ATH/ZOO 395 - PRIMATE BIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
Spring 2002
T, R 3:30-4:45
71 Upham
3 credit hours
DR. L. MARCHANT
360 UPHAM
Office hrs: T 8:30-10:30; R 10-12
Office phone: 529-1594
Course Description:
This course is intended for those with an interest in primatology. The course content is structured
around a survey of the entire Order Primates, that is, we use taxonomy to organize the content
and sequence of topics during the semester. Selected species will be studied in greater detail to
gain an appreciation of the variability of natural history within the order. We will focus on
anatomy, distribution, adaptation, morphological characteristics, and behavior of the
various groups of primates. Selected topics in primatology, e.g., reproduction & development,
communication, manipulation and tools, learning, and conservation will be interwoven with the
taxonomic survey. To put more "flesh on the bones" you will also read McDonald Pavelka's
"primatography", a primatologist's version of an ethnography. The content of this course entails
understanding, and committing to memory, substantial amounts of taxonomic detail, and
species specific information. Evolutionary biology is the theoretical perspective that provides
the framework for understanding the biology and behavior of the Order Primates.
Required Texts:
- D. Falk, Primate Diversity, Norton, 2000
- R.L. Ciochon & R.A. Nisbett, The Primate Anthology, Prentice Hall, 1998
- M. McDonald Pavelka, Monkeys of the Mesquite, Kendall/Hunt Pub., 1993
- A Reader, available at Oxford Copy Shop, 10 S. Poplar, 523-3636
Class Format:
ALL of us need to be well prepared for class meetings, contribute regularly with questions and
comments, and anticipate a variety of learning modes. This will include videos, slides, occasional
skeletal material, and one or more guest speakers.
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Grading:
Your grade is based on six measures. You will be asked to write three essays that are based on
reading assignments. There are two in-class semester exams and a final exam.
Essay 1
10%
Essay 2
10
Essay 3
10
Semester Exam 1
25
Semester Exam 2
25
Final Exam
20
100%
You are expected to complete all assignments in order to earn a passing grade. No make-up
exams will be given, except by prior arrangement and documentation of serious illness or family
death.
CLASS SCHEDULE
WEEK OF:
TOPIC
READING
Jan 8,10
xxx;
Primate characteristics
Taxonomy & distribution
F - Introduction; C&N viiC&N 28; R 1,2,3,4,6 [3-1]
Jan 15,17
Primate Evolution
F 1; R 6 [1-16].
FIRST ESSAY DUE - leave in my mailbox
375 Upham Hall, by 5 p.m., Friday, Jan 18th
Jan 22,24
Methods and theory
F 2; C&N 6, 20; R 6 [3-6, 3-24, 330],7,20
Jan 29,31
Prosimians
F 3,4; C&N 29,31,33; R 8
Feb 5,7
New World Monkeys
F 5,6; C&N 4,21,22,23,24,25,26,27
Feb 12,14
SEMESTER EXAM 1 - TUESDAY, FEB 12
On Thursday, Feb. 14th, we attend the lecture listed below:
Professor John Mitani, University of Michigan, Zoology Seminar,
Pearson Hall, February 14th, 4 p.m.
Feb 19,21
N.W. Monkeys cont.
Mon/Tues switch day - we meet on Thursday only this week
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Feb 26,28
Old World Monkeys
F,7,8; R 5, M 1-3
C&N 1,18,8,13,17,18,19
SECOND ESSAY DUE - leave in my mailbox
375 Upham Hall, by 5 p.m., Friday, Mar 1st
Mar 5,7
O. W. Monkeys cont.
Hylobatids
Mar 11-15
SPRING BREAK
Mar 19,21
SEMESTER EXAM 2 - TUESDAY, MAR 19th
Hylobatids cont.
Mar 26,28
Pongo
Apr 2,4
Gorilla
F 12; C&N 2; R 18
Professor Tim White, University of California, Berkeley
Public Lecture, April 4th, 7 p.m.
AThe Ways We Were: Human Origins Research in Ethiopia@
Apr 9,11
Pan
Apr 16,18
Pan cont.
F 14; R 6 [4-36], 21
THIRD ESSAY DUE - leave in my mailbox
375 Upham Hall, by 9 a.m., Monday, April 15th
April 17th, Miami University Undergraduate Research Forum
Apr 23,25
Conservation; People & NHPs
C&N 30,32; R 17
Southern California Primate Research Forum, April 24-28
F 9,10; M 4-8; R 9
C&N 3,5,7,11,14
F11; R 16,19
F 13; C&N 9,10,12,15,16;
R10,11,12,13,14,15
American Association of Physical Anthropologists
April 10-14, Buffalo, N.Y.
FINAL EXAMINATION DATE - WEDNESDAY, MAY 1ST, 5:30 P.M.
F refers to Falk, C&N refers to Ciochon & Nisbett, M refers to McDonald Pavelka, and R
refers to material in your Reader. When a Reader selection is listed in the syllabus it will be
followed by a number, e.g. R 8. This number indicates the selection in the Table of Contents for
the Reader. Selection number six in the Reader has multiple entries and so will be followed by
an additional number in brackets to indicate which entry is assigned, eg. R 6 [1-16]. I strongly
suggest that you bring the Reader with you to class as I may refer to content from time to time as
we cover course material.
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