Primates are among the most social animals. This course will introduce you to primates in an up close and experiential way through observations of free-ranging monkeys, vervet monkeys, as they go about their daily lives. We will first introduce you to the group of mammals in the Order Primates and give you a brief overview of the evolutionary context of primate ecology and social behavior. We will examine ecological choices and behaviors that impact the way primates survive, succeed and reproduce in this natural habitat. We will use some evolutionary theoretical models to explain and understand both the patterns of behaviors that you find.

We will teach you the range of methods that primatologists use to quantify behavior and understand ecological variables and train you to use these in the field. You will then be able to follow the monkeys and collect behavioral and ecological data. We will then train you in data analysis and some basic statistical techniques and methodologies, as well as some simple computer programs for data analysis. This will enable you to both ask and answer questions like, “how is a behavior adaptive” or “what ecological factors have shaped a particular behavior”. We will also teach you how to present and disseminate the results of your research project on the behavioral ecology of the free-ranging vervets on the island of Barbados.