INTRODUCTION TO PRIMATE BEHAVIOR
ANTHROPOLOGY 246
FALL 2006

Tues.& Thurs. 9:30-10:50 am
Place: MFAC 355
Instructor:  Dr. Carol Berman         Phone:  645-2414 x128
Office:  165 Spaulding
Office Hours:  Tuesdays 2:00-4:00 pm

Description:

     In this course we will describe the life cycles of various primate species, the biological and social problems they face (e.g., finding a place to live, finding food, finding protection from predators, growing up within a complex social group, finding mates, and rearing young who can survive and reproduce), and the solutions to these problems.  Throughout the survey, we will examine the ways scientists have extracted general principles of behavior from the data, particularly those that are concerned with evolutionary processes.  Methods of research used in the field will be emphasized, although laboratory studies will also be discussed where they lead to a greater understanding of the data from the field. In addition, issues of particular interest to human social evolution will be discussed; for example, language studies with apes, cooperative hunting and tool-making.

Requirements:
    
Class Participation. You must attend and participate actively in class (e.g. ask questions, make comments) in order to do well in the course. I will take attendance. If any student has more than two unexcused absences, his/her grade for class participation will suffer. Class participation will be worth 10% of the grade.

Quizzes and exams. There will be two in-class exams and one quiz.  The first quiz (about Oct. 2) will be worth 20% of your final grade.  The first exam (about Nov. 4) and the second exam (Dec. 4) will be worth 35% each.  Each test will consist of definitions, short answers and short essays.  Exams will be non-cumulative and cover the lectures, the reading, the films and slide shows.  Make up exams will be given only in the case of illness.  Documentation from a physician is required. 

Reading. The main text for the course is Primate Behavioral Ecology by Karen Strier (see ‘Text’ in Schedule below). You can buy it at Talking Leaves Bookstore, 3158 Main Street, Buffalo.  There will also be a number of extra readings on particular topics that will be posted on Blackboard. Some will be from The Nonhuman Primates, edited by P. Dolhinow and A. Fuentes (see ‘D&F’ in Schedule below). Others will be from Primates in Perspective, edited by Campbell et al. (see Camp in schedule below).

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Dates                                      Topics                                                                              Readings

Aug. 29, 31                              Introduction: What are Primates? Why study                  Text: Ch. 1-3
                                                 behavior? History of primates and their behavior            D&F: Ch. 33
                                                                  
Sept. 5, 7                                 Evolution and Social Behavior                                        Text: Ch. 4

Sept. 12, 14, 21, 26                 Day in the life of a primate: Primate groups--size            Text: Ch. 5-6
                                                composition, use of space; why primates live in     
                                                groups, how they get enough to eat.

Oct. 3                                               Quiz

Sept. 28, Oct. 5, 10, 12           Female and Male strategies, mating and reproduction      Text: Ch. 7-8

Oct. 17, 19, 24, 26                 Communication in primates. Gestures and signals.
                                               How information is transmitted. Ape language
                                               studies. Social intelligence.                                                Text: Ch. 10

Oct 31                                     How do we describe social organization?
                                               Interactions, relationships, social structure.
                                               Grooming networks.                                                          D&F:   Ch. 26

Nov. 2                                     Exam

Nov. 7, 9, 14                           Dominance and aggression                                               Camp: Ch. 34, 36

Nov. 16, 21, 28                       Growing up social                                                             Text: Ch. 9  

Nov. 30, Dec 5                        Primate culture: tools, hunting, self-medication                Camp: Ch. 40-42
                                                Mitani & Watts

Dec.  7                                     Exam