THE COMPARATIVE DEMOGRAPHY OF PRIMATES - WITH SOME COMMENTS ON THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE-HISTORIES

This chapter reviews the current state of knowledge concerning the dem ography of primates. It compiles demographic systems (mortality and fe rtility estimates) for four broad grades of primates: New World monkey s, Old World monkeys, chimpanzees, and humans. The characteristics of each system, including its demographic stability, are presented and di scussed. The environmentally induced variation in human and nonhuman p rimate vital rates are explored whenever possible. Findings include (a ) that more data are needed particularly with respect to nonhuman prim ate fertility, (b) that human demographic systems are the least stable , and (c) that Pan troglodytes demography is probably evolutionarily d erived from the general primate pattern.