Primate Behavior and Ecology - 2014 Fall Quarter
Online syllabus: http://primate.uchicago.edu/PBEsyllabus.doc
Course Number: BIOS23248, CHDV21800, CHDV34300, EVOL373OO
Course Hours: TT 10:30-11:50
Room: BSLC 202
Instructor: Dr. Dario Maestripieri
Office: HD 303
Phone: 834-4104
Office Hours: by appointment
Email: dario@uchicago.edu
TA: Lu Yao (luyaozers@uchicago.edu)
Week
Date
Lecture Topic
1
Tuesday Sep 30
Thursday Oct 2
Tuesday Oct 7
Thursday Oct 9
Tuesday Oct 14
Thursday Oct 16
Tuesday Oct 21
Thursday Oct 23
Tuesday Oct 28
Thursday Oct 30
Tuesday Nov 4
Thursday Nov 6
Tuesday Nov 11
Thursday Nov 13
Tuesday Nov 18
Thursday Nov 20
Tuesday Nov 25
Thursday Nov 27
Tuesday Dec 02
Thursday Dec 04
Tuesday Dec 09
Thursday Dec 11
Course Introduction – the study of animal behavior
Research methods - Primate taxonomy
History of primate behavior research
Social and mating systems: Prosimians and NW monkeys
Social and mating systems: Old World monkeys
Social and mating systems: Apes
Foraging and Predation
Life history, demography and dispersal
Evolution of social systems
Mid-Term Exam
Affiliation
Communication
Mating and reproduction
Aggression and dominance
Parental care
Development
Cognition
Thanksgiving
Human Behavior
Reading Period – no class
Review session
Final exam
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course explores the behavior and ecology of nonhuman primates, with emphasis on
natural history and adaptation to the environment. Specific topics include methods for
the study of primate behavior, history of primate behavior research, socioecology,
foraging, predation, affiliation, aggression, mating, parenting, development,
communication, cognition, and conservation.
EXAMS and GRADING
It is strongly advised that the assigned material be read in advance of each class meeting.
Course grades are based upon one mid-term exam, one final exam, and one-page
research papers to be submitted to the TA every day of class beginning on Oct 9. The
exams will require you to answer one of several essay questions. The essay will be
written in class without the aid of any reading materials. The one-page research papers
will summarize a recent (since 2000) research article, which provides new information on
the topic of the lecture and is not present in the textbook. The grading scale will vary
from A to F.
TEXT
The Evolution of Primate Societies. Edited by Mitani JC, Call J, Kappeler PM, Palombit
RA, Silk JB. The University of Chicago Press, 2012.
Macachiavellian Intelligence, How Rhesus Macaques and Humans Have Conquered the
World. by Dario Maestripieri. The University of Chicago Press, 2007.
Both books are available for purchase at the University Bookstore.
READINGS
Read Macachiavellian Intelligence as soon as possible and no later than October 9.
Tuesday Sep 30
Thursday Oct 2
Tuesday Oct 7
Thursday Oct 9
Tuesday Oct 14
Thursday Oct 16
Tuesday Oct 21
Thursday Oct 23
Tuesday Oct 28
Thursday Oct 30
Tuesday Nov 4
Thursday Nov 6
Tuesday Nov 11
Thursday Nov 13
Tuesday Nov 18
Thursday Nov 20
Tuesday Nov 25
Thursday Nov 27
Tuesday Dec 02
Thursday Dec 04
Tuesday Dec 09
Thursday Dec 11
take notes
EPS chapter 1; see also http://anthro.palomar.edu/primate/
take notes
EPS chapters 2, 3
EPS chapters 4, 5
EPS chapter 6
EPS chapters 7, 8
EPS chapter 10
EPS chapter 9
Mid-Term Exam
EPS chapters 21, 22, 23, 24
EPS chapter 29
EPS chapters 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
take notes
EPS chapter 14
EPS chapter 11
EPS chapters 27, 28, 30, 31
Thanksgiving
EPS chapters 13, 26
Reading Period – no class
Review session
Final exam