DEDICATIONACKNOWLEDGEMENTSCHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTIONObjectives, Questions and Hypotheses of this ResearchCapuchin MonkeysOverview of the ResearchCHAPTER 2: NAVIGATING THE LITERATURE: A THEORETICAL ASSESSMENT AND A REVIEW ON SPATIAL MAPPING IN PRIMATESTypes of Mental MapsExploring Spatial Memory in Wild PrimatesExamining Spatial Representations in CapuchinsCHAPTER 3: STUDY SITE, STUDY GROUP, MATERIALS, AND METHODSStudy SiteStudy GroupData Collection-Research Design: Natural Field Study (Behavioral-Ecological Phase) Research Design: Experimental Field Study (Field Experimental Phase)-Data analysis-Pilot study-Ethical statement-Data availabilityCHAPTER 4: THE BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY OF A GROUP OF WILD WHITE-FACED CAPUCHIN MONKEYS (CEBUS IMITATOR)Materials and MethodsResults-Activity budget-Diet, feeding, and foraging behavior-Ranging patternsDiscussion-Activity budget-Diet, feeding and foraging behavior-Ranging patternsCHAPTER 5: SPATIAL MAPPING IN WILD WHITE-FACED CAPUCHIN MONKEYS (CEBUS IMITATOR): A NATURAL FIELD STUDYResults-Pattern of feeding/resting tree visits and distribution-Canopy density and forest profile: Field-of-view in the forest canopy-A test of spatial memory: the case of the use of two feeding tree species.-Evaluating travel itineraries-Use of nodes, and route segments-Reaching the major feeding/resting trees from different directionsDiscussionCHAPTER 6: SPATIAL MAPPING IN WILD WHITE-FACED CAPUCHIN MONKEYS (CEBUS IMITATOR): AN EXPERIMENTAL FIELD STUDYMaterial and MethodsResultsExperiment 1-Do white-faced capuchins visit experimental feeding platforms in the same order as they were first encountered?-Do white-faced capuchins travel between sequential feeding platforms using a distance-minimizing principle, and over the course of the field experiment do they reduce their circuity index in traveling between experimental platforms?-Do white-faced capuchins use traditional routes of travel to reach experimental feeding platforms or do they select novel travel routes?-Do white-faced capuchins select nearer platforms over more distant platforms?-Do white-faced capuchins exhibit a win-shift foraging rule when selecting experimental feeding platforms?Experiment 2-Do white-faced capuchins visit experimental feeding platforms in the same order as they were first encountered?-Do white-faced capuchins travel between sequential feeding platforms using a distance-minimizing principle, and over the course of the field experiment do they reduce their circuity index in traveling between experimental platforms?-Do white-faced capuchins use traditional routes of travel to reach experimental feeding platforms or do they select novel travel routes?-Do white-faced capuchins select nearer platforms over more distant platforms? Do white-faced capuchins travel to more distant feeding platforms that contain higher food rewards preferentially over nearer feeding platforms that contain lower food rewards?-Do white-faced capuchins exhibit a win-shift foraging rule when selecting experimental feeding platformsDiscussionCHAPTER 7: CONCLUSIONSREFERENCESAPPENDIX: THE STUDY AREA AT LA SUERTE BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION (EBLS).