University Level Course Syllabi
PRIMATE BEHAVIOR ECOLOGY (Anth. 458--Upper Level)
Karen Strier, University of Wisconsin
PRIMATE BEHAVIOR ECOLOGY (Anth. 458--Upper Level)
Course Instructor: Karen Strier
Department of Anthropology
University of Wisconsin
Rm 5440 Social Sci Bldg
Madison, WI 53706
Telphone: 1-608-262-0302
Email: strier@macc.wisc.edu
BACKGROUND:
This course in primate behavioral ecology is offered through
the Anthropology Department but interests students from a broader
range of disciplines such as psychology, zoology, and biological
aspects of conservation. Most students are juniors and seniors
and have had some coursework in biology, behavior, and/or
evolution. Enrollment has been increasing over the years from
around 30 students to 50.
The course can be divided into three sections (which is
reflected in when the exams are):
A. Taxonomy, biogeography and
evolutionary theory
B. Ecology, social organization, social behavior
C. Misc: Communication & cognition, community ecology,
and conservation.
PRIMATE BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
Anthropology 458
Fall 1995
Tues. & Thurs. 9:30-10:45
Lecturer: Martha Robbins
Phone: 262-2760
email: mrobbins@macc.wisc.edu (the best way to reach me)
Office: Birge Hall, Room 434
Office Hours: Tues & Thurs 11:00-12:00 or by appointment
Course Description: This course will examine the social behavior of
primates from an evolutionary and ecological perspective.
Required Readings:
Richard, A. Primates in Nature
Gray, J.P. Primate Sociobiology
Reader: available from the Social Science Copy Center
The reader is on reserve at the Primate Center Library, 1223 Capitol
Court.
Evaluation: There will be two in-class exams and a cumulative final
exam (with a heavy emphasis on the final third of material covered).
Exams will consist of multiple choice, short answer, short and long
essay questions. Grades will be determined by the following
system:
EXAM 1 (October 10): 33%
EXAM 2 (November 14): 33%
FINAL EXAM: Saturday, December 16th, 10:05 am: 33~o
PRIMATE BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
Date Topic Readings
9/5 Introduction Richard, Chpt. 1 p. 1-21
9/7 What is a primate? Film: Life Richard, Chpt. 1 p. 21-39
in the Trees
9/12 Taxonomy Richard, Chpt. 2 p. 42-83
9/14 Biogeography Richard, Chpt. 3 p. 95-121|
9/19 Phylogeny & Evolutionary Andrews, 1981
History
9/21 Natural Selection & Behavior Gray, Chpt. 1 p. 1-15
Krebs & Davies, 1993, p. 1-47
9/26 Natural Selection & Kin Gray, Chpt. 3, p. 39-43
Selection Hrdy, 1977
Sussman et al., 1995
Hrdy et al., 1995
9/28 Kin Selection: Dispersal & Gray, Chpt. 4, p. 77-101
Altruism
10/3 Reciprocal Altruism Gray, Chpt. 5, p. 123-135
10/5 Film: Masked Monkeys
10/10 EXAM 1
10/12 Feeding Ecology Richard, Chpt. 4, p. 126-162
Glander, 1977
10/17 Feeding Ecology Richard, Chpt. 5, p. 163-205
Ferrari, 1986
10/19 Sexual Selection Gray, Chpt. 7, p. 193-209
Smuts, 1987a
10/24 Mating Systems/Social Organization Richard, Chpt. 8, 291-341
Gray, Chpt. 3, p. 43-49
Janson, 1986
10/26 Female-Female Competition
Gray, Chpt. 8, p. 227-228, 257-272
10/31 Male-Male Competition Gray, 228-257
Smuts, 1987b
11/2 Parental Behavior Gray, Chpt. 6, p. 141-154
Luft & Altmann, 1982
Altmann, 1992
11/7 Sex Difference in Behavior Ghiglieri, 1987
Smuts, 1987c
11/9 Guest Lecturer: Strier, 1993
Dr. Karen Strier
11/14 EXAM 2
11/16 Communication & Cognition Cheney & Seyfarth, 1986, 1990
11/21 The Great Apes de Waal, 1995
Boesch & Boesch-Achermann,
Boesch-Achermann & Boesch,
1994.
11/28 Primate Community Ecology: Richard, Chpt. 10 p. 384-426
Interspecific Competition Stanford, 1995
11/30 Primate Community Ecology: Richard, Chpt. 11 p. 427-463
Coevolution with Plants Starin, 1993.
12/5 Guest Lecturer: Beth Kaplin
12/7 Primate Conservation: Problems Mittermeier & Cheney, 1987
12/12 Primate Conservation: Solutions Wright, 1992
12/14 Review Exercise
Primate Behavioral Ecology
Course Readings
Andrews, P. 1981. Species diversity and diet in monkeys and apes during
the Miocene. In: Primate Evolution and Human Origins, R.L. Coichon &
J.G. Fleagle (eds), New York: Aldine Press, p. 194-204.
Krebs, J.R. & Davies, N.B. 1993. Natural Selection, ecology, and
behaviour. In: Introduction to Behavioral Ecology, J.R. Krebs & N.B.
Davies (eds), Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Assoc, Inc., p. 1-23.
Krebs, J.R. & Davies, N.B. 1993. Testing hypotheses in behaviour
ecology. In: Introduction to Behavioral Ecology, J.R. Krebs & N.B.
Davies (eds), Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Assoc, Inc., p. 2447.
Hrdy, S.B. 1977. Infanticide as a primate reproductive strategy.
American Scientist, 65: 40-49.
Sussman, R.W., Cheverud, J.R., & T.Q. Bartlett. 1995. Infant killing
as an evolutionary strategy: reality or myth? Evolutionary
Anthropology, 3: 149-151.
Hrdy, S.B., Janson, C., & C. van Schaik. 1995. Infanticide: let's not
throw out the baby with the bathwater. Evolutionary Anthropology, 3:
151-154
Smuts, B.B. 1987. Sexual selection and mate choice. In: Primate
Societies, B.B. Smuts, D.L. Cheney, R.M. Seyfarth, R.W. Wrangham, &
T.T. Struhsaker (eds), Chicago: University of Chicago Press, p.
193-209.
Glander, K.E. 1977. Poison in a monkey's garden of Eden. Natural
History, p. 3541.
Ferrari, S.F. 1991. Diet for a small primate. Natural History, p. 3942.
Janson, C.H. 1986. Capuchin counterpoint. Natural History, p. 45-52.
Strier, K.B. 1993. Menu for a monkey Natural History, p. 3442.
Smuts, B.B. 1987. What are friends for? Natural History, p. 3645.
Luft, J. & Altmann, J. 1982. Mother baboon. Natural History, p. 31-38.
Altmann, J. 1992. Leading ladies. Natural History, p. 4849.
Ghiglieri, M. 1987. War among the chimps. Discover, p. 66-76.
Smuts, B.B. 1987. Gender, aggression, and influence. IN: Primate
Societies, B.B. Smuts, D.L. Cheney, R.M. Seyfarth, R.W. Wrangham, &
T.T. Struhsaker (eds), Chicago: University of Chicago Press, pp.
400412.
Cheney, D., Seyfarth, R. & B.B. Smuts. 1986. Social relationships and
social cognition in nonhuman primates. Science. 234: 1361-1366
Cheney, D. & R. Seyfarth. In the minds of monkeys. Natural History, p.
3846.
de Waal, F.B.M. 1995. Bonobo sex and society. Scientific American, 272:
82-88.
Boesch, C. & H. Boesch-Achermann. 1991. Dim forest, bright chimps.
Natural History, p. 50-56.
Boesch-Achermann, H. & C. Boesch. 1994. Hominization in the rainforest:
the chimpanzee's piece of the puzzle. Evolutionary Anthropology, 3:
9-16.
Stanford, C.B. 1995. To catch a colobus. Natural History, p. 48-54.
Starin, E.D. 1993. The kindness of strangers. Natural History, p. 4448.
Mittermeier, R.A. & D.L. Cheney. 1987. Conservation of primates and
their habitats. IN: Primate Societies, B.B. Smuts, D.L. Cheney, R.M.
Seyfarth, R.W. Wrangham, & T.T. Struhsaker (eds), Chicago: University
of Chicago Press, p. 477490.
Wright, P.C. 1992. Primate ecology, rainforest conservation, and
economic development: building a national park in Madagascar.
Evolunonary Anthropology, 1(1): 25-33.
