2
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 79:269-274 (1989) Book Reviews A PRIMATE RADIATION: EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY OF THE AFRICAN GUENONS. Edited by Annie Gautier-Hion, Francois Bour- liere, Jean-Pierre Gautier, and Jonathan Kingdon. New York: Cambridge Univer- sity Press. 1988. viii + 567 pp., figures, tables, indexes. $120.00 (cloth). As recently pointed out by John Fleagle, one of the most striking features of the pri- mate fossil record is the extraordinary diversity of extinct forms, not just isolated species and genera but major radiations of families. The diversification of the Malag- asy primates is particularly well studied and is often cited as a classic example of a mammalian adaptive radiation. Other taxa such as the Eocene adapids and omomyids, Miocene hominoids, and more recent radiat- ing groups such as callithrichids and ma- caques have also received considerable attention. By contrast, one group of pri- mates exemplifying a truly extensive radia- tion during the past 3 million years has been badly neglected by primatologists: the Afri- can guenons, members of the genus Cerco- pithecus. Finally, a long-overdue treatise of the evolutionary biology of this fascinating and colorful group has been published. Annie Gautier-Hion, senior editor of this volume, has carried out substantive research on the guenons during the past 20 years. She and her coeditors and 25 contributors have produced an outstanding piece on the paleo- and neobiology, phylogenetic recon- struction, ecology, and social behavior of these African monkeys. The book is organized into three major sections, the first of which focuses on guenon evolution in terms of its relationship with past and present environments. Although the guenons’ fossil record is exceedingly sparse, paleontologists (e.g., Leakey, Pick- ford, and Senut) are in agreement that early cercopithecids were probably semiterrestrial and inhabited woodland and open country, whereas the diversity of forest-living guen- ons represents a geologically recent pheno- menon. Quite surprisingly, the present-day distribution of many guenons is far from well understood, as shown by Colyn, Ler- nould, and Oates. In a particularly insight- ful contribution, Oates convincingly dem- onstrates that while the classic forest-refuge model of Booth may help to explain the dif- ferentiation and present distribution of some rain-forest-dependent species, it does not provide a complete explanation for the pres- ent distribution of all African forest mon- keys. For example, dwellers of gallery forests or forest outliers (such as C. Mona and C. nictitans) may be subject to isolation during extremely arid periods, although in other circumstances they seem well able to cross gaps between forest blocks. Oates concludes that the history of African forest vegetation has been very complex, warning readers against accepting overly simple models to explain current primate distribution pat- terns. In the second part geneticists, morpholo- gists, and behavioral scientists attempt to resolve intriguing issues of phylogeny and systematics of guenons. Ruvolo, in a lucidly written study, discusses the relative merits of phenetic versus cladistic analyses to elec- trophoretic data and offers an attempt at an integration of electrophoretic and chromo- somal trees, the latter established by Dutril- laux et al. in a succeeding chapter. It comes as no surprise that consensus between elec- trophoretic and chromosomal trees is high- est, although not complete, for derived spe- cies, whereas electrophoretic phylogenies are in conflict with chromosomal ones in the placement of relatively primitive species. Based on previously published craniodental data, Martin and MacLarnon establish dendrograms and multivariate scaling plots to measure distances between guenon spe- cies. They also point out the limitations of such phenetic approaches: Distances be- tween species represent a complex mixture of convergent, primitive, and derived sim- ilarities and thus cannot be expected to reflect true phylogenetic affinities. Gautier’s analysis of various guenon call systems nicely confirms Struhsaker’s pioneering work on other cercopithecid species that vocal repertoires are indeed among the most indicative behavioral traits for phylogenetic @ 1989 ALAN R. LISS, INC.

A primate radiation: Evolutionary biology of the African Guenons. Edited by Annie Gautier-Hion, Francois Bourliere, Jean-Pierre Gautier, and Jonathan Kingdon. New York: Cambridge University

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: A primate radiation: Evolutionary biology of the African Guenons. Edited by Annie Gautier-Hion, Francois Bourliere, Jean-Pierre Gautier, and Jonathan Kingdon. New York: Cambridge University

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 79:269-274 (1989)

Book Reviews

A PRIMATE RADIATION: EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY OF THE AFRICAN GUENONS. Edited by Annie Gautier-Hion, Francois Bour- liere, Jean-Pierre Gautier, and Jonathan Kingdon. New York: Cambridge Univer- sity Press. 1988. viii + 567 pp., figures, tables, indexes. $120.00 (cloth).

As recently pointed out by John Fleagle, one of the most striking features of the pri- mate fossil record is the extraordinary diversity of extinct forms, not just isolated species and genera but major radiations of families. The diversification of the Malag- asy primates is particularly well studied and is often cited as a classic example of a mammalian adaptive radiation. Other taxa such a s the Eocene adapids and omomyids, Miocene hominoids, and more recent radiat- ing groups such as callithrichids and ma- caques have also received considerable attention. By contrast, one group of pri- mates exemplifying a truly extensive radia- tion during the past 3 million years has been badly neglected by primatologists: the Afri- can guenons, members of the genus Cerco- pithecus. Finally, a long-overdue treatise of the evolutionary biology of this fascinating and colorful group has been published. Annie Gautier-Hion, senior editor of this volume, has carried out substantive research on the guenons during the past 20 years. She and her coeditors and 25 contributors have produced a n outstanding piece on the paleo- and neobiology, phylogenetic recon- struction, ecology, and social behavior of these African monkeys.

The book is organized into three major sections, the first of which focuses on guenon evolution in terms of its relationship with past and present environments. Although the guenons’ fossil record is exceedingly sparse, paleontologists (e.g., Leakey, Pick- ford, and Senut) are in agreement that early cercopithecids were probably semiterrestrial and inhabited woodland and open country, whereas the diversity of forest-living guen- ons represents a geologically recent pheno- menon. Quite surprisingly, the present-day distribution of many guenons is far from

well understood, as shown by Colyn, Ler- nould, and Oates. In a particularly insight- ful contribution, Oates convincingly dem- onstrates that while the classic forest-refuge model of Booth may help to explain the dif- ferentiation and present distribution of some rain-forest-dependent species, it does not provide a complete explanation for the pres- ent distribution of all African forest mon- keys. For example, dwellers of gallery forests or forest outliers (such as C. Mona and C. nictitans) may be subject to isolation during extremely arid periods, although in other circumstances they seem well able to cross gaps between forest blocks. Oates concludes that the history of African forest vegetation has been very complex, warning readers against accepting overly simple models to explain current primate distribution pat- terns.

In the second part geneticists, morpholo- gists, and behavioral scientists attempt to resolve intriguing issues of phylogeny and systematics of guenons. Ruvolo, in a lucidly written study, discusses the relative merits of phenetic versus cladistic analyses to elec- trophoretic data and offers a n attempt at an integration of electrophoretic and chromo- somal trees, the latter established by Dutril- laux et al. in a succeeding chapter. It comes a s no surprise that consensus between elec- trophoretic and chromosomal trees is high- est, although not complete, for derived spe- cies, whereas electrophoretic phylogenies are in conflict with chromosomal ones in the placement of relatively primitive species. Based on previously published craniodental data, Martin and MacLarnon establish dendrograms and multivariate scaling plots to measure distances between guenon spe- cies. They also point out the limitations of such phenetic approaches: Distances be- tween species represent a complex mixture of convergent, primitive, and derived sim- ilarities and thus cannot be expected to reflect true phylogenetic affinities. Gautier’s analysis of various guenon call systems nicely confirms Struhsaker’s pioneering work on other cercopithecid species that vocal repertoires are indeed among the most indicative behavioral traits for phylogenetic

@ 1989 ALAN R. LISS, INC.

Page 2: A primate radiation: Evolutionary biology of the African Guenons. Edited by Annie Gautier-Hion, Francois Bourliere, Jean-Pierre Gautier, and Jonathan Kingdon. New York: Cambridge University

270 BOOK REVIEWS

reconstruction. Gorgeous illustrations, many of them full-color plates, highlight King- don’s stimulating study of face patterns in their contribution to reproductive isolation and their role in communication.

The last and lengthiest section covers a wide range of topics on ecology and social behavior. Drawing from her vast experience gained in numerous field studies, Gautier- Hion discusses the multitude of factors affecting dietary regimes and choices of select guenon species, and in a separate chapter she reviews ecological, behavioral, and evolutionary aspects of the phenomenon of mixed species troops. Butynski, in his contribution on seasonality of reproduction, is able to demonstrate that all guenon spe- cies studied thus far have distinct birth sea- sons and peaks, thus providing evidence of the importance of the harshness and dura- tion of a “lean season” even in the appar- ently most stable and favorable environ- ments. Mating systems of forest guenons in general, and in redtail monkeys in particu- lar, are discussed by Cords and Struhsaker, respectively. Both contributors stress the high temporary variability of male tenure in

social groups and thus the high degree of uncertainty in assessing the reproductive success of any given male. Another problem, far from being settled, is what determines the splitting of guenon troops (Struhsaker and Leland). On a larger scale, relatively little is known about the structure and dynamics of whole populations, with the partial exception of vervet monkeys (Fedi- gan and Fedigan). The natural history of one of the more specialized members of the guenon radiation, the terrestrial patas monkey, finds the attention of Chism and Rowell. Finally, the social systems of guen- ons are put into perspective by comparing them with those of baboons, macaques, and mangabeys (Rowell).

Concluding remarks by the editors outline old and new problems of guenon biology that may be the focus of future research. Summa summarum, this volume represents primate evolutionary biology at its best.

WALTER LEUTENEGGER Department of Anthropology Uniuersity of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin

THE BEHAVIOURAL BIOLOGY OF AGGRESSION. By John Archer. New York: Cambridge University Press. 1988. xi + 257 pp., fig- ures, tables, index. $59.00 (cloth), $16.95 (paper).

The importance of aggressive behavior in the lives of animals (including humans) has been assessed in numerous works by authors from a wide array of disciplines, writing from many different points of view. For example, from the classic but somewhat flawed ethological writings of Konrad Lorenz to the popular accounts by Robert Ardrey, to the modern evolutionary ap- proach by Richard Dawkins, one can see differences of opinion as to how aggression is manifested, its importance in the lives of animals, and its significance in human cultures.

It is clear that animals display aggressive behavior in a diverse set of ecological and social contexts. For example, aggression often mediates territorial disputes, plays a role in social organization, and is one mech-

anism by which animals compete for a limited resource. It is not surprising that so much attention has been given to this often ill-defined concept.

Archer’s book attempts to present a mod- ern overview and synthesis of the phe- nomenon of aggressive behavior. Archer emphasizes the biological contexts of aggres- sion and the mechanisms controlling aggres- sion. Aggression is viewed as a global solution by animals for solving problems of self-preservation, parental protection, and resource allocation. The selective pressures influencing the evolution of aggression are emphasized, and the underlying proximate mechanisms are considered. The book dis- cusses numerous facets of aggression, in- cluding a historical perspective, ethical con- siderations, various categories of aggres- sion, and modern game theory models.

Archer admirably coalesces the proximate mechanisms of aggressive behavior (includ- ing neuronal and endocrinological) with its ecological implications and evolutionary significance. Studies of the aggressive be- havior of numerous beasts are used to illus-