Department of Zoology
Miami University
W.C. McGrew
Fall, 2004
ATH/ZOO 497/597 Socio-Ecology of Primates
Course Information
Aims:
This course focuses on the interface between the sociology and ecology of the Order Primates
(prosimians, monkeys, apes, plus Homo sapiens). The theoretical framework is comparative and
evolutionary, and the levels of analysis are multiple: individual, family, group, population, and
species. We will concentrate on field studies of great apes in nature, but we seek to integrate
knowledge from both the natural and social sciences.
Schedule:
Tuesday and Thursday, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm, Upham Hall 160
First class meeting: Tuesday, 24 August
Last class meeting: Thursday, 9 December
Textbooks:
Strier, Karen B. (2003) Primate Behavioral Ecology, Second Edition, Allyn & Bacon, paperback, 422 pp.
McGrew, William C. (2004) The Cultured Chimpanzee, Cambridge University Press, paperback
(available later in semester)
Assessment:
The overall course grade will be based on 5 components, each of which is obligatory and must be
done to pass the course:
journal article critique
5%
exam (midterm)
25%
seminar
10%
term paper (sp. profile)
30%
final exam
30%
100%
Students may “substitute” a book review for a third of the final exam, thus reducing it’s weighting to
20%, however, the full exam must still be taken. Book reviews are due on 9 December.
Students should turn in two copies of all submitted work, only one of which will be returned. Please keep a
copy of anything that you turn in. All submitted work must be in hard copy, put under the door of Upham 70.
Note: Pop quizzes, for credit, may be given at any time!
Examinations:
Exams will be a mixture of objective (e.g. true/false) and descriptive (e.g. essay) measures, in
order to maximize the accurate assessment of knowledge and students' exam-taking skills. No
make-up exams will be given except by prior arrangement, on grounds of illness or bereavement.
Exams will be marked blind (by user identity number), and attendance will be taken by a sign-in
sheet.
Access:
I will hold two sorts of office hours. One is the usual type for one to-one consultation:
PSN 174 - Tuesday & Thursday 1:00-2:00 p.m.
The other will be held in the Biological Anthropology Laboratory (Upham 65) on Wednesdays
(12:00-2:00 p.m.). This is for drop-in informality, e.g. coffee, bag lunch, perusal of journals or
reprints, etc. There is no phone in the lab.) Messages can be left in either departmental office
mailbox (PSN 212, Upham 375), or on voice mail at ext. 9-2488 or 9-7777. For mutual
convenience, please confine consultation to these times, but if this is not possible, please ring up
for an appointment. Please do not ring me at home, and email response is not guaranteed.
Attendance:
Attendance at lectures is strongly advised for those seeking to do well in the course, and will be taken into
account for borderline grades. Attendance at ALL other scheduled meetings is obligatory and unexcused
absences will be detrimental to course grades. Anticipated absences (e.g. religious holidays) should be
arranged in advance.
Resources:
Primatological journals and offprints or photocopies of articles or chapters are available for use by
course members in the Bio. Anth. Lab. These can be read on site or borrowed for same-day
photocopying, after being signed out (and then signed back in). These materials are the
personal property of Bill McGrew and Linda Marchant, and are made available on a trustee basis, to
give access to knowledge not otherwise available in Miami's libraries. All items checked out must be
returned before a course grade will be given.
Journal Article Critique:
Each student will read, analyze, digest and evaluate a short article from a scientific journal
(=primary source). This will yield a short report in a standardized format. Each student will choose
an article from a list compiled on multiple grounds, e.g. topicality, timeliness, importance. The aim
of this exercise is to take students straight to the horse's mouth, where scientific knowledge
originates.
Seminar:
Learning benefits from discussion, so we will have seminars on four topics that are somewhat controversial.
All will read a common, “starter’” reference (see Readings), but each will also be assigned a unique
reference, in order to make an individual contribution to debate. The class will be split in half to make 2
manageably-sized sub-groups. While one half discusses, the other half will watch a video, then swap places
at the next class meeting. Credit is given or insightful, pertinent and extemporaneous contributions to
discussion.
Book Review:
The textbooks emphasize breadth and scientific rigor: but this exercise focuses on
depth and a more personal view of primatology. A student will choose a book from the list and
write a 1000-word analysis of it, using the guidelines provided. This exercise aims to develop
critical faculties of clear thinking and ability to write lucidly in the scientific style.
Species Profile:
Each student will choose a species of primate and produce an up-to-date profile of current
knowledge of its socio-ecology. This term paper will entail literature search, retrieval, and critique of
the most recent primary sources. Each of the 6 topics (habitat, diet, social structure, dispersal,
mating system, kinship) will be treated in about a page of text, including parenthetical citation. A page of
references, in complete bibliographic format will complete the paper, making the overall length 7 pages. The
aim is to be selective, rigorous, and succinct. Use no less than 12-point font, and double-space.
Plagiarism:
Go to www.indiana.edu/~istd/index.html and familiarise yourself with its contents. Note that there is a 5minute quiz that allows you to test your knowledge of the subject. YOU WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE
FOR KNOWLEDGE AT THIS SITE IF PROBLEMS ARISE.
Primary Sources:
There are 4 mainstream journals in primatology, and two secondary ones, and between the Brill
Science Library and personal collections, these are well covered at Miami:
Title
Brill Sci.Lib. Holdings
American Journal of Primatology
1985 Vol. 8 Folia Primatologica
1963 Vol. 1 International Journal of Primatology
1985 Vol. 6 Primates
1985 Vol. 26 American Journal of Physical Anthropology 1968 Vol. 28 Journal of Human Evolution
1975 Vol. 4 -
Bio-Anth.Lab (Upham 65)
1981 Vol. 1 1987 Vol. 48 1980 Vol. 1 1958 Vol. 1 1989 Vol. 80 1992 Vol. 22 -
(Other minor journals in primatology such as Laboratory Primate Newsletter, Journal of Medical
Primatology, Primate Report, etc., may be found in the Bio-Anth. Lab or Brill.)
To search for sources, go to: www.primate.wisc.edu/pin. Click on the box labeled
PRIMATELIT. It is easy, comprehensive and user-friendly.
"Field-Trip":
On a Saturday or Sunday (date to be arranged), I will be at the Cincinnati Zoo for the
morning. If anyone cares to join me, we could do a primatological walkabout together, but this is
entirely optional and voluntary. The Zoo has an excellent array of primate species, being especially
strong in prosimians and apes.
Closing Thought:
As befits a 400/500-level course, the standard of work expected is that appropriate to advanced
undergraduate or beginning graduate majors in Anthropology or Zoology. The required
prerequisites are therefore essential to mutually rewarding and satisfying participation. Graduate
students will be expected to produce more substantial efforts in the submitted materials and will be
assessed more stringently on the exams.
wcm/dld