Primate Society of Great BritainNo. 101JUNE 2010

THE PRIMATE SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN Registered Charity No. 290185 Officers: President: Prof. Kim Bard (10) (Centre for the Study of Emotion, Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, King Henry Building, King Henry I Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2DY) Hon. Secretary: Dr Sarah Elton (10) (Functional Morphology and Evolution Unit, Hull York Medical School, The University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD) Hon. Treasurer Dr Gillian Brown (09) (School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, St Mary’s College, South Street, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, KY16 9JP, UK) Membership Secretary: Dr Clare Cunningham (09) (Department of Psychology, School of Social and Health Sciences, University of Abertay, Kydd Building (Level 5), Bell Street, Dundee, DD1 1HG) e-mail: membership@psgb.org Council Members: Ms K. Balolia (University College London) – Student Representative (09) Prof. H. Buchanan-Smith (Stirling) (08) Dr H. Chatterjee (University College, London) – Marketing Committee Convenor (09) Prof. R. Dunbar (Oxford University) (09) Dr A. Fletcher (University of Chester) (09) Dr R. Kendal (Durham) (10) Dr S. Koski (Cambridge) (10) Dr J. Lehmann (Roehampton) (10) Dr N. Newton-Fisher (Kent) (08) Dr V. Nijman (Oxford Brookes University) (09) Dr S. Pika (Manchester) (08) Dr K. Pullen (Paignton Zoo) – Book Review Editor (09) Dr C. Schwitzer (Bristol Zoo) (10) Dr S. Thorpe (Birmingham) (10) Convenors of Working Parties: Dr C. Harcourt (Dept of Veterinary Clinical Science, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston, Wirral, CH64 7TE, UK) - Convenor, Conservation Working Party Dr S. Hill (North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, Caughall Road, Upton-by-Chester, Chester, CH2 1LH) - Convenor, Captive Care Working Party Assistant Members of Council: Dr S. Evans (Du Mond Conservancy, c/o Monkey Jungle Inc., PO Box 246, Miami, Florida 33170, USA) - for US membership Dr T.C. Rae (Roehampton) - Editor, Primate Eye Mr C. Rosen MBE (IPPL) - Financial Advisor Dr A. Smith (Anglia Ruskin) – Meetings Officer Honorary Auditors: Messrs Morris & Co., Chester Subscription Rates: Annual subscription rates (send cheques and sterling drafts to the Treasurer): Full members and Associate members: Payment by Banker's Order £25.00 Payment by cheque, postal order, cash, credit card £27.50 Undergraduate and postgraduate student membership £15.00 (Membership of P.S.G.B. includes Primate Eye and supplements) Institutions wishing to receive Primate Eye and supplements only: Annual subscription £30.00 Overseas subscriptions may be paid at longer intervals by arrangement with the Treasurer

THE PRIMATE SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN founded on May 22 1967 by the Primate Group of the Zoological Society of London

Founding Council: J.R. NAPIER (President), R.P. MICHAEL (Hon.Sec.), R.J. ANDREW (Hon.Treasurer), E.H. ASHTON, L.D. BROOKES, C.R. COID, P. COTES, J.H. CROOK, J. DAVIES, R.N. T-W-FIENNES, R.A. HINDE, G.H. MANLEY, I. ROWLANDS, A.C. WARREN, L. WEISKRANTZ Past Presidents: 1967 - 1970 J.R. NAPIER 1986 - 1969 B. WOOD 1970 - 1973 R.P. MICHAEL 1989 - 1993 R.I.M. DUNBAR 1973 - 1976 R.N. T-W-FIENNES 1993 - 1998 H.O. BOX 1976 - 1979 M.H. DAY 1998 - 2001 P.C. LEE 1979 - 1982 R.D. MARTIN 2001 - 2005 R. BARTON 1982 - 1986 D.J. CHIVERS 2005 - 2010 A. MACLARNON Past Secretaries: 1967 - 1970 R.P. MICHAEL 1987 - 1990 R.C. HUBRECHT 1970 - 1974 K.R. HOBBS 1990 - 1993 P.C. LEE 1974 - 1975 V. REYNOLDS 1993 - 1996 C. ROSS 1975 - 1978 R.D. MARTIN 1996 - 1999 H. BUCHANAN-SMITH 1978 - 1981 A.F. DIXSON 1999 - 2005 J. LYCETT 1981 - 1985 S.K. BEARDER 2005 - 2010 C. SCHAFFNER 1985 - 1987 H.O. BOX Past Treasurers: 1967 - 1970 R.J. ANDREW 1987 - 1990 S. KINGSLEY 1970 - 1974 A. JOLLY 1990 - 1994 R. CROMPTON 1974 - 1977 D.J. CHIVERS 1994 - 1998 G. R. HOSEY 1977 - 1980 E.B. KEVERNE 1998 - 2002 C. EVANS 1980 - 1984 L. AIELLO 2002 - 2009 R. HILL 1984 - 1987 A. MACLARNON Past Editors: 1974 - 1977 N.R. CHALMERS 1993 - 1996 D. BRANDON-JONES 1977 - 1993 J.C. INGRAM 1996 - 2006 W. SELLERS Osman Hill Memorial Lecturers (established 1977): 1978 M.H. DAY 1994 R.I.M. DUNBAR 1980 R.A. HINDE 1996 T. ROWELL 1982 F. BOURLIERE 1998 C.B. STRINGER 1984 P.M. BUTLER 2000 A.F. DIXSON 1986 J.P. HEARN 2002 I. TATTERSALL 1988 H. KUMMER 2004 C. VAN SCHAIK 1990 R.D. MARTIN 2006 A. JOLLY 1992 J.H. CROOK 2008 W. MCGREW Napier Memorial Medal Winners (established 1991): 1991 CHRISTOPHER PRYCE 2001 RUSSELL HILL 1993 MARTA LAHR 2003 SUSANNE SHULTZ 1995 CARLOS DREWS 2005 CORRI WAITT 1997 NICOLA KOYAMA 2007 ANNIKA PAUKNER 1999 MARK COLLARD 2009 ERIK WILLEMS Occasional Medal Winners (established 1996): 1997 JANE GOODALL CBE: Conservation 2007 CYRIL ROSEN MBE: Conservation 2008 STEPHEN NASH: Special Contributions to Primatology Charles A. Lockwood Medal Winners (established 2009): 2009 CLAIRE SANTORELLI The content of Primate Eye is printed on recycled paper by Top Copy, Bristol, BS16 6JE

EDITORIAL This time last year, I commented on the media hoopla surrounding the announcement of Ida, the now-world-famous ‘missing link’ (or cercamonine adapid strepsirhine, as I suggested). A scientific response subsequently appeared; Seiffert et al. (Nature 461: 1118-1121, 2009) reported the discovery of a new African adapid (Afradapis longicristatus) similar to Darwinius (Ida’s genus); the authors showed convincingly that both of these Eocene genera belong to the strepsirhine side of the primate clade. Not surprisingly, this did not make the front page of every daily newspaper, nor did it generate any television news coverage. Thus, once again, the non-Nature-reading general public are left with the mental residue of misleading hyperbole without exposure to the more considered, analysis-driven research. Sadly, it would appear that the cycle is beginning again. Anderson et al. (2010) sparked a similar media feeding-frenzy with their recent paper entitled ‘Pan thanatology’.* The authors suggest that the behaviour of captive chimpanzees during the period surrounding the death of a member of the troop bears similarities to the reactions of humans to the death of a relative. The new coverage, on the other hand, went straight to the conclusion that chimpanzees have a human-like understanding of death; they illustrated the story with an older photo, taken from National Geographic, showing an unrelated group of chimpanzees. As with the Ida debacle, the journal article raises legitimate scientific issues; the academic debate has already begun on the Current Biology website <www.cell.com/current-biology/>. The public-at-large, however, will almost necessarily be excluded from these discussions. As a result, ‘conclusions’ reached entirely by the print and online media (‘Chimps grieve when faced with death’, as reported in the Independent newspaper) will be accepted as legitimate inferences. And, as with other media favourites like aquatic ape ‘theory’, it means I’ll have to spend an inordinate amount of my lecturing time have to ‘un-teach’ this to my students. There may not be a simple solution to this frankly unacceptable state of affairs. We are increasingly urged by our institutions and granting agencies to make our work accessible to the general public. This brings us into contact with reporters, who are under pressure to deliver content that can be considered news (derived from the word ‘new’, implying an emphasis on novelty) and that will generate interest at a glance. There is little room for caveats, modifiers or conditions – as Ben Goldacre’s Guardian column continually points out, the media filtering process often results in simplifying to the point of deception. One colleague of mine provided ample information on a recent journal article to the print media, only to have the country in which the research took place misreported and to have his name attached to entirely made-up quotes. Another had hours of

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interview videotaped, only for the editors to cut it in such a way as to suggest he was saying the opposite of what he actually said (and meant). Given these experiences, it is more important than ever to make sure that our statements to the press are as clear and precise as possible. Even if there is no guarantee that they will be reported that way. Complete reference to the original paper: James R. Anderson, Alasdair Gillies and Louise C. Lock (2010) Pan thanatology. Current Biology 20(8): R349-R351 * I had to look it up, too. The articles and abstracts included in Primate Eye are not for citation or quotation without permission of the authors. The deadline for the next issue of Primate Eye is 15th September 2010. Items (manuscript or electronic in any standard format) for future issues should be sent to: Todd C. Rae Editor, Primate Eye Centre for Research in Evolutionary Anthropology School of Human and Life Sciences Whitelands College Roehampton University Holybourne Avenue London SW15 4JD Email: editor@psgb.org Tel: UK (0)20 8392 3726 Fax: UK (0)20 8392 3527 PSGB correspondence unrelated to Primate Eye should be addressed to the Hon. Secretary. Notification of change of address should be sent to the Membership Secretary. The PSGB WebSite can be found at <www.psgb.org>

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REPORT: PSGB Spring Meeting 2010

Social Cognition and Human Evolution 7th and 8th April 2010, University of Abertay, Dundee

The University of Abertay, Dundee hosted the Spring Meeting of the Primate Society of Great Britain for the first time in its history. The conference took place on the 7th and 8th of April featuring typical Dundee Spring weather (sunny but cold). Successfully organised by Dr Clare Cunningham, the meeting consisted of 4 invited speakers, 18 proffered speakers, 14 poster presentations and a workshop. Following registration, Abertay Principal and Vice Chancellor Professor Bernard King CBE addressed the delegates, welcoming them to the University. Clare Cunningham opened the conference and introduced the chair of this first session. Our first invited speaker of the conference was Professor Carel Van Schaik from the University of Zürich. His talk concentrated on suggestions that the role of cooperative breeding extends the ‘expensive brain’ framework in human cognitive evolution. This was followed by talks on social network analysis as a tool to explore the social structure and cumulative culture in chimpanzees. Morning coffee then gave us a chance to engage in some social networking of our own and the opportunity to browse the poster presentations. The second session, chaired by Sean O’Hara, consisted of talks based on social behaviour in the form of gestural repertoire in wild chimpanzees, non linguistic vocal behaviour in human infants and play back calls as a facilitator of increased social affiliation. Everyone then was directed back to the student centre for lunch (which was excellent), more browsing of posters and further opportunity to catch up with colleagues and meet new members. Dr Susanne Shultz from the University of Oxford was the second invited speaker of the conference and was introduced by chair Sarah Elton. Susanne’s presentation discussed further evidence illustrating encephalisation across mammals as a result of social bonds and social stability. This led onto further presentations in the session based on anatomical and anthropological perspectives on social behaviour. The final session of the day was chaired by Hannah Buchanan-Smith. Invited speaker Dr James Anderson from the University of Stirling presented evidence from his many years of research, on primate self-awareness, empathy and awareness of death. Within his talk a moving piece of film was shown capturing the moments of death of an old chimpanzee and the reaction of others in the group. A wine reception concluded the first part of the spring conference.

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The evening entertainment in true Scottish tradition was a Céilidh at the Apex City Quay Hotel, which was a huge success and seemed to be enjoyed by all who attended. There was no escape for the faint-hearted; we danced, we drank and were merry! So, to return to serious business, day two kicked off with a workshop hosted by Sarah Elton and Joanna Setchell on how to get published, which was extremely helpful and well worth the early start. Chairing the first session of the day, Sonya Hill introduced invited speaker Professor Thomas Bugnyar from the University of Vienna. Diverging from primatology, Thomas examined the role of social relationships in socio-cognitive abilities in ravens compared to primate social relationships; illustrating that ravens have the same relationship quality as chimpanzees. Continuing the ‘non primate’ topic the next talk was on forest elephants’ social arenas and ending the morning oral presentation session was a presentation providing evidence that social relationships affect choice of sleeping area in captive chimpanzees. After coffee and a last chance to browse the posters on display, chair Scott Hardie introduced the last three speakers of the conference all based on anatomical perspectives on human evolution. The conference came to a close with the presentation of the student prizes for best oral presentation and best poster which were reported as being of extremely high standard and diverse in content. Steven Montgomery from the University of Cambridge received the prize for best oral presentation covering the topic of microcephaly genes and their role in primate brain evolution and Catherine Hobaiter from the University of St Andrews was runner-up presenting a comparative study of gestural repertoire between captive and wild chimpanzees. Cris Casar, also from the University of St Andrews, won best student poster presentation on predator alarm calls in wild black fronted titi monkeys. On the whole the conference was a success thanks to the University of Abertay and all who helped in the organisation. From a personal perspective, I specifically enjoyed James Anderson’s presentation, which had me captivated. Faye Clark’s talk on social network analysis was also very enjoyable being relevant to my own research. Emma Nelson’s talk on digit ratio as a predictor of social systems in fossil hominids and Catherine Hobaiter’s study were also ones that stood out for me. Clare has received nothing but praise for her hard work in putting together such an enjoyable conference. The only complaint made was too little time for discussion, reflecting the amount of good research to discuss. Not a bad complaint! Mairi McLeod University of Abertay Dundee

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REPORT: Pre-PSGB Spring Meeting Workshop

Training Primates for Cognitive Research, RZSS Edinburgh Zoo Before the PSGB Spring meeting began in Dundee, a small group of workshop delegates met at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo. The workshop, hosted by staff of the Living Links to Human Evolution Research Centre and Budongo Trail, both zoo and academic, focussed on the establishment of cognitive research within a zoo setting. The day started with introductions from both Graham Catlow (RZSS Edinburgh Zoo) and Prof. Hannah Buchanan-Smith (University of Stirling), both of whom highlighted the uniqueness within the UK of the collaboration between the zoo and academic institutions. Living Links was opened just two years ago, and Prof. Andy Whiten (Director of Living Links, University of St Andrews) highlighted how many research projects had already been conducted there. We were given a brief overview of the establishment of the Living Links centre, which houses mixed-species groups of capuchin and squirrel monkeys, and the subsequent development of the Budongo Trail chimpanzee exhibit by the zoo. We then had guided tours of each of the facilities including to their especially designed research testing areas. In each building, tours were divided into small enough groups to allow demonstrations of the current work being undertaken. There was particular emphasis on how well-designed enclosures coupled with well-designed training programmes can facilitate the separation of animals for cognitive testing without compromising either the social group or the zoo’s animal welfare, breeding and conservation objectives. Each demonstration was accompanied by both zoo staff and researchers, giving the opportunity to discuss issues both from a zoo and a research point of view. The afternoon consisted of talks from both researchers and keeping staff associated with the two facilities. It was good to see not only the enthusiasm of the researchers but how that has obviously spread to the zoo staff of both the facilities and the wider zoo. In addition Dr Mark Bowler’s talk highlighted the convergent needs of both a zoo and an academic situation: engaging the public. It also reminded us of the potential for additional funding available to achieve taking science to the public. The day was full of interest; it was very apparent that good collaboration can allow institutions with different objectives to achieve high quality research and to find a common ground in the education of the visiting public. Although Living Links is the only such dedicated research centre in the UK, it is refreshing to see that other collaborations between zoos and

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academic institutions are continuing to emerge (Southampton University and Marwell Wildlife; Exeter University and Paignton Zoo). Thanks to all those involved - managers, researchers and keepers - for a great day; lots of fun and an encouraging demonstration of the potentials possible with a strong collaboration. Kirsten Pullen Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust

Jack Griffey (University of Stirling) and the staff of Living Links

have trained capuchins using positive reinforcement to enter cubicles and perform visual preference tests (photo by Mark Bowler)

Betsy Herrelko (University of Stirling) and the keepers of Budongo Trail

have trained the chimpanzees to do touch screen tasks (photo by Kevin Flay)

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PSGB Spring Meeting 2010

Social Cognition and Human Evolution April 7th and 8th

University of Abertay Dundee

Organised by: Clare Cunningham (University of Abertay Dundee)

Abstracts for oral presentations The evolution of brain size: benefits, costs and consequences C.P. van Schaik, J.M. Burkart and K. Isler Anthropological Institute & Museum, University of Zürich, Switzerland Among primates, brain size predicts cognitive performance. Thus, selection on intelligence is selection on brain size. However, brains are energetically very expensive, which implies that brain size increases must not only bring behavioural benefits, but must also be possible energetically. The "expensive brain" framework predicts that relatively large-brained animals either exhibit increased total energy flow or re-allocate energy from other expensive functions such as digestion or production (growth and reproduction). Extensive comparative tests support most of this framework. Particularly relevant is the effect of brain size on life history, leading to the concept of the grey ceiling. The framework also predicts that cooperative breeding, through the energetic support to breeding females, reduces energetic constraints and thus allows for brain enlargement; this prediction is supported for altricial birds and mammals. We present evidence that the different psychology of cooperative breeders changes prosocial behaviour. We then use these results to speculate about the role of cooperative breeding in human cognitive evolution. From individual to community: using social network analysis to explore the social structure of captive chimpanzees F.E. Clark Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Royal Veterinary College and Zoological Society of London The social lives of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) have captivated researchers for decades, from the pioneering field-work of Goodall, to more recent explorations of ‘chimpanzee politics’ in the zoo. However, research has traditionally focused on the behaviour of individuals, dyads or whole groups without considering how these interplay. Recent analytical advances

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now make it possible to quantify entire animal social networks, and ‘Social Network Analysis’ (SNA) techniques are ripe for the picking by ‘chimpologists’, and indeed other primatologists. This study investigated the social structure of captive chimpanzees housed at Edinburgh Zoo, UK. Patterns of association and interaction among individuals were sampled using focal observations and scans of sub-groups (parties). Social network diagrams (sociograms) were produced from spatial association, and interaction data. Comparisons were made within and between networks, and cluster analysis was used to identify sub-grouping within networks. There were four main findings. (1) Matrix correlation tests showed that individuals preferred to associate and interact affiliatively with their maternal kin, and individuals spent time close to those with whom they had an affiliative bond. (2) Cluster analysis revealed significant sub-groups related to agonistic encounters, and parties frequently changed over time and space. (3) The community exhibited a low level of ‘fission-fusion’ behaviour because parties frequently changed over time and space. (4) The dominant female held highly central positions in both affiliative and agonistic networks, and was pivotal to group cohesion. This study used SNA techniques to study chimpanzee social structure at a number of levels, from individual to community, and I encourage other researchers to use SNA in pure and applied contexts. Constraints on cumulative culture in chimpanzees L.G. Dean1, R.L. Kendal2 and K.N. Laland1 1. School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife, U.K. 2. Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, U.K. Most researchers agree that humans are the only species with cumulative culture. A number of hypotheses have been proposed to explain this difference, but few studies have explicitly tested them. Here we used a cumulative puzzle-box, which could be solved to gain three sequentially better rewards. We tested 76 chimpanzees in 8 groups with trained demonstrator seeded and unseeded open diffusion experiments. We also presented the puzzle-box to 35 children in 8 groups in unseeded open diffusion experiments. Of the 76 chimpanzees there were only four that learned to open the puzzle-box beyond the first, simplest, stage accessing only the least desirable food reward. In only one group did more than one chimpanzee learn to access the higher stages of the puzzle-box. In contrast, multiple children, both across and within groups, accessed the higher, more difficult, stages of the puzzle-box to access the more desirable sticker rewards. By analysing when and how animals manipulated the puzzle-box and learned to use it, we assess which hypotheses our data are consistent with. Accordingly we posit that a lack of imitation, teaching and cooperation in chimpanzees inhibits the evolution of cumulative culture.

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The case for a common gestural repertoire among great apes: evidence from the wild chimpanzees C. Hobaiter and R.W. Byrne Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution and Scottish Primate Research Group, School of Psychology, University of St Andrews We compare and contrast the results from captive work on gestural communication in all great apes with observations from the first systematic study of gestural communication in wild chimpanzees, a 2-year study of the Sonso community in Budongo, Uganda. We describe the gestural repertoire of wild chimpanzees. Until recently, the acquisition of great ape gestures has been accepted to derive from ontogenetic ritualization, with communicative gestures shaped from effective actions by mutual conditioning between dyads of individuals. Biologically inherited gestures were considered to be a minor subset of gestures used inflexibly and without intention (Tomasello et al., 1985, 1994). This view has recently been challenged with data on gorilla gesture (Genty et al., 2009). Here we use evidence from wild chimpanzees, and a meta-analysis of the existing great-ape literature, to propose an alternative model of flexible, intentional gestural communication in terms of species-typical chimpanzee gestures and a family-typical repertoire of great-ape gesture. Non-linguistic vocal behaviour in human infants (Homo sapiens): primatological perspective V.Kersken, J.C.Gomez and K. Zuberbühler School of Psychology, University of St Andrews In order to examine whether infants between the ages of 7 and 20months selectively produce certain non-linguistic vocalizations in specific contexts, we observed the vocal behaviour of 30 infants in one of their natural habitats – a nursery environment. We identified the contexts in which vocalization occurred and conducted an analysis of the acoustic features of the vocalizations in five distinct contexts: protests, requests for food or actions, vocalizations co-occurring with declarative pointings, and accompanying acts of giving objects to others. A discriminant function analysis was conducted on different acoustic variables of each of the 209 calls and could correctly classify 56.8% of the call types. We conducted a Monte Carlo simulation and found that the model could classify significantly more cases correctly than a randomly generated data set (chi squared = 26.99, df = 1, p> .0001). The results suggest that prelinguistic infants do produce vocal behaviours selectively in certain contexts and that these classes of vocalizations might serve specific functions be. Although this is not a complete description of infant vocal behaviour, it nevertheless suggests some homogenous classes of non-linguistic vocalizations that are systematically related to their production context and therefore could

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function referentially in comparable way to the vocalizations of non-human primates. This consistency in production could provide caregivers with non-linguistic referential clues to what the infant wants or needs. Can a social culture of increased affiliation be facilitated in captive monkeys through call playback? C.F.I. Watson, C.A. Caldwell and H.M. Buchanan-Smith Department of Psychology, University of Stirling Empirical investigation of cultural transmission mechanisms has focused on culture conceived as discrete, group specific, non-species typical behaviour. Sapolsky (2006) proposed an alternative conception of culture as a set of species typical behaviours performed to an atypical degree within particular groups, termed ‘social culture’. Changes towards a more pacific social culture have been recorded in wild baboons and similar shifts to a less aggressive culture have been observed after cross-species interaction in captive juvenile macaques. However, the transmission of social culture within species of nonhuman primates has not yet been experimentally investigated. We have previously demonstrated that spontaneous chirp vocalisations produced by captive marmosets are associated with an increase in the affiliative behaviour of nearby social groups through social contagion. The current study investigated whether a social culture of increased affiliation could be artificially generated in social groups of captive marmosets through the playback of conspecific chirp calls. We recorded the behaviour: before, during, and after 11 days of playback (3 hr per day) of 16 focal marmosets in the experimental condition (exposed to playback of pre-recorded chirp calls at an above average rate) and 16 marmosets in the control condition (playback of recorded silence). A significant increase in the time spent performing affiliative behaviour by marmosets in the experimental condition during and following call playback, relative to before playback and to marmosets in the control group, would indicate a shift in social culture. We report the results of this experiment and discuss implications for mechanisms underlying social culture. What role do microcephaly genes play in primate brain evolution? S.H. Montgomery¹, I. Capellini2, C. Venditti3, R.A. Barton² and N.I. Mundy1 1. University of Cambridge, 2. University of Durham, 3. University of Reading Understanding the genetic basis of phenotypic change can aid our understanding of what processes constrain or contribute to the evolution of a trait. Where evolution proceeds in parallel directions along independent lineages it can also help us to understand whether similar phenotypes are

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produced by similar genetic changes, and if not, help identify species specific adaptation. Genes linked to human microcephaly have received much attention as they have accelerated evolutionary rates along lineages leading to humans. However, the link between gene and brain evolution is disputed. We analyzed the molecular evolution of four genes associated with microcephaly (ASPM, CDK5RAP2, CENPJ, MCPH1) across 21 primates representing all major clades of anthropoids. We show that all four loci have experienced positive selection across anthropoids. We found a relationship between CDK5RAP2 and absolute neonatal brain mass, and ASPM and absolute neonatal brain mass when a strong outlier, the marmoset, was removed. We also found evidence for a weak association of ASPM and CDK5RAP2 and adult brain size. The stronger association of ASPM and CDK5RAP2 evolution with neonatal brain size than adult brain size is consistent with a direct effect of these loci on neuronal proliferation, which is plausibly related to their cellular functions in mitotic spindle orientation. In contrast, we find no evidence linking CENPJ and MCPH1 to either neonatal or adult brain size evolution. These results suggest ASPM and CDK5RAP2 may have a conserved role in primate brain evolution. Evolutionary encephalisation is not a general phenomenon in mammals, but is common to socially bonded groups S. Shultz Institute for Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Oxford Across vertebrates, variation in total and relative brain size across mammals is marked, and is proposed to have a functional basis because brains are metabolically costly. Species should be expected to maximise the cost-benefit ratio of supporting costly tissues. A vast and expanding literature has identified associations between relative brain size amongst extant species and ecological and behavioural correlates including social characteristics, ecological flexibility, resilience, innovation, social learning, etc. However, a still unresolved question is how (and why) evolutionary trends in encephalisation vary across taxonomic groups. This is for two main reasons: 1) variation in extant species between and within groups is commonly accepted as a measure of evolutionary trends, and 2) evaluating allometric signals of encephalisation is notoriously contentious. In this talk, I will discuss the insights from and limitations of current approaches to estimating evolutionary encephalisation and propose a novel quantitative macroevolutionary approach. In contrast to the conventional approach of evaluating variation in extant species, I evaluated changes in relative brain size within taxa as a function of first appearance dates. The results challenge the conventional assumption that encephalisation is a general trend within mammalian groups. For example some groups, such as ruminants, felids and insectivores show no evidence of directional selection

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for large brains. However, those groups characterized by strong encephalisation signals were also likely to show bonded, stable sociality amongst extant species. Some non-social groups, particularly amongst the carnivores, also showed strong evidence of encephalisation. These results finally are put into the context of conventional ecological and social explanations of brain size increase. I will also discuss encephalisation in primates versus other mammals. Clinal patterns of craniofacial morphology in baboons (Papio spp.): a geometric morphometric approach J. Dunn1, A.Cardini2 and S. Elton1 1. Hull York Medical School, The University of Hull, 2. Museo di Paleobiologia e dell’Orto Botanico, Universitá di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy Clinal variation in morphology is found in several primate species, yet the ecological underpinning of these trends is unknown. Recent research on African monkeys has discovered a trend common to three disparate taxa. Blue monkeys, vervets and red colobus monkeys all exhibit a decreasing size cline from Central to East Africa. This raises the question which other species exhibit similarities in this clinal pattern and what can be learnt by comparing these patterns? The baboon has an extensive geographical range and exhibits subspecific diversity lending itself well to the exploration of clinal variation. This study uses a trend surface analysis to visualise and quantify the clinal trend. Environmental factors of known significance in baboon ecology are included in a partial regression along with spatial terms allowing the effects of the two factors to be quantified. The morphological cline is separated into its allometric and nonallometric components. Size is found to decrease from Central to East Africa in baboons as with red colobus, vervets, and blue monkeys. Comparing allometrically and nonallometrically controlled clines reveals that most of the observed morphological diversity in baboons is the result of size only. Taxa considered outliers in size, such as the Kinda baboon, cease to be such when allometry is controlled for. However, some clinal patterning remains but along a north-south axis and is perhaps indicative of a more ancient diversification in morphology. These observations should aid further research on determining the mechanisms underpinning clinal variation. Ecological and life history considerations related size are discussed.

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Application of the comparative method in reconstructing extinct primate social behaviour K. Balolia Department of Anthropology, University College London The comparative method has had some application to date in reconstructing the social behaviour of extinct primates, in that many researchers have used observed level of skeletal dimorphism in extant primates to make inferences about mating systems of extinct taxa. However, in this context, the comparative method is limited in its application to the reconstruction of primate social behaviour in that dimorphism alone is not able to distinguish between specific types of mating behaviour (Plavcan, 2000; J Hum Evol 39, 327-344). A new approach to the study of extinct hominin social behaviour by Lockwood et al. (2007; Science 318, 1443-1446) showed that Paranthropus robustus males underwent extended development into adulthood and matured later than females to attain a high level of cranial dimorphism. In taking this approach, they provided new scope for considering the relationship between social behaviour and morphology using a comparative framework. Through measuring overall levels of sexual dimorphism combined with size and shape changes in the adult skull of Pan, Gorilla, Pongo, Hylobates and Papio, I show how this approach, in conjunction with methodological advances in quantifying cranial morphology, can be used to investigate the relationship between morphology and intrasexual relationships in primates. In addition to males showing prolonged growth to attain full adult size, I consider the suggestion that cranial size and shape changes occur, which relate to social dominance, both in males and in females. Associated implications for future attempts to reconstruct extinct primate social organisation using a comparative framework are discussed. Digit ratios and social systems in fossil hominids E. Nelson School of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool Social systems underpin many aspects of primate behaviour and predicting the social systems of extinct hominids (great apes) is critical for understanding human palaeobiology, as well as social and cognitive evolution. However, predicting social systems from fossils is problematic due to difficulties in estimating body size dimorphism from fragmentary remains and, in hominins, low canine size dimorphism. Recent studies have shown that the second-to-fourth digit length ratio (2D:4D), a putative biomarker for prenatal androgen effects, co-varies with social systems across haplorrhines; polygynous species have significantly lower 2D:4D ratios (high prenatal androgen effects) than pair-bonded species. This study

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uses proximal phalanx ratios from extant apes and discriminant function analysis to predict the social systems from the fossilised hand bone ratios of five extinct hominids and one early anatomically modern human. The method predicts polygynous social systems for the early apes Pierolapithecus catalaunicus, Hispanopithecus laietanus, and supports a proposed pair-bonded social system for Australopithecus afarensis, but not for Ardipithecus ramidus. Evidence also suggests that the social systems of Neanderthals and early modern humans may have been similar and could have been characterised by higher levels of competition than evident in most contemporary human societies. Small fossil sample sizes and taphonomic factors preclude drawing firm conclusions using this method but, as more fossil hand bones become available, digit ratios could supplement current techniques used for predicting the social systems of fossil hominids. Public Engagement with Science at the Living Links to Human Evolution Research Centre M. Bowler¹, H. Buchanan-Smith² and A. Whiten¹ 1. School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, 2. Department of Psychology, University of Stirling ‘Public Engagement with Science’ (PES) is a hot topic for Universities and researchers. It is becoming an important or essential component in attracting funding and assessing ‘impact’ and there are calls for PES to be incorporated into the mission statements of UK Universities. Living Links is a university research centre built with PES as one of its primary goals. Situated within Edinburgh Zoo it has already received hundreds of thousands of visitors, many of whom have witnessed live cognitive research in action. We describe the development of the visitor experience at Living Links in terms of activities and interpretive displays and discuss our efforts to maximise and measure the impact of our engagement activities. Primate “I” J.R. Anderson Department of Psychology, University of Stirling What is the nature of nonhuman primates’ sense of self? Are there differences among species in the capacity to become the object of one’s own awareness? These questions have occupied comparative psychologists for the past three decades, with no lack of controversy. The study of self-recognition has given rise to many claims and counterclaims regarding not only the use of reflections for mirror-guided self- or environment-directed behaviour, but also the cognitive implications of these abilities. Some of this work will be reviewed, with additional discussion of two phenomena

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that might illustrate cognitive differences across species, namely empathy and awareness of death. What is personality and how can we study it in primates? J. Uher Free University Berlin, Germany Primatologists are increasingly interested in personality differences in nonhuman primates. Yet definitions and concepts are often vague and suitable methods of their measurement and analyses not well known. I introduce basic meta-theoretical concepts underlying the various theoretical concepts commonly used in the field. I clarify that differences in personality or temperament denote variations of individual-specific patterns in behaviour and mind. Methodological difficulties arise because individual-specific patterns are always masked by considerable random or ephemeral variations that derive from behavioural flexibility, ephemeral environmental conditions, and measurement error. Therefore, their empirical identification requires specific methodologies and analytical perspectives that are fundamentally different from those of other areas of behavioural primatology. I introduce two principal perspectives that allow exploring behavioural data for meaningful individual differences. The variable-centred perspective focuses on population-level phenomena and studies between-individual differences; the individual-centred perspective focuses on individual-level phenomena and studies the single individual’s unique configuration of behavioural patterns and their deviations relative to those of the other individuals in the population. These two perspectives also allow exploring the puzzling finding that the individuals’ patterns of behaviour and mind are often only moderately consistent across different situational contexts. Finally, I critically discuss the utility of observer ratings that have become more popular among animal researchers. I highlight that the apparent advantages of observer judgments, such as higher correlations among measurement variables or across situations, may derive from biased perceptions and ascriptions of human observers that need not accurately reflect the behavioural reality of primate individuals. Enriching the individual: Can personality predict response to enrichment in primates? K. Knight1,2,4, S. Robinson2, K. Stubbs2, A. Stacey3 and V. Melfi1,2,3,4 1. Newquay Zoo, 2. University of Exeter, 3. University of Plymouth, 4. Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust Individual differences in personality, whether defined as differences in ‘temperament’, ‘coping style’ or ‘behavioural traits’, have been studied in great detail in humans, and there has been a recent increase in the number of

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animal personality studies. Many of these studies have found evidence for fixed personality types in a wide range of taxa including non-human primates (NHP). We would expect that these differences in personality may affect other variables such as an animal’s use of environmental enrichment items (EE). This study looked at personality and enrichment use in Sulawesi crested black macaques (Macaca nigra). Subjects were 12 (6.6.0) M. nigra, housed at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park. Personality data were collected through keeper questionnaires. Broad state behaviours and enclosure use were recorded using instantaneous scan sampling every 30mins, from 0800-1700 for 6 days for each condition. Six conditions were presented to the macaques: baseline (no enrichment), food in cages, kongs, food in bags, egg boxes and herb paste. Factor analysis were used to explore the data collected and revealed that M. nigra have a 3 factor model of personality. The factors were labeled ‘Extroversion’, ‘Dominance’ and ‘Sociability’. Regression analysis was used to see if individual scores on these personality factors could predict behavioural responses to EE. Results showed that the ‘Extroversion’ and ‘Dominance’ Factors could significantly predict the response of individuals to EE, in two of the five EE conditions; Kongs (R2= 0.75, F3,11 = 8.079, p<0.05) and food in bags (R2 = 0.72, F3,11 = 6.887, p<0.05). From these data we conclude, that personality can explain individual differences in the effectiveness of EE and could be used when tailoring EE programmes for individuals within M. nigra groups. Raven politics: can concepts derived from primates be applied to birds? T. Bugnyar Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Austria Social life has been suggested as one of the main driving forces behind the evolution of higher cognitive abilities. Predicting the behaviour of individuals provides the basis for any form of cooperation, competition and culture in human and non-human societies. Despite the (renewed) interest in socio-cognitive abilities in a variety of non-human animals, little attention has been paid to the role of social relationships outside of primates. This is surprising because investigating the social knowledge of a species may help us to understand the underlying mechanisms and the socio-ecological conditions promoting investment in mental skills. Using ravens Corvus corax as a model species, I here illustrate that the patterns of relationship quality in these birds are similar to those found in chimpanzees. Furthermore, valuable social relationships seem to form the basis of the birds’ conflict management decisions; i.e., whether or not to engage in coalition formation and post-conflict bystander affiliation. How these findings fit with current theories and the social systems of birds is discussed.

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Exploring social arenas for forest elephants V. Fishlock and P. Lee Psychology Department, University of Stirling African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana africana) have complex, well-studied social lives with stable multi-female groups and gregarious but independent males. Individuals live in an intricate social landscape, in which associations may persist for decades. In contrast, relatively little is known of social dynamics in forest elephants (Loxodonta africana cyclotis) inhabiting the Congo basin and no model of sociality has been empirically demonstrated. Social systems represent the outcomes of dynamic interactions among an individual, its conspecifics and its environment. Thus our lack of understanding of forest elephant sociality limits our understanding both of their environmental requirements and important drivers in the evolution of elephant social systems. Direct observations of forest elephants were made at forest clearings, and these data are used to address questions of social dynamics. Clearings represent a special environment, providing mineral and food resources, as well as potential social opportunities and possible predation risks. They are hypothesised to function as social arenas for the individuals that use them, but traditional methods of analysing or describing social structure fail due to the nature of fixed point observations and relatively low identification rates. The advent of accessible network analyses, as have been successfully applied to cetacean and primate societies, provides an alternative approach to model and explore the nature of forest elephant society and evaluate the role of clearings as social arenas. We couple the use of network analyses with an age-sex class approach, to explore our forest clearing data. Daytime associations, kinship, and preferred sleeping areas: their influence on sleep site selection in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) L. Lock University of Stirling The study of non-human primates’ behaviour has traditionally been biased toward daytime activities, despite the fact that resting and sleep can account for up half of primate’s life spans. Most primates are gregarious, and so their social behaviours and relationships have been well studied, but the effects of these behaviours and relationships on sleep-related activities have not received comparable levels of empirical investigation. Over 30 days, we recorded the daytime associations of a small group of zoo-housed chimpanzees, and the areas of the enclosure they subsequently retired to. The data showed that male chimpanzees that associate frequently during daytime also retired to the same area to sleep, especially the highest-ranking males. We also found that sleep site selection was not strongly dependent on the presence of kin. Our data also suggest that chimpanzees habitually

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return to the same sleeping areas; there are even preferred sleeping locations within the enclosure. There is a general need for more systematic studies into sleep-related behaviours of captive primates. Research into social aspects that influence sleep site selection, and group and individual preferences for sleeping sites might also have implications for enclosure design and welfare of captive primates The socioecological adaptive basis of primate mosaic brain evolution J. B. Smaers University College London and University of Cambridge Neocortex hyperscaling in primates is commonly interpreted as the prime factor behind brain enlargement and as a main factor underlying primate ‘higher’ cognition. Hypotheses attempting to clarify neocortical adaptation are thus fundamental to the study of primate cognitive evolution. In this context, it has been debated whether social or ecological factors are the main driving force behind brain adaptation. Although these hypotheses make specific predictions about subregions of the neocortex, they have been tested using the neocortex as a whole because of a lack of data. In our recent work we presented new data on frontal and non-frontal neocortical lobe and neocerebellum. We show that distinct cortico-cerebellar neural circuits related to distinct aspects of learned behaviour can be recognized as important mosaic patterns of a concerted brain structure evolution across the primate clade. We also indicate that although both social and ecological variables are associated to size changes in whole neocortex volume, social variables are solely responsible for the evolution of frontal lobe size, while ecological factors explain the evolution of non-frontal lobe size. We propose a new model of primate brain evolution emphasizing the mosaic evolution of neural circuits of interconnected brain structures and integrating both social and ecological selective pressures driving brain evolution. Our results help clarify a longstanding debate on the nature of primate neocortical adaptation and demonstrate that primate brain architecture reflects adaptation at an intracortical neuroanatomical level. The neuro-anatomy of the face processing area in chimpanzees and humans. S. A. Chance1, E. K. Sawyer1, P. R. Hof2 and T. J. Crow3 1. Neuropathology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford 2. Department of Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA 3. SANE POWIC Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford Face recognition provides important social cues in primates. Multiple studies report that faces are processed on the right side of the brain in

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humans and such brain asymmetries may be a key component of human evolution. However, it is not clear how asymmetrical structures and functions are linked. One hypothesis for leftward language lateralization in Wernicke’s area is based on the asymmetry of vertical units of cells (minicolumns) in the cerebral cortex, where minicolumns are wider in the left hemisphere in humans but symmetrical in non-human primates. It is not known whether there is a similar species difference in the face processing region, the fusiform cortex. We investigated the fusiform of 14 human and 14 chimpanzee post-mortem brains for species differences in minicolumn and cell size symmetry. Minicolumn spacing and neuron size were asymetrical* in humans (wider and larger on the left, respectively), but symmetrical* in chimpanzees (species differences p<0.05). Chimpanzee minicolumns were thinner and neurons smaller than humans*. (*p<0.05). Although humans and chimpanzees both process faces, the asymmetry of minicolumns in humans represents a species discontinuity. The results are consistent with the mechanistic hypothesis of minicolumn organisation which proposes that wider minicolumns facilitate featural processing (suitable for language dominance) whereas narrow minicolumns facilitate configurational processing (suitable for faces). The evidence that narrow minicolumns sustain face processing in both species’ lends support to functional studies indicating that chimpanzees and humans process faces similarly. The wider minicolumns in the left hemisphere may have evolved in humans, by integration of social cognitive regions with the language network. By convention color: evolution of the primary visual cortex E. Lewitus University College London Brains vary significantly in their internal organization. Even closely related species may respond differently to evolutionary variations in brain size or neural adaptations to environmental stimuli. While it is accurate to say that some features of cortical biology are universally shared among mammals, the view that internal histological organization of mammalian brains is conserved seems no longer defensible. The current study compared neuronal and glial cell densities in the primary visual cortex of 36 primate species to examine phylogenetic diversity of histological organization. The results emphasize phyletic variation in brain evolution at the cellular level and distinguish the divergences of great apes and humans as re-organizational events in the visual cortex. We provide evidence that humans have evolved differentially higher requirements for metabolic support in the neocortex, while identifying changes in neuronal activity as significant evolutionary adaptations. The use of histological brain research is discussed as a pathway for inferring behavioural paradigms along the primate tree.

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Abstracts for poster presentations Vocal communication in captive ruffed lemurs. L. Rudge1,2, N. Laici1,2, B.M. Bezerra1, C. Schwitzer2 and G. Jones1 1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol 2. Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation, Bristol Zoo Gardens Species and subspecies differences in vocalisations have proved to be useful for taxonomic classification. There has been an ongoing debate regarding the taxonomic status of ruffed lemurs due to their possibly overlapping distributions in eastern Madagascar. Early classification inferred that there were two subspecies of ruffed lemurs – the red ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata rubra) and the black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata variegata). After further research, both former subspecies were elevated to species status, with most authors recognising three subspecies of the black-and-white ruffed lemur (V. variegata variegata, V. v. subcincta and V. v. editorum). We studied the vocal behaviour of the red ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra). Furthermore, we investigated whether the red ruffed lemur could be discriminated from two subspecies of black-and-white ruffed lemur, Varecia variegata variegata and V. v. editorum, from their conspicuous loud calls. We recorded naturally occurring calls of ruffed lemurs at Bristol Zoo Gardens, Dudley Zoo and Twycross Zoo (United Kingdom). Seven out of 13 calls described in the vocal repertoire of the red ruffed lemur were observed in our study animals. There were significant differences in the physical structure of the ‘pulsed squawk’ loud call between V. rubra and the two V. variegata subspecies, supporting the current taxonomic classification of ruffed lemurs. Our results show that bioacoustics can be used efficiently as a taxonomic tool to discriminate between lemur taxa. Preliminary investigation of social integration and social success in captive female capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) M. McLeod, C.L. Cunningham and S. Hardie Evolutionary and Biological Approaches to Behaviour Research Group, University of Abertay Dundee Primates are intensely social, spending much of their time engaged in interactions with others. Social investment in other group members can be beneficial; individuals can secure future reciprocity and reduce stress. How individuals manage their social investment will depend on both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, both of which will influence the opportunities available for interacting with others. Being well integrated (or central) in the group, rather than on the periphery and often alone, will afford greater social prospects and so animals should work to improve their level of integration and show detriments in behaviour (and health) if they are not able to spend time with conspecifics. This study is a preliminary investigation into social

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integration as a promoter of social success (support), measured by level of integration in the group and level of stress exhibited. Female capuchins (n = 6) are members of two separate (East and West) but environmentally similar groups of captive female capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) housed at the Living Links to Human Evolution research centre at Edinburgh Zoo. Behaviour such as grooming (given and received), time spent alone or with group members, dominance and scratching (as a measure of stress) were documented by both scan and focal methods. Social integration was calculated by mean time spent alone or with others. Statistical analysis revealed significance between level of integration and the percentage of time spent grooming others. All other analyses were non-significant; however, mean amounts of scratching were lower when percentage of time spent grooming was higher; also level of social integration illustrated some relevance to rank position and amount of time spent grooming. To conclude, this suggests that grooming is a commodity traded for a central position in the group, to reduce stress, as well as to maintain rank position. Bonobos (Pan paniscus) use copulation calls as a social signal Z. Clay and K. Zuberbühler Department of Psychology, University of St Andrews Females of many primate species produce distinct vocalisations known as ‘copulation calls’ during mating events. Typically, copulation calls are produced during heterosexual matings and thus their adaptive significance is considered to be for promoting reproductive success. However, in bonobos (Pan paniscus), females regularly engage in homosexual as well as heterosexual matings and produce copulation calls in both contexts. The way in which copulation calls have become detached from their biological function in bonobos challenges theories explaining these calls as purely reproductive strategies. In the current study, we examined bonobo copulation calling behaviour to investigate how females use these vocalisations as tools to pursue certain social and reproductive goals. We recorded copulation calls produced by mature females at Lola Ya Bonobo Sanctuary, DRC, during both homosexual and heterosexual interactions. Acoustic analyses revealed considerable similarity in the acoustic structure of copulation calls produced in both contexts. Furthermore, whilst females called more during heterosexual copulations, we found that copulation calls were used similarly in both contexts. For both homo- and heterosexual copulation calls, we observed strong effects of relative dominance rank, with low-rank females calling more with higher-ranked partners. In homosexual matings, the identity of the initiator also predicted calling. Our results suggest that bonobos use copulation calls as social signals to express social status and to advertise bonding relationships. Thus, rather than being restricted to purely reproductive contexts, copulation calls in bonobos appear to have assumed a greater social significance.

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Social monitoring by reputation: How to compare human and animals in an evolutionary framework? Y.I. Russell Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Oxford Reputation is usually defined as an entirely human construct. This is because the majority of studies in human disciplines (economics, commerce, psychology, etc.) define reputation as a sort of one-dimensional yardstick whereupon the same information is accessible to everyone. This definition is of limited usefulness to animal studies because it requires language ability and ubiquitous sources of public information. The exact psychological processes that underlay social reputation monitoring are poorly understood even in humans. In order to begin a comparative study of human and animal reputation monitoring, “reputation” should be redefined in a way that accommodates all animals. Here, I present a framework for investigating the evolution of social monitoring abilities across all animal taxa. I define reputation as “knowledge about an individual’s typical behaviour, based on a knowledge of that individual’s past behaviour” (Russell, 2007). The psychological process of reputation monitoring should be dissected into its constituent parts in order to compare the abilities between animals in a componential way (this approach is similar to Hockett’s design features approach to language). Most organisms are capable of some form of social eavesdropping and intention reading, but the smallest brained animals are unlikely to cogitate much on the personalities of their conspecifics. At the human end of the continuum, social reputation monitoring probably involves a type of social expertise. It is important to be aware, however, that human social expertise will necessarily involve a series of memory distortions, affected by highly emotional events, schema effects, primacy, and recency. Emotional laterality - the influence of emotion upon visual field preferences A. Milligan Department of Psychology, University of Stirling Emotional lateralisation may influence motor lateralisation, and may therefore have played a significant role in the evolution of social signals in both humans and non-human animals. The ‘affective state’ of animals has been shown to exert influence upon functional lateralisation in species from five classes of vertebrates with studies observing strong lateral biases during particular social interactions. However, the association between specific emotions and social interactions may be more complex than previously thought. Almost all of these studies focused upon scenarios of negative emotion such as fear or aggression, and in each case visual field preferences were identified as suitable indicators of lateral preference whereby subjects

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consistently observed conspecifics with the same eye. There exist two competing theories that posit the lateralisation of emotion within the brain: one suggests right-hemisphere dominance in the interpretation and expression of all affective states (Campbell, 1982), whilst the other contends that the right hemisphere is responsible for negative emotion alone whereas positive emotion is regulated by the left hemisphere (the Valence Hypothesis; Davidson, 1992) but the almost exclusive investigation of aggressive/fearful scenarios prevents objective evaluation of these competing theories. This study addresses the problem by considering interactions across the full spectrum of emotion, testing both theories whilst also considering whether the strength of emotional intensity can be correlated to lateral bias, and whether age-sex effects exist. Composition of vigilance periods in gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) social play J.A. Mayhew and J.C. Gómez School of Psychology, University of St Andrews Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) play bouts are complex and dynamic social interactions that incorporate locomotory movements and behaviours from outside social contexts such as aggression or predation. Such diverse bouts are typically punctuated with intermittent periods where the close physical activity between the interacting individuals seems to momentarily conclude. During these cessations, or “vigilance periods”, the play partners may break contact and give pause to their physical interaction, may readjust their body positioning, move in or out of proximity from their partner, or they may transition from one type of generalized play pattern to another. This study presents a preliminary examination of the structure and composition of vigilance periods taking into account several variables including eye gaze, head orientation, body orientation and posturing of the interacting individuals. Specific organization of these subtle social cues may be essential for initiating, maintaining, and terminating play and may also shed light on the advantages and preferences of using certain social cues over others. During vigilance periods, young gorillas might learn about the social cues that signal attention and intention in others as well as in themselves and an investigation of these periods can be useful in further exploring what social cognitive functions social play may have for young gorillas. Can hand and footpad morphology distinguish slow loris taxa? C. J. Wheeler, R.A. Munds and K.A I. Nekaris Nocturnal Primate Research Group, School of Social Sciences and Law, Oxford Brookes University Once considered a widespread homogeneous taxon, a minimum of five species of slow loris (Nycticebus) are now recognised based on genetic,

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morphological and behavioural data. Characteristics such as pelage, body size, and reproductive parameters indicate further variability, but logistical difficulties preclude their study throughout much of their range. Museum specimens thus offer an insight into their diversity. In particular, hand and foot pad morphology has been used to identify species of galago, tarsier and lemur. For lorises in particular, that rely to varying degrees on grasping of large trunks to engage in exudativory, hands and feet may show distinctive characters. Here, we quantitatively describe the palmar and plantar surface morphology of 142 loris specimens from five zoological collections. We took digital photographs of the palmar and plantar surfaces; we subsequently performed comparative scaling and both qualitative and quantitative investigation using imaging software. We used SPSS to analyse the resultant data. All lorises displayed six palmar and plantar pads, although in some specimens, pads 1 and 6 merged. Discriminant function analyses grouped between 3 and 9 taxa based on palmar and plantar morphology, with pads 1, 4, and 5 usefully distinguishing groups. These taxonomic designations support recent studies, and provide evidence for 2-3 taxa on the island of Borneo. Pad measurements were log transformed to compare across the variably-sized taxa. Preliminary analyses reveal that hand pads tend to be larger in taxa currently known to exploit more gum, potentially providing them with more surface area grip on vertical surfaces. What factors determine successful reintroductions? A slow loris case study A.L. Doughty, R.S. Moore and K.A.I. Nekaris Nocturnal Primate Research Group, School of Social Sciences and Law, Oxford Brookes University Slow lorises are amongst the most widely traded primates in Southeast Asia, popular with consumers as both medicine and pets. In Indonesia, more than 100 animals are regularly confiscated each month, and the need for reintroducing these wild-born yet highly endangered primates is becoming vital. In October 2009, we began the first large-scale systematic slow loris restocking project in Ciapus, Mt Salak, Indonesia. Previous slow loris reintroductions have failed due to: lack of funding; no pre- or post-release monitoring; death due to starvation and hypothermia; predation; and release of species into the wrong geographic areas. As one means to determine how to avoid such problems for the current project, we systematically analysed eight categories regarding success or failure of 52 reintroduction projects, reported in the same format to the IUCN Reintroduction Specialists Group (IRSG) in 2008. We entered ordinal and categorical data for six higher taxonomic groupings of 48 species of reintroduced animals into SPSS. Success rate differed significantly (�2=19.2, df=3, p<0.001), with 79% of studies ranked by the researchers as successful or partially successful, and only 21% ranked as highly successful or failure. Good pre-release

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enclosures (81% of studies) and long-term post-release monitoring (77% of studies) were deemed as contributing to a project’s success, whereas lack of local community support (43%) and lack of specialised skills and knowledge (38%) contributed notably to projects’ failures. These data strongly support the use of the IRSG’s guidelines, which have been too often ignored in the case of slow lorises, as good practice. Grooming reciprocity and kinship in captive lion tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) F.R. Moore1, C. Cunningham1 and M. Kingston Jones2 1. Evolutionary and Biological Approaches to Behaviour Research Group, Division of Psychology, University of Abertay Dundee, 2. Howletts Wild Animal Park, Bekesbourne, Canterbury We investigated grooming reciprocity in relation to within-dyad relatedness in a group of captive Macaca silenus. We predicted an inverse relationship between within-dyad relatedness and time-matching of grooming bouts, as grooming kin has indirect fitness benefits for the individual. We also predicted that high ranking individuals would receive more, and contribute less, grooming and that there would be an inverse relationship between time-matching of reciprocal bouts and within-dyad dominance rank distance. Subjects were a captive group of females (n = 5) housed at Howletts Wild Animal Park (UK). Related dyads did not time-match their grooming bouts to the same extent as non-related dyads and there was a strong negative relationship demonstrating that high-ranking individuals groomed down and low-ranking individuals groomed up the hierarchy. Further analysis suggested that this was due to strategic preferential grooming by mid- and low-ranking individuals up the hierarchy and preferential grooming down, rather than across, the hierarchy by high-ranking individuals. We conclude that our results support biological markets theory of grooming and implicate a role of relatedness in the dynamics of grooming interactions. Predator alarm calls in wild black-fronted titi moneys Callicebus nigrifrons C. Cäsar1,2,3, R. Byrne1, R. Young2 and K. Zuberbühler1 1. Scottish Primate Research Group, School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, 2. Conservation, Ecology and Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Post-Graduate Studies in Zoology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Brazil, 3. Inhotim, Rua B 20, 35460-000, Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil Some primates produce acoustically distinct alarm calls to different predators. In some species there is evidence that recipients react with

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adaptive responses to such calls. Callicebus monkeys have been known for their large repertoire of vocalizations, and some of their calls are combined into long and complex sequences. However, the monkeys’ vocal responses to distinct external events have not been studied systematically. We studied the alarm calls of undisturbed black-fronted titi monkey (C. nigrifrons) in Minas Gerais, southeast Brazil, by presenting visual predator models. Our preliminary results show that monkeys produce two different types of calls when first encountering different types of predators. Furthermore, they produce a long sequence of calls, in which some of them can be further subdivided into four acoustic variants, which are obtained by optional suffixation and duplications of the call stem. In addition, one of the alarm calls, given to puma for instance, is also used in other contexts, such as when monkeys were foraging close to the ground, and in response to a non predator animal. Overall, our results indicate no fundamental differences to the acoustic flexibility previously reported from Old World monkeys, suggesting an early origin within the primate lineage. However, the fact that some calls or call sequences were given in both predatory and non-predatory situations illustrate the need for empirical studies that focus on naturally produced calls and their context. Additionally, future research using playback experiments with alarm calls and analyses of listeners’ responses is required. Sponsors: CAPES/Brazil and FAPEMIG/Brazil. The Aspinall Foundations in situ primate conservation projects M. Kingston Jones1 and N. Laurence2 1. Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks 2. The Aspinall Foundation The Aspinall Foundation (TAF) is a registered charity that is actively involved with several projects that incorporate a diverse range of in situ conservation activities. These include the well-established overseas projects in the Republic of Congo and Gabon and more recent developing projects in Indonesia and Madagascar. Our main spheres of in situ conservation-based activity include ecosystem management, local community education projects, capacity building, habitat surveys, rehabilitation of confiscated wild animals and reintroduction of captive-bred and confiscated wild-born animals. This poster will summarise our recent activities over these three key projects, including - from Congo and Gabon - updates from the PPG field sites with the Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and wildlife law enforcement in Congo. In Indonesia, our new rehabilitation and possible reintroduction site in Java for the moloch gibbon (Hylobates moloch) and Javan langur (Trachypithecus auratus), protected area management in Indonesia and Camera trapping in Java and Sumatra. And from Madagascar, updates on the current status of new projects with the

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greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus) and crowned sifaka (Propithecus coronatus). Testing the stress-linked immunocompetence handicap hypothesis in human male faces F.R. Moore1 and D.I. Perrett2 1. Evolutionary and Biological Approaches to Behaviour Research Group, Division of Psychology, University of Abertay Dundee 2. School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews Recent research implicates the role of stress in the Immunocompetence Handicap Hypothesis (ICHH) of sexual selection. An interaction between putative cues to immunocompetence (masculinity) and current health in men’s faces suggests that this may apply to humans. We explored relationships between sex- and stress-hormones (i.e., testosterone and cortisol) and facial masculinity and attractiveness. Twenty-four facial stimuli were constructed from images of males on the basis of levels of salivary cortisol and testosterone. These were rated by female participants across fertile and non-fertile phases of the menstrual cycle. Results demonstrated that preferences for cues to testosterone in the face are contingent upon co-occurring levels of cortisol and are discussed in the context of the stress-linked ICHH. Crops, conflict and behaviour on farms among Buton macaques R. Wyper1, P.C. Lee1 and N.E.C. Priston2 1. Anthropology and Geography, Oxford Brookes University 2. Psychology, University of Stirling & Scottish Primate Research Group Predicting behavioural responses and survival probabilities for populations of threatened endemic species in human-dominated and changing environments are global concerns facing many primatologists. This problem is particularly acute for the Buton macaque (Macaca ochreata brunnescens), which is endemic to Buton Island, southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Our study aimed to investigate the crop raiding characteristics of this endemic species over time, and to explore the value of longitudinal studies for assessing crop raiding. The behavioural repertoire exhibited during crop raiding inside the farm perimeter was observed over a period of seven years (2002-2008). The average raid frequency per year decreased slightly during the study period, raising interesting questions about the feeding behaviour of the macaques over time and in response to management strategies. Behaviour differed significantly as a function of penetration distance into the farm, as well as among some age-sex classes, but not all. Storage organ crops (e.g., sweet potato) were most abundant and most frequently raided by macaques. Future work on wild versus cultivated

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food choice is essential for ensuring the survival of the Buton macaque in a human-dominated environment. We aim to investigate the ecological determinants of crop raiding over an 18-month period, to assess feeding ecology in relation to forest phenology. The results of this PhD study will be used directly to support conservation efforts for the Buton macaque and to benefit the people of Buton. This study is funded by a NERC/ESRC joint studentship to R. Wyper. A sex difference in effect of relevant object experience on object-mediated problem-solving in gibbons (Hylobatidae) C. Cunningham1, J. Anderson2 and A. Mootnick3 1. Evolutionary and Biological Approaches to Behaviour Research Group, University of Abertay Dundee, 2. Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, 3. Gibbon Conservation Center, Santa Clarita, California, USA Understanding the functional properties of objects that make them useful in novel situations is likely facilitated by prior exposure during which object affordances can be explored. However, explorations of effects of previous object experience on object-mediated problem solving have provided conflicting results. Previous opportunity to explore objects and their properties could manifest as increased propensity to approach and interact with novel objects (a requirement for successful object-mediated solutions), and improved efficiency in goal-directed manipulation. Here, we examine the effects of prior domain-specific experience on acquisition of object manipulation skills in gibbons (Hylobatidae). These small arboreal apes do not frequently use tools. This argues against any evolved cognitive mechanism specifically for processing object properties. Gibbons provided with the opportunity to learn about the affordances of a potential tool before using it to obtain a reward were expected to demonstrate increased efficiency in goal realisation. Using a simple zero-order manipulation that required the apes to use a rake-tool to pull in an out-or-reach item, 14 out of 22 tested individuals successfully solved the task. Prior exposure did not facilitate appropriate tool use in males although females performed significantly more efficiently with previous experience, seemingly benefitting from a period of learning about the objects neutrality. This may be due to gender differences in costs and benefits of perceived risk-taking.

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Future Meetings

PSGB Winter Meeting 2010

Gombe 50 8th and 9th December 2010

Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London This year marks the 50th anniversary of the start of Dr Jane Goodall DBE’s ground-breaking research on chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) at Gombe Stream, Tanganyika - now Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. It also marks the beginning of a long tradition of other primatological research at this site, including olive baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis), red colobus (Colobus badius tephrosceles), and people. The Primate Society of Great Britain is proud to hold its two-day scientific Winter Meeting, on 8th and 9th December 2010, in celebration of the primatological research done at, or inspired by, the Gombe research over the past 50 years, and looking forward to the future. Gombe’s impact is far-reaching globally, and covers a wide range of scientific disciplines, from human evolution, to ethology, to disease transmission, to conservation. Dr Goodall and the Gombe research have also inspired many young scientists around the world to go into careers relating to primate behaviour, as well as more broadly in biodiversity conservation and other related fields, in the wild, in zoos and in sanctuaries. We are delighted to announce that the invited speakers at “Gombe 50” include the following:

• Dr Jane Goodall DBE* (Founder, The Jane Goodall Institute; http://www.janegoodall.org/; http://www.janegoodall.org.uk/home)

• Dr D. Anthony Collins* (Gombe Stream Research Centre, Tanzania)

• Tara Golshan (Executive Director for Education, The Jane Goodall Institute–UK)

• Dr Shadrack Kamenya (Gombe Stream Research Centre, Tanzania)

• Prof. Phyllis C. Lee* (University of Stirling, UK) • Prof. William C. McGrew* (University of Cambridge, UK) • Guy Norton* (Anglia Ruskin University, UK / Director of the

Animal Behaviour Research Unit, Mikumi National Park, Tanzania)

• Prof. Anne E. Pusey* (Duke University, USA)

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• Ian Redmond OBE* (Chief Consultant, GRASP - UNEP/UNESCO Great Ape Survival Partnership)

• Prof. Richard Wrangham (Harvard University, USA) Prof. Andy Whiten* (St Andrews University) will give this year’s Osman Hill Lecture: “Cultural elements in a chimpanzee community (Goodall, 1973) 37 years on." (* indicates confirmed speaker) We anticipate that advance registration will be required, as we expect a great deal of interest. As in recent years, the Winter Meeting will include oral and poster presentation sessions, and we welcome proffered oral papers on areas of primatological research relating to, or stimulated by, Gombe studies, as well as proffered posters on any area of primatological research of interest to PSGB members. Registration and the call for papers will be announced in the near future, so please keep an eye on the PSGB website for updates <www.psgb.org/Meetings/Winter2010.htm>. Announcements will also be sent to PSGB members via our JISCmail list <PSGB@JISCmail.ac.uk>. During the Winter Meeting, we plan to hold a book-signing event with Dr Goodall, and also a social event on the evening of 8th December. The evening ‘do’ allows delegates and speakers an opportunity to discuss their work with each other, as well as to catch up with old friends, and make new ones. We do hope you will be able to join us for this very exciting scientific meeting, in celebration of “Gombe 50” and the influential work of Dr Jane Goodall DBE and others! Further information on the contributions of Dr Goodall to the fields of ethology, primatology and conservation, can be found at <www.janegoodall.org/gombe50>. If you have any questions about the event in the meantime, please contact the organiser: Dr Sonya P. Hill Conservation Medicine Division North of England Zoological Society Chester Zoo Caughall Road, Upton-by-Chester Chester, CH2 1LH UK <research@chesterzoo.org>

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Announcement: International Symposium – Compassionate Conservation

Compassionate Conservation:

Animal Welfare in Conservation Practice An International Symposium

Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford 1 – 3 September 2010

The Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) and the Born Free Foundation are delighted to announce an International Symposium on animal welfare in conservation practice, to be held at Oxford. The Symposium will bring together scientists and practitioners from a range of disciplines to debate animal welfare issues in conservation, examine potential synergies, look for practical outcomes and promote a dialogue between these two disciplines that are often perceived as mutually exclusive. The Symposium will be organized around the following themes: Animal welfare in field conservation Captive animal welfare and conservation Conservation consequences of wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release International trade in live wild animals The Symposium will be of interest to academics and graduates in conservation biology, animal welfare and animal ethics, as well as conservation and animal welfare organisations and practitioners. Further details and online registration will shortly be available at <www.compassionateconservation.org>. To express your interest in attending the symposium, please contact Chris Draper (email: chris@bornfree.org.uk; tel: +44(0)1403 240170)

About the Organisers

Born Free Foundation

The Born Free Foundation is an international wildlife charity working throughout the world to stop individual wild animal suffering and protect

threatened species in the wild. www.bornfree.org.uk

Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), University of Oxford Founded in 1986, WildCRU was the first university-based conservation

research unit in Europe. WildCRU’s mission is to achieve practical solutions to conservation problems through original scientific research.

www.wildcru.org

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Announcement: Charles A. Lockwood Memorial PSGB Grants

As previously reported, the family of Charles Lockwood generously donated a sum of money to fund a scheme of special PSGB grants, dedicated to the memory of the late UCL lecturer and designed to support the research of PSGB student members. The Society received over 20 applications for Charles A. Lockwood Memorial PSGB Grants. The standard of applications was exceptionally high, and the awards panel (comprising Andrew Smith, Robin Dunbar, Simone Pika and Alison Fletcher) had a tough job making the final decision. The range of proposals received shows the great breadth and depth of primatological research amongst students in the UK, and bodes very well for the future of PSGB. We are pleased to announce that Lockwood grants have been awarded to: Graham Banes, University of Cambridge: ‘Factors influencing male orang-utan reproductive success’ Conrad Brimacombe, University of Sheffield: ‘Growth and development in the genus Pan: a life history approach’ Laura Buck, Roehampton University: ‘Craniofacial morphology, paranasal sinuses and adaptation in Pleistocene hominins’ Camille Coudrat, Oxford Brookes University: ‘Ecology of the red-shanked douc monkey in Nakai Nam Theun National Protected Area, central-eastern Laos’ Blake Morton, University of Stirling: ‘Inter-individual differences in cognitive ability and social networking strategies in brown capuchin monkeys’ Caroline Phillips, University of Cambridge: ‘Chimpanzee diet: pyrosequencing DNA from faeces’ Isabelle Winder, University of York: ‘Linking primate foot anatomy, ecology and landscape use’ Rebecca Wyper, University of Stirling: ‘Ecological drivers of macaque crop raiding in Buton, Indonesia: human responses and implications for conservation’ Awardees will present the results of their research at a PSGB meeting, and are also encouraged to submit their work for publication. The Society would like to congratulate the grant recipients and thank all the applicants and the award committee for their time and effort.

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Ecology and status of the drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) in Korup National Park, Southwest Cameroon: implications for their conservation CHRISTOS ASTARAS christos_astaras@yahoo.ca Awarded a PSGB Conservation Grant in August 2006 The drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) is a terrestrial primate endemic to the Cross-Sanaga-Bioko rainforests of Central Africa whose survival is endangered by increasing pressure from hunting and habitat loss. Few studies have ever examined the ecology of wild drills and our current understanding of the conservation needs of the species is limited. This project studied the ecology of drills in a 63 km2 section of Korup National Park in southwest Cameroon over twelve months (Feb – Jun 2006, Jul 2007 – Jan 2008). It also evaluated the status and threats of the drill in the greater Korup region with the intent of improving the species’ protection. Finally, the appropriateness of assuming near-identical ecologies between the drill and its better studied, allopatric and sole congener – the mandrill (M. sphinx) – was assessed.

Wild drills in foliage, Korup National Park (2006)

CONSERVATION GRANT REPORTS

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maintains a diverse, yet not indiscriminate, omnivorous diet throughout the year consisting primarily of fruits and seeds, and to a lesser extent leaves, mushrooms and insects. Drills ingested and dispersed intact seeds from 110

plant types primarily during periods of fruit abundance, while there was a shift towards increased seed predation during the pronounced fruit-scarce dry season. Visual and audio encounters of drill groups during 3,284 km of trail patrols provided information on group structure and primate associations. Mean group size was 43.3 ± 18.4 (range 25-77) and groups with both one and multiple males emitting the adult male specific two-phase-grunt were observed. Solitary males were encountered twice. Drills were in association with at least one additional primate species at some time during most of the encounters, involving all of the diurnal primates in Korup (Cercopithecus mona, C. nictitans, C. erythrotis, C. pogonias, Procolobus pennantii preussi and Cercocebus torquatus) except the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes). The total drill population was conservatively estimated at 950-1450 within Korup National Park and 2,500-3,000 in the entire Korup region, which makes the region a stronghold for the species’ survival. However, drill sub-populations are becoming increasingly isolated within the ever more fragmented landscape and are under hunting pressure everywhere. Eight core areas were identified across the region as priorities for protection. Interviews with local communities offered insight on the destructive practice of hunting with dogs as well as the socioeconomic role of dogs – information needed for effectively managing this major threat to drill survival. The drill was also found to suffer from a limited local recognition of its current status and legal protection, which is unfavourable for conservation. As a result of the project’s findings, a list of drill-focused conservation recommendations was developed and submitted to government agencies and non-government organizations active in wildlife management and conservation in the region.

Analysis of faecal samples and feeding remains showed that the drill

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Conducting hunter interviews (Fabe village, May 2006)

Population density surveys and taxonomic assessment of the Western tarsier (Tarsius bancanus borneanus) and Bornean slow loris (Nycticebus menagensis) in the Lower Kinabatangan Floodplain, Sabah, Malaysia RACHEL A. MUNDS <rmunds27@gmail.com> Awarded a PSGB Conservation Grant in August 2008 The Bornean slow loris (Nycticebus menagensis) and tarsier (Tarsius bancanus borneanus) are the only nocturnal primates on Borneo. Their current classification as Vulnerable (VU) by IUCN is based only on habitat loss. No recent systematic surveys have been done to determine if they are truly VU. Found only on Borneo and a few surrounding islands, these primates are threatened not only by habitat loss but also by the pet, medicinal and food markets. The aim of this research was to provide a current assessment of the estimated abundance of these primates in a protected degraded floodplain in east Sabah, Malaysia Borneo. The research took place in the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) (5°24' 48"N, 118°02' 16"E, elevation 15 m asl), a cooperative research facility between Cardiff University and the Sabah Wildlife Department. It is a 123-ha flat forest located in the centre of the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife

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Sanctuary (LKWS) (5°20'-5°45'N, 117°40'-118°30'E). Two types of forest dominate the DGFC: semi-inundated and mixed riparian. Forest density could restrict visibility to as little as 2 m. The study was conducted from the 17 March-4 Sept, 2009, between the hours of 18:30-02:00. Surveys were done on seven trails/transects and walked a minimum of four times each. Average trail length was 1.1 km, walked at 600 m/hr. Between 2-3 people surveyed with the use of a Petzl Myo Zoom 4.5 V headlamp, with a mix of red and white filters. Lorises were detected by their reflective eye-shine. Tarsiers were detected by movement or by a dull red eye glare which was only noticeable with the use of a red light. Results yielded a survey effort of 68.56 km, with only 8 lorises (0.1 lorises/km or 5.05 lorises/km²) and 5 tarsiers (0.06 tarsiers/km or 2.75 tarsiers/km²) sighted. Although the slow loris results are low, they fall within their expected range of abundance (0.02-1.63 individuals/km). Being primarily arboreal animals, lorises were sighted at heights between 8.5-30 m. Such heights, plus the extreme forest density in some areas, made them difficult to detect. Their semi-solitary or monogamous social structure, slow and silent locomotion, and their anti-predator strategy of remaining still for a long period of time contributed to the challenge of finding these elusive primates.

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The low encounter rate of tarsiers was surprising, as they are presumed to be common throughout much of their range. Outdated by 25 years, Crompton & Andau (1986) estimated Bornean tarsier populations to range from 15-80 individuals/km². Tarsiers were difficult to detect, as unlike the Sulawesi species, they do not vocalize regularly and as mentioned before, they lack a distinct reflective eye-shine. But if these results are an accurate estimation, then a 5-30% decline is concerning. More research on these cryptic primates of Borneo is needed to provide an accurate depiction of how habitat loss and other anthropogenic threats are affecting populations. This study was an essential part of a longer-term project that will investigate the taxonomy, population viability and social structures of these primates in the LKWS and Borneo. Primates for posterity: assessment of a primate conservation education programme on 15- 17 year old students in schools in Tamil Nadu, India MARTINA VICTORIA STEPHEN PAUL ANANDAM <martinaanandam@yahoo.com> Awarded a PSGB Conservation Grant in March 2009 India is home to vast diversity of wildlife. Sixteen species (after the addition of Macaca munzala in 2005) and 39 subspecies of non-human primates occupy the subcontinent, with certain endemic species such as the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) and the Nilgiri langur (Trachypitecus johnii) occupying a narrow range in the Western Ghats of Southern India

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and Gee’s golden langur (Trachypitecus geeii) in the Eastern Himalayas. Knowledge of primates and their conservation crisis should bring about ecological awareness and responsibility: conservation education best serves this function. ‘Primates for Posterity’ was designed to endow the participants with techniques and values required to exhibit ecologically responsible behaviour. The project was conducted in four schools in Tamil Nadu, India: 2 test schools (one from a lowland area and one from a mountain region) and 2 control schools (again, one from a lowland and one from a mountain area). The authenticity of the programme was measured in a number of ways. The project demonstrated that time is not a barrier to an environmental education programme by proving the credibility of ‘Primates for Posterity’ through pre-test and post-test knowledge and attitude score assessment of the participants. A significant rise in post-test scores was evident across the sample. The test schools scored higher than the control schools in the post-test indicating that the education programme had a positive effect. The attitude scores of the participants remained fairly constant before and after the programme. The mandatory Environmental Science module and religious views of the participants could be considered to influence the attitude of the participants towards animals. The impact of geographical location (participants were either from the mountain region close to wildlife or a plain farther from wildlife) was tested as a possible factor of influence on the environmental knowledge and attitude of the participants. Geographical location was found to have a significant impact on the environmental knowledge and attitude quotient of the participants. Both male and female participants showed no difference in knowledge and attitude scores, thus removing gender as a possible factor of disparity. The credibility of tools such as Microsoft PowerPoint was tested and a new tool namely Jungle Sounds was introduced and assessed. The first presentation “Primates for Posterity: Primates and their conservation” was most favoured by the participants followed by the ‘Virtual Jungle: Jungle sounds’ session. This assessment paves the way for introducing more creative tools that bring conservation to life in a classroom by prompting the aesthetic awareness of the participants. Another important feature of “Primates for Posterity” is the career lecture which sought to explain to the participants the prospective careers one could have in conservation. Twenty-five percent of the test group participants found the lecture to be “very informative” and 46.9% found the lecture to be “informative”, thus reinstating the importance of such features in environmental education in India.

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Students with the principal investigator

Conservation assessment of Taï monkey fauna from two survey methods and a bushmeat market study: how hunting impacts Taï National Park RYAN COVEY <rmc4conservation@hotmail.com>

Awarded a PSGB Conservation Grant in March 2009

Primates throughout Côte d’Ivoire are at risk of being hunted to extinction. The national park status afforded to Taï National Park and its inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage List has failed to protect its biodiversity. In addition to hunting, deforestation, gold panning, and overuse of the buffer zone by locals threatens many species with extinction. In order to assess the threats facing Taï National Park’s primate fauna, I used two survey methods to determine density and distribution of eight diurnal monkey species adjacent to a protected research area. In addition, I assessed the most significant threats facing these primates, and analyzed the impact of a local bushmeat market.

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My study was conducted at the Taï Monkey Project field site, located in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. Line-transect distance sampling was used to determine group density of eight monkey species within a protected research area and the surrounding non-protected forests. Twenty 500 m transects were walked four times each within a protected 2 x 1 sq km grid and six 3 km transects were walked three times each outside of the protected area. Occupancy modelling was tested within the protected research area to determine its accuracy in detecting primate fauna. Over the course of nine weeks I visited a local bushmeat market seven times. Meat from all animal species observed at the market was recorded. Cercopithecus diana (5.84 groups/km²) and Procolobus badius (6.02 groups/km²) had the highest group density estimates determined from line-transect sampling in the research grid. Outside the protected area, group density could only be calculated for three monkey species because of the significant decrease in monkey observations (i.e., Cercopithecus diana - 3.4 groups/km²; Procolobus badius – 2.75 groups/km²). Based on the frequency of detections, ranging patterns, and vocal repertoire of the monkey species, occupancy modelling was reliable in determining primate presence. The most numerous and vocal monkeys were Cercopithecus diana and Procolobus badius, and thus had the highest detection probability (0.55 & 0.67 respectively). Cercocebus atys (large home ranges) and Procolobus verus monkeys (few vocalizations) had the lowest detection probability (0.09 & 0.07 respectively). A total of 634 animals were observed at the

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bushmeat market. A weekly average of 33 primates (1,716/year) reveal unsustainable hunting is occurring in the adjoining forests of Liberia. The protection afforded to primates within the Taï Monkey Project research grid from the presence of researches has allowed them to flourish. The observed drop-off in detections and calculated group densities reveals that where hunting occurs, group densities are significantly lower than in areas where protection occurs. Occupancy modelling appears to be a reliable method in detecting primate presence. The number of primates harvested from the forests of Liberia, which could form a natural corridor to Taï National Park, reveals the degree of unsustainable hunting occurring. Conservation efforts in this area should focus on the immediate protection of the animal fauna within Taï National Park. Protection efforts need to begin in Liberia to prevent genetically isolated populations from occurring.

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Identifying the CITES Appendix I-listed Asian slow loris Nycticebus spp: a training programme for enforcement officials and rescue centres in Southeast Asia TRICIA PARISH <triciaparish1@yahoo.co.uk> Awarded a PSGB and Born Free Grant in August 2008 All five recognised species of Asian slow lorises (Primates: Lorisidae: Nycticebus) were listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 2007 due to unsustainable harvesting for the illegal pet and medicine trade as well as due to habitat loss. N. javanicus was added to the 25 Most Endangered Primates List in 2008 due to the severe risks it faces from the same threats but which are compounded in its smaller habitat. No IUCN species survival programme is in place for slow lorises but the Southeast Asian Mammal Database and CITES call for additional slow loris education to be conducted as officials are unable to identify the species seen in illegal trade. This project provided five one-day workshops to enforcement officials and rescue centres in slow loris range countries and East Asian trade hubs (peninsular Malaysia, Malaysian Borneo (Sarawak), Brunei, Taiwan and Japan) between February and November 2009. The project was based on a set of four pilot workshops that were conducted in slow loris range states in 2008. The workshop used a range of training materials (PowerPoint presentations, identification leaflet, training DVD and picture flashcards) and techniques (lecture, small and large group discussions) to maximise learning. Topics included slow loris taxonomy, identification and behaviour, look-alike species, legislative protection, key threats, common smuggling techniques and captive slow loris care protocols (both short- and long-term). Workshop effectiveness was assessed using pre- and post-workshop questionnaires, review sheets and video exercises. The project aimed to raise awareness about slow lorises with enforcement officials, improve their knowledge of Nycticebus spp. and enhance individual slow loris species identification abilities. Over the longer term it is hoped that equipping enforcement officials with improved knowledge about slow lorises and how to identify them will contribute to a reduction of illegal slow loris trade and the inappropriate release of confiscated slow lorises. Quantitative analysis of the workshops showed that significant improvements in knowledge levels were achieved across key areas including individual slow loris species identification ability (Wilcoxon: n = 180, z = -8.782, p = 0.000), slow loris range countries (Wilcoxon: n = 179, z = -3.564, p = 0.000), that the slow loris is a primate (Wilcoxon: n = 179, z =

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-5.545, p = 0.000) and that the slow loris is protected under CITES (Wilcoxon: n = 180, z = -4.447, p = 0.000). The results support previous findings that knowledge levels are low amongst enforcement officials and that training is lacking. This research does however indicate that the learning deficit can be addressed and that one-day workshops can affect significant knowledge change. Although this training workshop was designed for slow lorises, the education model is applicable to other species.

Workshop participants in Kuching

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BOOK REVIEWS MOUNTAIN GORILLAS: BIOLOGY, CONSERVATION, AND COEXISTENCE Gene Eckhart and Annette Lanjouw (2008) The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore ISBN: 080189011 (Softback) £19.00 This impressive-looking book is both large and easy on the eye, illustrated throughout with beautiful photographs of mountain gorillas, their habitat, and people living in, or visiting, their range countries. A scientific text book this isn’t, but nonetheless it is a resource that I am certain will be of great interest to primate and conservation enthusiasts. The authors state that part of their intent is that this book will “make available to a larger audience the valuable information gained through many people’s work over the years,” especially in areas relating to research and conservation and, generally, I think they succeed in this. The first chapter is an account of a tourist visit to the Susa group in Rwanda, written with the descriptive, familiar tones of a personal travel-log entry or a letter home, thus painting a very informative scene of what it is actually like to do one of these visits. Some of the photo captions are somewhat ‘over the top,’ as they are written in rather flowery language that isn’t necessary when the main text of the book is more than capable of setting the scene; some of the captions actually detract from it, so it’s a good job the photographs themselves are stunning. The second chapter goes on to describe matters relating to evolution and classification in accessible terms, although a figure showing the classification of apes is so over-simplified as to inadvertently imply that only Hylobatidae and Hominidae make up the order Primates. Again, the photo captions are a bit longer/more detailed than are probably necessary - almost acting as summaries of some of the main points of the chapter – and so it is probably the case that some readers will find this helpful, and others annoying; it is the same throughout the whole book. The following eight chapters summarise other areas of gorilla natural history, including several chapters on aspects of social relationships, daily patterns, and feeding habits; none of these present anything particularly new to a gorilla person, but will still be a good introduction to, or reminder of, the topic for general enthusiasts; as I mentioned, this is not intended to be a text book, although some scientific data are cited. In places, the text seems unnecessarily childish/basic, such as the section title: “Martha Robbins: She Wants her Research to Have Conservation Implications” – but, at least this section does introduce non-scientists to the work of people like Martha, about which they might not otherwise get to hear. The book then moves on to include a ‘gorilla gallery’, showing photographs of a range of individuals

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of different ages and sexes, highlighting the individuality of these apes, and how different each one looks – not necessarily something that is generally known to non-primatologists. Further chapters then describe the forests and National Parks in which mountain gorillas live, including summaries of classification of vegetation types for the Virungas and for Bwindi, and fauna in the region. The importance of the forests is also discussed, not only in terms of their environmental impact, but also in terms of human presence, such as the Batwa/Bantu populations, local staff working to protect the forests and habituate gorillas, and so on. The discussion of the human impact on gorilla range countries goes on to explore colonialism in the region, and the horrific conflicts in DRC and Rwanda, and tourist killings at Bwindi in 1999, in terms of the impact on gorilla conservation as well as the region as a whole. These are clearly heavy and diverse topics for such a book to cover, but it does so well, and all within the context of celebrating the people working to protect and study mountain gorillas and their habitat. The next couple of chapters focus more on the livelihoods of those living and working around the gorillas’ range areas, whose lives are affected in some way by gorilla conservation and tourism (whether a positive impact, such as making a living from tourism, or negative, such as crop-raiding by gorillas and other animals). With the theme of conservation running throughout this book, the final chapters deal with this topic specifically, starting from a historic perspective, through to the present and future. There are useful summaries of key organisations in the region, such as the Office Rwandais du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN), the Ugandan Wildlife Authority, the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, as well as profiles of one of the national parks’ guides, and other people working towards gorilla conservation, all of which help to bring the book to life. All in all, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in gorillas. Sonya P. Hill North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo ENDOCRINOLOGY OF SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS Peter T. Ellison and Peter B. Gray (eds.) (2009) Harvard University Press ISBN: 9780674031173 (Hardback) £36.95 Understanding how hormones and behaviour are linked is one of the most fascinating topics in biology today. For primatologists this is a field of research that has just started to produce a wealth of new exciting material- not least because new non-invasive techniques are starting to allow us to monitor hormones of wild animals without the need for trapping and taking blood. One of the most exciting outcomes of this research is that studies of wild animals can now investigate the causes of behaviour at a variety of levels – both proximate and ultimate.

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In 16 chapters various authors review a large range of studies on recent research that look at relationships hormones and social relationships. The first section of the book introduces important theoretical ideas. Lee’s introduction to animal mating and parenting systems gives a framework for the rest of the book- as it discusses the evolutionary basis of diversity in social systems and the ways in which different parenting systems might evolve. Further chapters introduce the ways in which mammalian neuroendocrine system integrates neural and hormonal responses to the environment and the physiological mechanisms that regulate it (Wallen and Hauser; Wingfield) and Ellison’s chapter focuses on how the endocrine system regulates reproductive ecology. Ellison makes the crucial point that the evolution of the endocrine system can only be understood in relation to evolution as ‘social relationships trigger endocrine signals to help regulate reproductive effort’. Given this, it is perhaps not surprisingly that much of the book focuses on the ways in which hormones regulate reproductive systems, with sexual and parental relationships being discussed in detail and an emphasis on sexual dimorphism and infant care patterns. The majority of the book looks at humans, with all of part three (chapters 10-16) looking at humans, and some of the other chapters also being primarily human-focused. However, part two has four chapters that look at non-human animals with one (Carter et al.) discussing rodents and three non-human primates. The non-human primate chapters look at endocrinology of social relationships in callitrichids (Ziegler and Snowdon), other group living monkeys (Fairbanks) and apes (Emery Thompson). All three of the non-human primate chapters provide excellent overviews of recent research but with different areas highlighted. Zeigler and Snowdon give an overview of a range of work carried out on pair-bonding and parental care in callitrichids and stress the importance of long-term bonds and chemical signalling for reproductive success in these species. Hence, they focus particularly on hormonal regulation of parental care and communication between mated pairs. In contrast, Fairbanks deals primarily with studies on group-living matrilineal monkeys where paternal care in minimal and male rank is likely to have a major influence on male reproductive success. Fairbanks discusses hormonal correlates of dominance and aggression in a range of species, including some extremely useful summary tables that allow the reader to easily see the variety of species and hormonal studies. Finally, Emery Thompson examines how the evolution of mating systems and reproductive strategies in apes are related to the endocrine physiology of female cycling and male competition. Some interesting themes arise through the book. For example, authors comment on the way in which paternal care influences males in both humans and other species. Lancaster and Kaplan discuss how male’s commitment to pair-bonding may be increased with the birth of children and Zeigler and Snowdon explain the effect of previous paternal experience

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on callitrichid males’ responses to infants. Gray and Campbell discuss whether testosterone levels are correlated with mating and paternal effort in men. In all cases the authors suggest that looking at variation in paternal effort may offer insights into understanding different male reproductive strategies. It is perhaps surprising that, in a book with this title, so little of it discusses social relationships other than those related to mating and parenting. Given that most authors’ work on humans and/or other primates this is even more surprising as a huge number or social interactions in social species involve neither mates nor offspring. For many individuals, particularly pre-reproductive animals such interactions may make up all or most of their social behaviour. The exceptions to this are chapters by which touch on some of the ways in which hormones may mediate other social interactions. For example, McIntyre and Hooven’s chapter on sex differences in children and adults looks at how androgens are involved in sex differences in behaviour and personality traits such as dominance and narcissism. Two chapters that concentrate on the effects of the neuropeptides, oxytocin and vasopressin on behaviour also suggest that non-reproductive social behaviour may be important. Carter et al. examine rodents and particularly the monogamous prairie voles. This provides both an excellent overview of both function of oxytocin and vasopressin in social behaviour with good summary tables listing previous work done in this area and then goes on to discuss the authors’ work on prairie voles in detail. The second chapter (Sanchez et al.) focuses on humans and reviews studies that have investigates mood, memory and behaviour. Although most research in voles has looked at how these oxytocin and vasopressin regulate parental and pair-bonding behaviour, the work on humans show that they have an effect on many other aspects of behaviour as well- perhaps suggesting future lines of research in other species. The book is very well produced with a high standard of editing and with all chapters keeping to a standard well-written format and provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of a wide range of studies in this area. Summary tables of previous research and clear introduction to each topic make it accessible for those who are unfamiliar with some of the ideas. However this is a scholarly work and not a ‘popular’ read. I would hesitate to recommend it to a first year undergraduate, but it should be accessible to more advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students who are looking for an inroad into recent research. This book will undoubtedly be of interest to researchers and lecturers who are seeking to integrate their understanding of endocrinology, social relationships and evolution, and would certainly be a welcome addition to many libraries. Caroline Ross Roehampton University

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CONSERVATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY GORILLAS AS A CASE STUDY T.S. Stoinski, H.D. Steklis, & P.T. Mehlman (eds) 2008 (Developments in primatology: progress and prospects) Springer ISBN: 9780387707204 (Hardback) £87.50 This book describes the status of gorilla conservation and looks at actual and potential tools, plans and strategies that are being or could be used in an attempt to counteract current threats. One strength of the book is the incorporation of ideas, tools and strategies used in other countries for other species that might be potentially useful for gorilla, and indeed, primate conservation in general. The first section, containing only one chapter by Patrick Mehlman, describes the threats facing each gorilla species and outlines the problems of surveying and estimating gorilla numbers in different habitats and conditions with particular emphasis on Grauer’s gorilla. Mehlman reviews current conservation strategies and makes suggestions for future research. I found this chapter very useful as some of the information provided on surveying mountain gorillas is applicable to my study area in northern Morocco where conventional methods like line transect surveying are not appropriate. The second section is all about conservation on the ground with information of benefit to everyone managing a primate conservation project. The impressive work of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project with its holistic approach to both gorilla and human health is of interest to all. Farmer & Courage give a long overdue review of the roles of sanctuaries and reintroduction in gorilla conservation. The chapter on gorilla tourism attempts to summarise this sometimes controversial conservation strategy, outlining guidelines for current best practise and warning against an over dependence on ecotourism as the only strategy to conserve gorillas. Steklis and Steklis outline the benefits of a long-term research project for conservation. Jim Sanderson gives a brief but useful guide on how to do camera trapping using an example of such a study in the Virungas but, frustratingly, not expanding the chapter to include the results! Another inspirational chapter was the description of the potential benefits of using theatre to increase awareness amongst local people of chimpanzees and their conservation around the Taï Forest by Christophe Boesch and his team. Tools facilitating the planning and implementation of conservation strategies are the focus of the penultimate section. These include a description of Population and Habitat Viability Analysis workshops, the TAMARIN system of landscape planning for conservation, a method

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empowering local communities living alongside endangered species, a description of the difficulties and benefits of producing a GIS map of mountain gorilla habitat, and the use, collection and analysis of biomaterials. All these chapters have something to offer those attempting to put conservation into practise on the ground. The final section focuses mainly on the importance of building relationships between governments (mountain gorilla transboundary conservation), and NGOs and researchers (the Great Ape World Heritage Species Project and www.western-gorilla.com). Stoinski et al. encourage zoos to coordinate their funding efforts and thus improve the effectiveness of their contributions and the final chapter focuses on the Bushmeat Crisis Taskforce and its work in combating the unsustainable bushmeat trade. I would have liked to see a chapter on human-gorilla conflict resolution along with more information on the work being conducted with the local communities in and around gorilla habitats. That aside, I found it a very useful volume and will be referring back to it in relation to my own project as it holds so many potentially useful ideas, strategies and initiatives that can be put into practice albeit on a much smaller scale. The price of the hardback is high for those on a limited budget but maybe Springer can be encouraged to bring it out in paperback! Siân S. Waters Barbary Macaque Conservation in the Rif (BMCRif), Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and Durham University

THE GIBBONS: NEW PERSPECTIVES ON SMALL APE SOCIOECOLOGY AND POPULATION BIOLOGY S. Lappan & D.J. Whittaker (eds) 2009 Springer ISBN: 9780387886039 (Hardback) £90 Today there are six surviving kinds of ape: humans, bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, orang-utans, and gibbons. Within this domain, however, it seems that classification of “greatness” in ape species is largely determined by size alone; and unfortunately, the gibbons have consistently been under acknowledged by primatologists, and consequently overlooked by the public eye. Indeed, there is little doubt that substantially more focus has been placed on great apes rather than their smaller counterparts; still, gibbons bear many of the same requisites praised in other apes, notably a high encephalisation quotient, no tail, and rotary shoulder blades. Additionally, when we consider the value of small apes as being the only representatives of the evolutionary link between monkeys and great apes, it is surprising how we still know comparatively little about them.

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Small apes are notoriously difficult to study, travelling silently at high speeds through the forest. Yet, unlike any other primate, they provide unique insight into the evolution of primate socioecological systems: Why do gibbons occupy an overall niche that contradicts the majority of other primate societies? Why is monogamy so successful for this group of primates, but rarely seen in others? Why do they occupy the smallest home range of any other primate, yet are a group-living primate with a highly frugivourous diet? In the newly published book entitled The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology, the authors have composed a set of studies to capture different socioecological facets of the small ape clade to address these questions and more. Part I of the book opens with a general discussion on the study of hylobatids, emphasising the importance of population-wide studies in providing critical information towards identifying the mechanistic ways in which their societies function. Gibbon taxonomy is briefly mentioned, as well as a tentative examination of the flexibility in gibbon socioecological behaviour. This carries over into Part II, which discusses the biogeographical variation seen among gibbon species – such as inter-population and individual differences in vocal communication. In this section of the book, the authors dive more deeply into the taxonomical and geographical distribution of gibbons, showing different scenarios in the phylogenetic inter-relationships between species that have been proposed by colleagues over the last three decades. An overview of the paleontological record of gibbons and their forest environment is given, as well as inferences on phylogenetic placements of species based on DNA sequencing, recent gene flow, and historical gene flow between populations. The final chapter of Part II deserves special mention, as it is a complete record of gibbon fossils found to date. Often primatologists ask evolutionarily-relevant questions using extant primates as models from which ancestral lifestyles are reconstructed. However, while it depends on the kind of questions being asked, modern primates are simply a product of their evolutionary history. Food species distribution, phenological patterns, predator density, and inter-species competition are all features that regulate primate societies today, yet given that these ecological variables are dynamic within themselves; it seems unlikely that their degree of selective force remained consistent throughout the millennia. The fossil data presented in Part II are discussed in light of morphological changes in gibbon populations throughout their evolutionary history, allowing us to compliment these findings with data on historical landscape changes to begin unearthing key features of past gibbon socioecology.

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Part III discusses ecological diversity in gibbons, addressing important theoretical issues in primatology such as the relationships between body mass and diet quality, and niche overlap between gibbons and other sympatric species. This combines nicely with Part IV of the book, which explores factors influencing inter- and intraspecific variation in gibbon communities, and how this is a function of contextual ramifications such as social systems, defensibility, and habitat use. Part V presents a nice overview of the mating systems of hylobatids, and tentatively addresses particular evolutionary advantages of living in a monogamous society and the proximate means through which this structure is maintained. Following this synopsis, complimentary data are given on specific species, notably siamangs and white-handed gibbons, to highlight particular behavioural and hormonal aspects of gibbon societies. Female reproductive status is examined in relation to temporal fluctuation in genital swellings and hormone concentrations using data from captive and wild individuals. The authors also discuss differences between male and female gibbons living in polyandrous and monogamous groups, and how flexible grouping and mating, relatedness, infanticide risk, and social networks are causal factors for variation in allocation of parental care and degree of monogamy. While socioecological data on primates is meaningful from a purely academic point of view, we must not forget the obligations researchers have towards the welfare and conservation of the species they study. Indeed, while gibbons are arguably the most successful species of non-human ape on the planet, some species are among the rarest and most critically endangered of any primate. In the final chapter of The Gibbons, several authors bring forth case studies on a few gibbon species to discuss important threats to gibbon populations in the wild, highlighting regions of major impact, habitat requirements, and population trends. This section of the book concludes with a discussion of the urgent need for further information on gibbon behaviour to refine protocols for conservation management, and provides recommendations for improving conservation success through rehabilitation programs and canopy bridges. The Gibbons represents an important progression towards better understanding small ape behaviour. This book should be treated as a well-rounded reference for scholars interested in learning more about small apes, or for anyone wishing to examine important topics in primatology from a small ape standpoint. Commonly labelled “the lesser ape” by non-partisans, this book celebrates the importance of such exceptional beings, warranting the small apes recognition far “greater” than what they typically are given within the scientific and public domain. F. Blake Morton Scottish Primate Research Group and University of Stirling

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THE INFANTICIDE CONTROVERSY: PRIMATOLOGY AND THE ART OF FIELD SCIENCE Amanda Rees (2009) Chicago University Press ISBN 0226707113 (Hardback) £27.50 As a discipline, primatology has a relatively short and complex history, with early researchers drawn from fields as diverse as biology, mathematics, anthropology and social science. This complexity is reflected in the mature discipline we know today, with primatologists still regularly working and publishing with collaborators from other fields and located anywhere from medical schools to archaeology departments depending upon institutional perspectives and the precise nature of their research. Much of this history, and many of the (potential and actual) tensions between proponents of different modes of primatological thinking are discussed in fascinating detail in Amanda Rees’s book, The Infanticide Controversy, which uses the sociobiological revolution and concomitant debate over infanticidal behaviour in primates as a vehicle through which to examine the nature of field science and the emergence of primatological theories and paradigms. The book is organised into three sections which reflect the nature of Rees’s arguments about the importance of theory, method and disciplinary history to the development of the infanticide controversies. Part one, entitled “Fielding the Question” takes a primarily historical approach to primatology, discussing the development of disciplinary perspectives to field science and the study of primate social behaviour, thus providing a useful background for those whose disciplinary history is not so well-developed. It introduces the key players in the nascent primatology, and quotes extensively from publications to demonstrate how the attitudes and methods employed by primatologists changed through the twentieth century, particularly in response to a change in emphasis from explanations relying upon socioecology to those employing sociobiological principles in the 1970s. Part two, “The Infanticide Debates”, covers the same chronological period but with emphasis on the development of just one series of observations and arguments: those relating to the “infant biting” behaviour newly observed in non-human primates in Asia and Africa. Particular emphasis during these chapters is given to theories developed to explain infant biting (or infanticide, as it is known in humans) and the nature of the controversy apparent in the 1970s and 1990s as a result of differential perspectives on primatological fieldwork. Rees’s methods, which include detailed interviews with primatologists as well as a clearly extensive survey of the primatological literature, produce abundant observations and insights into the thought processes of scientists on both sides of the debate, while her background in the sociology and history of science shows in the comprehensive links she forges between the specifics – of one debate in one field – and the general attitudes of scientists,

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governments, researchers and the public to scientific research and activity. Part three, in contrast, returns readers to the present (with a chapter detailing the most recent developments in the infanticide controversy) and the broader viewpoint associated with an evaluation of the role of “Controversy and Authority, Narrative and Testimony” in primatology and science in general. Rees states early on that she is not going to judge the winners of the infanticide controversy (and indeed, mentions that the open nature of that controversy helps in that it ensures she cannot view it “knowing who won”), but nonetheless manages to use her detailed history of this one debate to shed light on several intriguing aspects of primatology and science. In particular, my relatively modest knowledge of the history of primatology was substantially expanded – especially as many of the theoretical and methodological topics discussed were of relevance to a much wider part of the field than just the infanticide debates. In addition, a number of puzzling questions about the philosophy and sociology of science are raised and discussed. Rees’s “fieldworker’s regress”, the situation in which observations can never be replicated in field science because of specifics and uniqueness of place and conditions, is linked to some interesting debates over the importance of personality to behavioural observations, our tendency to anthropomorphise the primates, and the role of theory in developing and testing hypotheses, all of which are ably evaluated in the book. At the same time, however, I would question whether the infanticide debates are really still “open”. As Janson (2000) states, research into primate infanticide today has largely moved on from questioning whether the behaviour is adaptive to consider the reproductive consequences on adult females and the counterstrategies they employ to minimise the consequences. That said, Rees does note in several places that the infanticide debates are more important to modern primatology in the USA, and, indeed, fourteen of her eighteen interviewees are, or were, based in American institutions. Perhaps, as she notes, the anthropological aspect of American primatology (which drew more of its early practitioners from anthropology while European countries drew heavily upon zoology) is sufficient to explain the difference in opinion and justify the retention of the debate in that country; alternatively, perhaps there are just a few key players in the infanticide debates who refuse to accept the majority opinion. Indeed, The Infanticide Controversy does emphasise the importance of individuality – not only of place, but also of person – in the conception and design of primatological research, suggesting that perhaps controversy is not so much an objective discussion as a conflict between personalities and world-views in a discipline which cannot, for good or for ill, conduct completely objective research. While many scientists may consider this an inconvenience or even a substantial barrier to research, however, Rees’s

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book does an admirable job not only of showing that complete objectivity is impossible in any science, but also of demonstrating that primatology can still produce high-quality, important research despite being subject to the fieldworkers’ and experimenters’ regresses. Isabelle C. Winder University of York Reference: Janson, C.H. (2000). Primate Socio-Ecology: The End of a Golden Age. Evolutionary Anthropology: Issues, News, and Reviews 9: 73-86.

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THE PRIMATE SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN founded on May 22 1967 by the Primate Group of the Zoological Society of London

Founding Council: J.R. NAPIER (President), R.P. MICHAEL (Hon.Sec.), R.J. ANDREW (Hon.Treasurer), E.H. ASHTON, L.D. BROOKES, C.R. COID, P. COTES, J.H. CROOK, J. DAVIES, R.N. T-W-FIENNES, R.A. HINDE, G.H. MANLEY, I. ROWLANDS, A.C. WARREN, L. WEISKRANTZ Past Presidents: 1967 - 1970 J.R. NAPIER 1986 - 1969 B. WOOD 1970 - 1973 R.P. MICHAEL 1989 - 1993 R.I.M. DUNBAR 1973 - 1976 R.N. T-W-FIENNES 1993 - 1998 H.O. BOX 1976 - 1979 M.H. DAY 1998 - 2001 P.C. LEE 1979 - 1982 R.D. MARTIN 2001 - 2005 R. BARTON 1982 - 1986 D.J. CHIVERS 2005 - 2010 A. MACLARNON Past Secretaries: 1967 - 1970 R.P. MICHAEL 1987 - 1990 R.C. HUBRECHT 1970 - 1974 K.R. HOBBS 1990 - 1993 P.C. LEE 1974 - 1975 V. REYNOLDS 1993 - 1996 C. ROSS 1975 - 1978 R.D. MARTIN 1996 - 1999 H. BUCHANAN-SMITH 1978 - 1981 A.F. DIXSON 1999 - 2005 J. LYCETT 1981 - 1985 S.K. BEARDER 2005 - 2010 C. SCHAFFNER 1985 - 1987 H.O. BOX Past Treasurers: 1967 - 1970 R.J. ANDREW 1987 - 1990 S. KINGSLEY 1970 - 1974 A. JOLLY 1990 - 1994 R. CROMPTON 1974 - 1977 D.J. CHIVERS 1994 - 1998 G. R. HOSEY 1977 - 1980 E.B. KEVERNE 1998 - 2002 C. EVANS 1980 - 1984 L. AIELLO 2002 - 2009 R. HILL 1984 - 1987 A. MACLARNON Past Editors: 1974 - 1977 N.R. CHALMERS 1993 - 1996 D. BRANDON-JONES 1977 - 1993 J.C. INGRAM 1996 - 2006 W. SELLERS Osman Hill Memorial Lecturers (established 1977): 1978 M.H. DAY 1994 R.I.M. DUNBAR 1980 R.A. HINDE 1996 T. ROWELL 1982 F. BOURLIERE 1998 C.B. STRINGER 1984 P.M. BUTLER 2000 A.F. DIXSON 1986 J.P. HEARN 2002 I. TATTERSALL 1988 H. KUMMER 2004 C. VAN SCHAIK 1990 R.D. MARTIN 2006 A. JOLLY 1992 J.H. CROOK 2008 W. MCGREW Napier Memorial Medal Winners (established 1991): 1991 CHRISTOPHER PRYCE 2001 RUSSELL HILL 1993 MARTA LAHR 2003 SUSANNE SHULTZ 1995 CARLOS DREWS 2005 CORRI WAITT 1997 NICOLA KOYAMA 2007 ANNIKA PAUKNER 1999 MARK COLLARD 2009 ERIK WILLEMS Occasional Medal Winners (established 1996): 1997 JANE GOODALL CBE: Conservation 2007 CYRIL ROSEN MBE: Conservation 2008 STEPHEN NASH: Special Contributions to Primatology Charles A. Lockwood Medal Winners (established 2009): 2009 CLAIRE SANTORELLI The content of Primate Eye is printed on recycled paper by Top Copy, Bristol, BS16 6JE

Primate Society of Great Britain

PRIMATE EYE No 101 JUNE 2010

• CONTENTS •

Page Editorial … … … … … … … 1 Report: PSGB Spring Meeting 2010 – Social Cognition and Human Evolution … … … … … 3 Report: Pre-PSGB Spring Meeting Workshop – Training Primates for Cognitive Research … … … 5 PSGB Spring Meeting 2010 – Social Cognition and Human Evolution Paper Abstracts … … … … … 7 Poster Abstracts … … … … … 20 Future Meetings: Winter Meeting 2010 – Gombe 50 … … … 29 Announcement: International Symposium – Compassionate Conservation … … … … … 31 Announcement: Charles A. Lockwood Memorial PSGB Grants 32 Conservation Grant Reports: Ecology and Status of the Drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) in Korup National Park, Southwest Cameroon: Implications for their Conservation … … … … 33 Population Density Surveys and Taxonomic Asssessment of the Western Tarsier (Tarsius bancanus borneanus) and Bornean slow loris (Nycitecebus menagensis) in the Lower Kinabatangan Floodplain, Sabah, Malaysia … 35 Primates for Posterity: Assessment of a Primate Conservation Education Programme on 15-17 year old Students in Schools in Tamil Nadu, India … … 37 Conservation Assessment of Taï Monkey Fauna from Two Survey Methods and a Bushmeat Market Study: How Hunting Impacts Taï National Park … … 39 Identifying the CITES Appendix 1-listed Asian Slow Loris Nycticebus spp: A Training Programme for Enforcement Officials and Rescue Centres in Southeast Asia … 42 Book Reviews: Mountain Gorillas: Biology, Conservation, and Coexistence 44 Endocrinology of Social Relationships … … 45 Conservation in the 21st Century Gorillas as a Case Study 48 The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology … … … … 49 The Infanticide Controversy: Primatology and the Art of Field Science … … … … … 52 ISSN 0305-8417