Research projects

Research projects

Click here for a World Map View of our research projects

How do baboon troops decide?
in Meerkats, Coatis, Hyenas, Wild dogs, Dholes


Communication and Coordination
 

 dolphins & fishermenCourtesy of Fabio Daura-Jorge, UFSC

Why do humans and dolphins fish together?

Do monkeys forage smarter?
How does life in the canopy shape the evolution of the mind? The foraging decisions of kinkajous - an elusive species that forages in neo-tropical forest canopies at night - may offer some clues. The central aim of this project is to identify the processes of learning and memory that allow kinkajous to keep track of when and where to find their favorite food: fruit. By comparing our findings to what is known about primates, which also live in the canopy and eat fruit, we can gain a better understanding of the general ecological factors that lead to the evolution of greater intelligence. In turn, we may be able to identify how certain habitats facilitate the emergence of complex societies by selecting for brains that are better able to learn about relationships, be they social or spatial.

Learning and Decision Making in the Canopy
Have you ever wondered how animals communicate with one another? Or perhaps, how decisions, such as where to eat, are made in species which live in groups? These questions have puzzled many biologists, but with recent developments in animal tracking technology, answers to these questions can finally be addressed. In my research, I am investigating the role of communication in collective decision making in social animals, by examining how vocal signals are used in group living white-nosed coatis. 

Calling to Consensus
How do meerkats use vocal signaling to maintain cohesion, coordinate and make decisions while on the move? 

Meerkats on the Move

Coming soon:   

Capuchin Tool Use

Why do friends matter?

Bonobo Foraging Decisions 
 in Fosa and SifakaCourtesy of Rebecca Lewis

Collective Ecology
in spider mokeys, capuchins and bats

Social Foraging
Cooperative Hunting

Cooperative Hunting
in Blackbuck

Sexual Selection
Capuchin Movement Ecology

Capuchin Movement Ecology

Sleeping in Groups

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