Research
The DuMond Conservancy is responsible for coordinating all primate study and research activities at Monkey Jungle, a commercial zoological park in Miami, Florida that was opened to the public in 1935. The current research activities of the DuMond Conservancy focus on the semi free-ranging populations maintained in two large areas of the sub-tropical hardwood forest in which Monkey Jungle is located. In addition, the DuMond Conservancy uses Monkey Jungle as a natural classroom for educating students of all ages about primatology.
Behavioral Studies at Monkey Jungle
Monkey Jungle has a long history (beginning in the mid-1960’s) of fostering scientific research and collaborating in studies that have made a significant contribution to our understanding of primate biology and behavior. For example, the seasonality of squirrel monkey social behavior and reproduction (DuMond and Hutchinson, 1967) was discovered through observations in the “Amazon Rainforest” exhibit. Scientists and students have over the years made many other discoveries.
DuMond, F.V. and Hutchinson, T.C. (1967). Squirrel monkey reproduction “The fatted male phenomenon and season spermatogenesis” Science 158 1067-1070
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Recent Studies
- Episodic memory in a western lowland gorilla (Florida International University)
See Primate Cognition Project below for more information.
- Food sharing in owl monkeys (a collaboration with students from the University of Miami and the University of Andes, Bogota, Columbia)
- Anointing in owl monkeys (a collaboration of students from Florida International University and the Smithsonian Institute)
Grooming, Language, and Social Bonding
As a high school sophomore at Pine Crest High School in Fort Lauderdale, Amy Schnidman approached the DuMond Conservancy about the possibility of conducting her own research project at Monkey Jungle. Specifically, she wanted to investigate Dr. Robin Dunbar's theory that language evolved in hominids as a more efficient method of social bonding.
Dunbar suggests that grooming is the primary mechanism for social bonding in non-human primates. However, as group size increased during primate evolution, primates did not have enough time to maintain social bonds through grooming. This may have created pressure to develop a more efficient method of establishing and maintaining bonds within in a group, and Dunbar proposes that language developed as that method.
Research investigating human conversation support Dunbar's hypothesis. Such studies have revealed that approximately two-thirds of conversations were social gossip. Dunbar suggests the function of gossip is similar to grooming in our primate cousins.
Before Amy began doing her own research at the DuMond Conservancy she contacted Robin Dunbar for advice. She also shared her ideas with Japanese primatologist, Nakamura, who studies a similar question in chimpanzee social groups. After talking with these and other primatologists, Amy decided to study the large group of over one hundred Java macaques at the Conservancy...
Amy observed the macaques grooming in large grooming cliques of up to eight monkeys. This is probably much larger than any grooming clique that would be observed in nature, and it may be a result of the protection and food resources made available to the monkeys at our facility. Amy also investigated the role of communication in grooming. She found that communication was used to initiate grooming, but was not observed during grooming.
Amy has interpreted these results as not supporting Dunbar's hypothesis, but she is continuing to investigate the topic. She has received state-wide recognition for her scientific abilities, and was recently granted first prize in the Florida Junior Academy of Science Competition. We wish her all the luck in her future studies and research.
Primate Cognition Project
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One of the more recent studies being conducted at Monkey Jungle is an investigation into the memory processes of a western lowland gorilla and two orangutans. More specifically, the ongoing study is looking into a particular kind of memory that cognitive psychologists call episodic memory. Episodic memory is the kind of memory that allows people to remember specific events from their lives. Episodic memories can include recent events as well as fairly distant events. Episodic memory also includes more significant events that we retain for much longer periods of time, such as a first kiss. |
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Dr. Bennett Schwartz set to find out if gorillas and orangutans might possess these types of memories. For more information about his research or to contact him you can visit his website at http://www.fiu.edu/~schwartb/. |
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Training Opportunities
The DuMond Conservancy provides special education programs in primatology for middle and high school students, including a 9-week program for a local magnet middle school and a supplementary education program for mentally-challenged students.
College students conduct field trips at Monkey Jungle using on-site accommodations and educational opportunities are available for Pre-College, Undergraduate, and Graduate field work and internships. Research emphasizes behavioral studies of semi-free ranging populations of squirrel, capuchin, and java monkeys, but may also include other areas of interest. Projects that span broad aspects of primate biology are encouraged. Veterinary support is available as is access to a primate library. Financial support is rarely available
Students or teachers interested in studying with the DuMond Conservancy should make an application to Dr. S. Evans, Programs Coordinator, via email at dumond@dumondconservancy.org.
Food transfers to young and mates in wild owl monkeys (aotus azarai)
Wolovich CK, Perea-Rodriguez JP and Fernandez-Duque E (2008). Food transfers to young and mates in wild owl monkeys (aotus azarai). American Journal of Primatology 70(3): 211-221
Food transfers to young and mates in wild owl monkeys (Aotus azarai)
Christy Kaitlyn Wolovich 1,2, Juan Pablo Perea-Rodriguez 2 , Eduardo Fernandez-Duque 3,4
1Department of Biology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
2DuMond Conservancy for Primates and Tropical Forests, Inc., Miami, Florida
3Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral, Conicet, Argentina
email: Christy Kaitlyn Wolovich (c.wolovich@bucknell.edu)
*Correspondence to Christy Kaitlyn Wolovich, Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837
Funded by:
National Science Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship
Wenner-Gren Foundation
L.S.B. Leakey Foundation
National Geographic Society and the Zoological Society of San Diego
Keywords
food sharing • mate-guarding • monogamy • pair bond • paternal care
Abstract
Accounts of food sharing within natural populations of mammals have focused on transfers to offspring or transfers of food items that are difficult to obtain (such as meat). Five groups of socially monogamous owl monkeys (Aotus azarai azarai) in Formosa, Argentina were observed during 107 hr to determine the pattern of food sharing under natural conditions. There were a total of 42 social interactions involving food with food being transferred on eight occasions. Adult males transferred food to young more often than did adult females. All types of food that were readily obtained and eaten by all age/sex classes were transferred to young. Adult females also transferred food to their mates. This type of food sharing is very rare among animals and may have social benefits specific to monogamous mammals with paternal care. Am. J. Primatol. 70:211-221, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Received: 1 December 2006; Revised: 12 August 2007; Accepted: 14 August 2007
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1002/ajp.20477 About DOI
