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School of Archaeology and Anthropology · ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
This course examines the behaviour, ecology and conservation of living nonhuman primates. Primates include monkeys, apes and strepsirhines, as well as people. In addition to better understanding nonhuman primates, primatology helps us to evaluate and understand the behaviour, culture, language and biology of our own species. Additionally, it gives us valuable information that is necessary for the conservation of nonhuman primates, the majority of which are now threatened. Lectures cover a variety of topics including: scan and focal field methods, morphology and distinguishing characteristics of each group of living primates; social organisation, mating, activity, diet and community ecology. Tutorials will be focused on practicing data collection and discussing theory. Students will be trained in data collection and assigned a species of primate on which to collect behavioural data from the National Zoo and Aquarium (NZA). This data will then be used to answer a research question based in one of the theories learned in lecture. Finally, theory and data will be put in the context of primate conservation and how we can best conserve the world’s primates.
Two in-class quizzes, 40 minutes each
Learning outcomes 1
Data collection assignment
Learning outcomes 2
Data analysis assignment
Learning outcomes 2
2000 word research proposal based on zoo data collection
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
5-minute presentation of zoo research report
Learning outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5
130 hours of total student learning time made up from: a) 36 hours of face-to-face contact including 18 hours of lectures, 18 hours of workshop and workshop-like activities; b) approximately 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing. Other Information This course will require students conduct data collection at the National Zoo and Aquarium (NZA) for a total of six hours of nonhuman primate observation in the middle of semester. Students will be given complementary entry to conduct this research, although they will need to sort out their own transportation to the zoo. Students need to ensure they are protected from the sun while collecting data at the NZA.
There are no prescribed texts for this course. Details of required readings will be made available via Canvas.