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6.5: Primate Behavior Part II

  • Page ID
    138530
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    File:Stone tool use by a capuchin monkey.jpg
    A juvenile capuchin monkey in Serra da Capivara, Brazil, uses a stone as a tool to open a seed. Stone tool use by a capuchin monkey, by Tiago Falótico, is used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 License.
    • Format: In person or online
    • Author: Rebecca Frank
    • Source: “Activity 13.” 2019. Frank, Rebecca, Brian Pierson, Philip Stein. LAVC Anthro 111 Lab Manual. 7th Edition.
    • Time needed: 60-90 minutes

    Learning Objectives

    • Learn and practice scan sampling
    • Learn and practice continuous focal animal follow
    • Analyze primate observation data
    • Reflect on the process of conducting nonhuman primate observation and data collection

    Supplies Needed

    • Paper, pencil, clipboard
    • Student worksheet
    • Stopwatch or cell phone
    • Requires zoo visit

    Readings

    • Jaffe, Karin Enstam. 2019. Chapter 6: Primate Behavior and Ecology. Explorations.

    Introduction

    This lab requires that students visit a local zoo to observe and collect data on nonhuman primates. It is part two of a two-part primate lab. In part one, students learned about basic nonhuman primate behavior, practiced ad lib data collection, and created an ethogram. In part two, students will conduct scan sampling and continuous focal animal follow, analyze their data, and reflect on their findings.

    Steps

    • In order to complete this lab, students must first complete “Primate Behavior: Part I,” in which students create an ethogram to be used for this lab.
    • Students will need to go to the zoo, either in groups or individually, to conduct this lab.
    • Students will record their data on the student worksheet (below). The worksheet includes instructions as well as space for data collection and analysis.
    • In addition to having students turn in the worksheets, instructors may initiate a class discussion for students to describe their experiences and observations.

    Review Questions

    • Which behaviors did you see the most? Why do you think they were most common? Which behavior was rare or absent? Why do you think so?
    • How might your data be different if you observed for more time or studied a wild group?
    • How did male and female individuals behave differently in your data? Or how did older and younger individuals behave differently?
    • Explain your observations, discussing specific behaviors.

    Adapting for Online Learning

    If this is an in-person lab, rank how adaptable to online learning it would be (mark in bold): Easy to adapt.

    Tip: For online courses, students could complete the worksheet and turn it in online. It can also be interesting for students to observe humans with this very different frame. Many zoos have live webcams that would allow students to observe a group of primates from home. See:

    References

    1. Frank, Rebecca. 2019. “Activity 13.3: Scan Sampling” and “Activity 13.4: Continuous Focal Animal Follow.” In LAVC Anthro 111 Lab Manual, 7th Edition, edited by Frank, Rebecca, Brian Pierson, and Philip Stein.
    2. Jaffe, Karin Enstam. 2019. “Chapter 6: Primate Behavior and Ecology.” In Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology, edited by Beth Shook, Katie Nelson, Kelsie Aguilera, and Lara Braff. Arlington, VA: American Anthropological Association. http://explorations.americananthro.org/

     


    This page titled 6.5: Primate Behavior Part II is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Rebecca Frank via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.