根據(jù)一項研究,，黃猩猩使用獨特的運動模式從而在樹梢的小的,、不穩(wěn)定的枝條上獲取食物，該研究可能對于這種瀕危物種的棲息地保護以及重新引入該物種有一定意義。
Susannah Thorpe及其同事研究了野生的蘇門答臘黃猩猩，結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)這種猿有能力在對這樣大型的動物支撐能力很弱的枝條上運動,。這種動物通過使用一種豎直和水平的身體姿勢的組合從而在樹梢上運動，上下穿過樹枝,。黃猩猩有能力安全地到達細小柔軟的樹枝,，在那里找到食物，這讓它們能夠在樹與樹之間運動,，而不需要爬下來,。它們通過緩慢、非模式的運動以及用手腳握住多條樹枝增加它們的穩(wěn)定性,。這組科學家發(fā)現(xiàn)，在29%的時間里,，黃猩猩一次握住4條以上的樹枝從而在樹與樹之間運動,。這種運動模式與觀察到的其他樹棲靈長類動物的運動不同，而且與大型猿如何應對樹枝柔性的預測相矛盾,。
這組科學家提出,，這些結(jié)果可能幫助科學家確定黃猩猩棲息地的要求，這些要求可能影響到保護和重新引入黃猩猩的項目,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
PNAS doi: 10.1073/pnas.0811537106
Orangutans employ unique strategies to control branch flexibility
Susannah K. S. Thorpea,1, Roger Holderb and Robin H. Cromptonc
aSchool of Biosciences and
bDepartment of Primary Care and General Practise, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom; and
cDepartment of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Liverpool, P.O. Box 147, Liverpool L69 3GE, United Kingdom
Orangutans are the largest habitually arboreal mammal. For them, as for all arboreal mammals, access to the abundant fruits and narrowest gaps found among the thin peripheral branches of tree crowns poses considerable safety risks and energetic demands. Most arboreal primates use flexed-limb postures to minimize problems caused by branch compliance and instability. Here, we show that Sumatran orangutans employ unique locomotor strategies to control compliance and allow access to the terminal branch niche for feeding and gap crossing. We calculated a “stiffness score,” which is a measure of the flexibility of the supports on which orangutans moved. We found that certain locomotor behaviors clearly are associated with the most compliant supports; these behaviors appear to lack regular limb sequences, which serves to avoid the risk of resonance in branch sway caused by high-frequency, patterned gait. Balance and increased stability are achieved through long contact times between multiple limbs and supports and a combination of pronograde (horizontal) and orthograde (vertical) body postures, used both above branches and in suspension underneath them. Overall, adult females seem to be the most conservative in their travel, selecting more solid and secure supports than males and adolescents. These results have implications for understanding locomotor diversity in fossil and extant apes and for orangutan conservation and reintroduction programs.
