Eisenach, 19.01.00, HEYMANN, 

E.W.: Social organisation and mating systems of primates. 

Fachbereichstag FB Landschaftsnutzung und Naturschutz "GIS in der Planung", 

FH Eberswalde, 06.04.00, TORKLER, F., ZINNER, D.: Primaten in Eritrea: Verbreitung 

und Habitat. 

Faculty day of the Faculty Biology, Chemistry & Geosciences, Justus-Liebig-Universität 

Giessen, 14.06.00, HEYMANN, E.W.: Behavioural ecology of Amazonian 

tamarins. 

Other scientific activities 


• E.W. Heymann and D. Zinner are members of the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist 

Group. 

E.W. Heymann 

• Member of the board of the Society for Tropical Ecology. 

• Member of the editorial board of Folia Primatologica. 

• Called to the editorial board of Neotropical Primates. 

• Headed a round table discussion together with Dr. Colin Brown (Inveresk Research, 

Edinburgh, GB) on "Best Laboratory Practice" during the European Marmoset 

Research Group (EMRG) Workshop "Inter-disciplinary Forum for Discussion 

and Training in Primate Biological & Biomedical Research", Paris, F, 02.- 

05.04.00. 

• Organisation of the DPZ-Kolloquium in the winter term 2000/2001. 



P.M. Kappeler 

• Associate editor of Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 

• Scientific advisor to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

DEPARTMENT OF ETHOLOGY AND ECOLOGY Head of ... - DPZ

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