Ebook: Reconstructing Behavior in the Primate Fossil Record

This volume brings together a series of papers that address the topic of reconstructing behavior in the primate fossil record. The literature devoted to reconstructing behavior in extinct species is ovelWhelming and very diverse. Sometimes, it seems as though behavioral reconstruction is done as an afterthought in the discussion section of papers, relegated to the status of informed speculation. But recent years have seen an explosion in studies of adaptation, functional anatomy, comparative sociobiology, and development. Powerful new comparative methods are now available on the internet. At the same time, we face a rapidly growing fossil record that offers more and more information on the morphology and paleoenvironments of extinct species. Consequently, inferences of behavior in extinct species have become better grounded in comparative studies of living species and are becoming increas­ ingly rigorous. We offer here a series of papers that review broad issues related to reconstructing various aspects of behavior from very different types of evi­ dence. We hope that in so doing, the reader will gain a perspective on the various types of evidence that can be brought to bear on reconstructing behavior, the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, and, perhaps, new approaches to the topic. We define behavior as broadly as we can­ including life-history traits, locomotion, diet, and social behavior, giving the authors considerable freedom in choosing what, exactly, they wish to explore.

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This volume brings together a series of papers that address the topic of reconstructing behavior in the primate fossil record. Here is offered a review of broad issues related to reconstructing various aspects of behavior - such as diet and social systems - from very different types of evidence. For example: comparative analysis and adaptation, ontogenetic evidence, paleoenvironmental and paleo-community analysis, experimental functional analysis, and comparative socioecology. Hopefully, the reader will gain a perspective on the various types of evidence that can be brought to bear on reconstructing behavior, the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, and, perhaps, new approaches to the topic. Authors review not only the types of evidence that can be used to reconstruct behavior, but also the limitations of the evidence, only emphasizing the weakness of behavioral reconstruction as a basis and inspiration for further research.

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This volume brings together a series of papers that address the topic of reconstructing behavior in the primate fossil record. Here is offered a review of broad issues related to reconstructing various aspects of behavior - such as diet and social systems - from very different types of evidence. For example: comparative analysis and adaptation, ontogenetic evidence, paleoenvironmental and paleo-community analysis, experimental functional analysis, and comparative socioecology. Hopefully, the reader will gain a perspective on the various types of evidence that can be brought to bear on reconstructing behavior, the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, and, perhaps, new approaches to the topic. Authors review not only the types of evidence that can be used to reconstruct behavior, but also the limitations of the evidence, only emphasizing the weakness of behavioral reconstruction as a basis and inspiration for further research.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Adaptation and Behavior in the Primate Fossil Record....Pages 1-41
Functional Morphology and In Vivo Bone Strain Patterns in the Craniofacial Region of Primates: Beware of Biomechanical Stories about Fossil Bones....Pages 43-72
On the Interface between Ontogeny and Function....Pages 73-111
Dental Ontogeny and Life-History Strategies: The Case of the Giant Extinct Indroids of Madagascar....Pages 113-157
A Comparative Approach to Reconstructing the Socioecology of Extinct Primates....Pages 159-215
The Use of Paleocommunity and Taphonomic Studies in Reconstructing Primate Behavior....Pages 217-259
Reconstructing the Diets of Fossil Primates....Pages 261-296
Reconstructing Social Behavior from Dimorphism in the Fossil Record....Pages 297-338
The Adaptations of Branisella boliviana, the Earliest South American Monkey....Pages 339-370
Ecomorphology and Behavior of Giant Extinct Lemurs from Madagascar....Pages 371-411
Conclusions: Reconstructing Behavior in the Fossil Record....Pages 413-428
Back Matter....Pages 429-437

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This volume brings together a series of papers that address the topic of reconstructing behavior in the primate fossil record. Here is offered a review of broad issues related to reconstructing various aspects of behavior - such as diet and social systems - from very different types of evidence. For example: comparative analysis and adaptation, ontogenetic evidence, paleoenvironmental and paleo-community analysis, experimental functional analysis, and comparative socioecology. Hopefully, the reader will gain a perspective on the various types of evidence that can be brought to bear on reconstructing behavior, the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, and, perhaps, new approaches to the topic. Authors review not only the types of evidence that can be used to reconstruct behavior, but also the limitations of the evidence, only emphasizing the weakness of behavioral reconstruction as a basis and inspiration for further research.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Adaptation and Behavior in the Primate Fossil Record....Pages 1-41
Functional Morphology and In Vivo Bone Strain Patterns in the Craniofacial Region of Primates: Beware of Biomechanical Stories about Fossil Bones....Pages 43-72
On the Interface between Ontogeny and Function....Pages 73-111
Dental Ontogeny and Life-History Strategies: The Case of the Giant Extinct Indroids of Madagascar....Pages 113-157
A Comparative Approach to Reconstructing the Socioecology of Extinct Primates....Pages 159-215
The Use of Paleocommunity and Taphonomic Studies in Reconstructing Primate Behavior....Pages 217-259
Reconstructing the Diets of Fossil Primates....Pages 261-296
Reconstructing Social Behavior from Dimorphism in the Fossil Record....Pages 297-338
The Adaptations of Branisella boliviana, the Earliest South American Monkey....Pages 339-370
Ecomorphology and Behavior of Giant Extinct Lemurs from Madagascar....Pages 371-411
Conclusions: Reconstructing Behavior in the Fossil Record....Pages 413-428
Back Matter....Pages 429-437
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