Predation is thought to play a major role in the evolution of morfology, fisiology and behavior of primates. However, it is hard to observe and measure, which lead some resarchers to use indirect measures of predation when trying to evaluate predation presaure. In my diploma thesis I investigated the relationship between a direct measure of predation – estimated predation rates (EPR) – and two proxy measures, body mass and terrestriality (terrestrial/arboreal way of living). From the existing primate literature I was able to compile the required data for 80 populations, covering 56 species from all major primate radiations. In this sample EPR that ranged from 0 to 25 %, where most (60 %) of the data ranged between 0 and 5 %. I used general lineral model to determine the proportion of the EPR variance that can be explained by body mass and terrestriality. The results show that body mass was significantly related with EPR, while terrestriality was not and it does not appear to be suitable as a proxy measure of predation. Despite a statistically significant result, the association between EPR and body mass appears to be weak. It appears that large body mass may protect primates from predator attacks to a certain extent but researchers should use it as a proxy measure for predation only with great caution.
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