Environmental correlates of the intrinsic rate of natural increase in primates.

The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m) is calculated for 72 primate species, using Cole's (1954) equation. The value of r m relative to body mass is then calculated by use of allometric analysis. Both r mand relative r m are used to test the prediction that animals in unpredictable and/or harsh habitats will have a higher r mthan will those in more predictable and/or less harsh habitats. No significant link between habitat type and r mis found. However, correlations between ecology and relative r msuggest that relative r mis high in primate species living in more open habitats and low in species found in primary rainforest. Although there are few correlations between relative r m and climate parameters, those that are found suggest that variable climates, dry climates and hot climates will select for a high relative r m.