ANTH 309: ADVANCED PRIMATE BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
Fall 2011
Instructor: Barbara Welker Office: Fraser 118, Lab: Fraser 116
Telephone: 245-5204 email: welker@geneseo.edu
Office hours: W 2:30-3:30, F 11:30-1:30
Course description:
This seminar-format course is an in-depth examination of the behavioral ecology of all non-human primates. We will be using the new edition of Primates in Perspective to explore all of the latest research on the
various primate species. Each week we will examine a group of primates, using the aforementioned text as well as student-assigned readings from the primary literature. Students will choose two of the weekly
topics, conduct a literature review, assign relevant readings for the class, provide an introductory overview, deliver a lecture on the aspect of behavioral ecology they researched, and lead discussion on their talk, research, and assigned readings. A term paper will result from their individual research. Prereq ANTH 233: Primates
LEARNING/COURSE OUTCOMES:
1. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the behavioral ecology of all nonhuman primate clades by completing assigned readings prior to each presentation/discussion period, formulating a minimum of 10 referenced and typed questions and/or comments for each class based upon the readings, and participating in mandatory discussions.
2. Students will demonstrate competency in conducting advanced literature reviews by meeting with the instructor to discuss the searches they are conducting and the articles they have obtained, sorting through the literature, and selecting articles that will further their fellow students’ understanding of their particular topics. Through this process they will learn to critique articles for their value on a variety of levels.
3. Students will demonstrate competency in their ability to synthesize and organize their research into a comprehensive and cohesive overview of the topical areas. They will demonstrate this ability based on their literature search/review/synthesis, via their presentations, discussions, and by writing a research oriented standardized and comprehensive outline and subsequent term paper that incorporates instructor revisions and covers their topical areas in a logical and organized manner.
4. Students will demonstrate their preparation for graduate school courses in physical anthropology by their participation in this advanced research-oriented seminar.
Required book:
Campbell C.C. , Fuentes A., MacKinnon K.C., Panger M., and Bearder S.K. (2006) Primates in Perspective Oxford University Press.
Course requirements:
Individual Research Project
15% Presentation
10% Methods lecture
10% Discussion leadership
20% 10-page paper (due 2 weeks after presentation date or by 12/15, whichever comes first)
Joint Presentation Day
15% Split day (10% talk, 5% discussion leadership)
30% Class Participation
Presentation: 1 hr in length
15 min overview of behavioral ecology of species, 45 min on research topic – 20 references
cited/submitted
Methods: ½ hr in length
30min - 5 interesting articles (from a methodological and research question perspective) will be
overviewed
Discussion: 45 min
You will be the leader of the discussion so you should have topics prepared, primarily based on readings
Assigned Readings:
You or you and your partner will assign 3-5 (depending on length – reading should be ≈50 pages/week)
articles/chapters… for the class that are relevant to your species/topic
They are due prior to the previous Wed.’s class and will be posted on the mycourses page
Term Paper:
Minimum 10 pages / minimum of 20 acceptable references / due 2 weeks after presentation
Joint Presentation Day:
Each person: 45 min presentation on research topic – 10 references cited/submitted
Joint discussion leaders and together decide on assigned readings
Class participation will be assessed via in-class participation every class. This is an approximate rubric for how you will be graded: Students will earn 1 point per week for active involvement in discussions and 1 point per week for preparedness based on the quality of the questions/comments/topics that they bring to class for discussion.
Numbers refer to chapters in textbook
“Readings” are available on the course website by week – they are to be assigned by students and are due prior to the previous Wed. so that they can be posted to the website a week in advance
Week/Date Topics: Assigned reading
1 8/31 Introduction, get-together, assignments
2 9/7 Lemuriformes (2) 5
3 9/14 Lorisiformes and Tarsiiformes 4, 6
4 9/21 Callitrichines 7
5 9/28 Cebines 8
6 10/5 Pitheciines and Aotines (2) 9 and 10
7 10/12 Atelines 11
8 10/19 Guenons (Cercopithecus, Erythrocebus, Miopithecus, Allenopithecus) 16
9 10/26 Papionins (Mandillus, Cercocebus, Lophocebus, Rungwecebus, 15
Papio, Therapithecus) (2)
10 11/2 Macaques (2) 14
11 11/9 African Colobines 13
12 11/16 Asian Colobines 12
13 11/23 NO CLASS
14 11/30 Hylobatids 17
15 12/7 Hominids discussion only 18, 19, 20
16 12/14 Wrap-up of new material 3:30-6:30