I am Professor of Anthropology and Environmental Sciences at Washington University, St. Louis and Editor Emeritus of The American Anthropologist. My research interests are the behavior, ecology, social organization, evolution and conservation of nonhuman primates and human primates. I have worked in Madagascar, Mauritius, Costa Rica, Panama, and Guyana. My recent books include Primate Ecology and Social Structure, Volumes 1 and 2 (2003), The Origins and Nature of Sociality (edited with Audrey Chapman, 2004), and Man the Hunted: Primates, Predators and Human Evolution (with Donna Hart, 2005). I look forward to meeting you and working with you at La Suerte.
GRADING
You will be graded on reading your assignments, course participation and a final paper. The first part of the course involves supervised participation in data collecting techniques and field methods. This includes both lectures and data collection in the field. The course provides instruction and experience in the following field techniques: (1) methods of vegetation sampling in tropical rainforests, (2) methods of collecting information on temporal changes in resource availability in the rainforest, (3) mapping a field site, (4) methods of collecting data on the behavior and ecology of free-ranging nonhuman primates, and (5) preliminary methods used in data analysis.
The course requirements includes (1) writing a research proposal, (2) collecting data for an independent or combined research project (this will be discussed and determined during the first week of the course), (3) analyzing the results of the research project and writing a final report, and (4) oral presentation of research at various stages of the project, and of the final project. This course will be equivalent to 3 college credits (graduate students will be expected to do more sophisticated reports and papers).
Attendance at all lectures, presentations, and discussions is required.
ASSIGNMENTS
Field Techniques -- Reconnaissance observations. During this period you will be learning and practicing techniques of environmental and behavioral data collection. Group report each evening. Meet with faculty each evening to discuss the schedule, activities, and equipment you need for the following day (December 28-January 2nd).
DUE ON OR BEFORE January 2th at 6:00 PM - Research Proposal. What is required is a 5 page written proposal indicating the OBJECTIVES AND SIGNIFICANCE, BACKGROUND, RESEARCH QUESTIONS (HYPOTHESES), METHODS, SUMMARY of your project. RESEARCH PROJECTS MUST BE APPROVED BEFORE YOU CAN BEGIN YOUR PROJECT. Detailed descriptions and definitions of behavioral/ecological variables studied should be included in an appendix. All proposals must also include a sample data sheet.
Research Proposal: Most of the students in my course will be working on a group project. The project will be focused on collecting data on social interactions between the monkeys (either howler monkeys or capuchins). The initial draft of your proposal is due on November 05, 2005. All drafts of your proposal prior to arriving in Costa Rica should be sent to me electronically. I will provide comments on the proposal and a second draft of your proposal is due on December 1st. I will provide comments on the second draft. Please rework your second draft and bring 5 paper copies (must be double-spaced) with you to the field site. For my course, the proposals will be based on your readings and focus on the study of social interactions.
REQUIRED TEXTS
(Please order on your own from campus book store or the internet).
Sussman, R. W. 2003. Ecology and Social Structure, Volume 2: New World Monkeys.
Pearson Custom Publishing, 75 Arlington Street, Boston MA 02116 (www.pearsoncustom.com).
Lehner, Philip, 1996. Handbook of Ethological Methods, 2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press.
Also read: (1) Sussman and Garber (2004) RETHINKING SOCIALITY: COOPERATION AND AGGRESSION AMONG PRIMATES, Pp. 161-191. In Sussman and Chapman (eds.), The Origins and Nature of Sociality. Transaction Press.
Supplementary reading (not required): Milton, K 1980. The Foraging Strategy of Howler Monkeys: A Study in Primate Economics. New York:Columbia University Press.
READING ASSIGNMENTS
BEFORE DECEMBER 27 (YES, BEFORE THE CLASS BEGINS)
Read – Sussman (2003) – read the whole book but concentrate on the sections on capuchins and howler monkeys.
Also Read – Lehner (1996) – Chapters 1-6, and 8. and the Sussman and Garber paper. (We will go over this material during the first week, however, by reading in advance we can get maximum use of our field time.)
Bring both books with you as we will be referring to them during the course.
January 10th - RECONFIRM YOUR AIRLINE RESERVATIONS
January 12th - FINAL DAY OF DATA COLLECTION
January 15th Each student must hand in a final written paper by 6:00 PM detailing the results of their research. The paper must be written as a scientific article and include a TITLE PAGE, ABSTRACT, Introduction (brief theoretical statement indicating the research questions), METHODS (be extremely specific and detailed), RESULTS (present the data), DISCUSSION (describe how your results compare to similar research on other species or theoretical issues in the field), CONCLUSIONS (list 4 conclusions of your research), REFERENCES, TABLES, FIGURES.
January 16 2006 Primate Behavior and Ecology Symposium on at La Suerte.
Each student will give an oral presentation sharing the results of their research project. Presentations cannot be read. You can use note cards note figures/tables/overheads to assist in the presentation. As in scientific meetings you will have a maximum of 15 minutes for the presentation and 5-10 minutes for discussion.
PACK ON EVENING OF January 16 and CLASS PARTY
January 17 SO LONG, FAREWELL, GOOD-BYE La Suerte!!!!! Leave La Suerte and travel to San Jose. Spend night at hotel in San Jose.
TOURIST SHOPPING
January 18th Return to the United States
THERE WILL BE LECTURES SCHEDULED EVERY DAY
Generally lectures will be from 4:30-6:00pm. Lecture topics include:
1. Orientation regarding safety, procedures and behavior at La suerte, course goals, and course requirements
2. Introduction to primate behavior and ecology, primate traits, and theories of primate origins
3. Ancestral and derived traits, parallel and convergent evolution
4. The evolutionary history of New World Primates
5. Problems of primate locomotion and anatomical solutions
6. Body size, feeding ecology and the problems primates face when exploiting fruit, leaf, and insect
resources
7. Spatial information, cognition, and perceptual cues in primate foraging behavior.
8. Rainforest ecology and primate conservation.
9. Ecotourism, bananas, and globalization
10. Ethics in animal research
11. Primate cognitive ecology: use of social and ecological information in decision-making
12. Tool use in capuchins and other primates
13. Primate social systems
14. Cooperation and competition: The evolution of sociality
THE FOREST IS A VERY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Difficult to describe and impossible to photograph. It is more than 3 dimensional: space, sights, colors, textures, sounds, experiences. On the last full day at La Suerte please take the time to walk around the forest by yourself so that you can leave with a final and quiet memory of your time here.
Your experience here will be very intense. Try to maintain your energy, but if you are having physical or emotional problems, please let us know. We have been through this before and we can help. The entire La Suerte staff is here to help..
POLICIES GOVERNING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
1. Codes of Conduct and Academic Integrity. I expect all students to adhere to codes of conduct
and academic integrity that is outlined in the University of Illinois student handbook. The handbook
can be found on line at and clearly spells out penalties for academic dishonesty, plagiarism, and
appropriate and inappropriate conduct. The field course runs 7 days per week for 24 hours a day
from July 20-August 14th and I expect all students to behavior accordingly.
Dismissal Policy: This policy is set by the University of Illinois Code of Policies and
Dismissal Policy: This policy is set by the University of Illinois Code of Policies and
Regulations Applying to all students
1. Any behavior that endangers another person or property can result in immediate dismissal
2. Conduct with id undesirable and in violation of the University’s Code of Policies and
Regulations including policies on drugs and alcohol
3. Conduct that is in violation of the laws, rules and regulations, and customs of the host country
4. Behavior, whether academic or social, which constitutes a clear and present danger to the health
or safety of persons or property, or threatens the future viability of the program.
5. Physical or sexual assault; harassment, unlawful possession, use or distribution of illegal
drugs’ alcohol abuse, setting a fire or possession of explosives, possession of a weapon, threat.
RESPONSIBLE USE OF ALCOHOL
Responsible use of alcohol includes the following:
1. A student does not miss any scheduled event because of the effects of alcohol consumption.
2. A student does not become ill due to the effects of alcohol consumption
3. A student is respectful of others sharing the same housing
4. A student does not engage in inappropriate behavior toward other individuals that is the result
5. of alcohol consumption
6. A student does not engage in destructive behavior toward property that is the result of alcohol
Consumption
7. Use of illegal drugs is not permitted at the field station. The penalties and penal conditions for
illegal drug use in Nicaragua are EXTREMELY severe. If the police catch anyone using illegal drugs,
that person(s) will be prosecuted. If the staff of La Suerte catch you using illegal drugs, you will be
immediately dismissed from the field school and sent home
8. A student abides by the laws of the country in which he or she is living |
