Am J Primatol Special Issue: Human-NH Primate Bonds in Primatological Research

Great special section in the current issue of the American Journal of Primatology: The Effects of Bonds Between Human and Non-human Primates on Primatological Research and Practice. Includes such intriguings commentaries as "Primatology between feelings and science: a personal experience perspective" by Augusto Vitale, "Being human and doing primatology: national, socioeconomic, and ethnic influences on primatological practice" by Agustin Fuentes, and "Caring for nonhuman primates in biomedical research facilities: scientific, moral and emotional considerations" by Kristine Coleman, and many more.

Michaela Howells is awesome!

Michaela Howells, MA '05 Iowa State, currently a PhD candidate at the University of Colorado, is first author on a paper in early view in the American Journal of Primatology.

Patterns of gastro-intestinal parasites and commensals as an index of population and ecosystem health: the case of sympatric western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) and guinea baboons (Papio hamadryas papio) at Fongoli, Senegal
Michaela E. Howells, Jill Pruetz, Thomas R. Gillespie

The exponential decline of great apes over the past 50 years has resulted in an urgent need for data to inform population viability assessment and conservation strategies. Health monitoring of remaining ape populations is an important component of this process. In support of this effort, we examined endoparasitic and commensal prevalence and richness as proxies of population health for western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) and sympatric guinea baboons (Papio hamadryas papio) at Fongoli, Senegal, a site dominated by woodland-savanna at the northwestern extent of chimpanzees' geographic range. The small population size and extreme environmental pressures experienced by Fongoli chimpanzees make them particularly sensitive to the potential impact of pathogens. One hundred thirty-two chimpanzee and seventeen baboon fecal samples were processed using sodium nitrate floatation and fecal sedimentation to isolate helminth eggs, larvae, and protozoal cysts. Six nematodes (Physaloptera sp., Ascaris sp., Stronglyloides fuelleborni, Trichuris sp., an unidentified hookworm, and an unidentified larvated nematode), one cestode (Bertiella sp.), and five protozoans (Iodamoeba buetschlii, Entamoeba coli, Troglodytella abrassarti, Troglocorys cava, and an unidentified ciliate) were detected in chimpanzee fecal samples. Four nematodes (Necator sp., S. fuelleborni, Trichuris sp., and an unidentified hookworm sp.), two trematodes (Shistosoma mansoni and an unidentified fluke), and six protozoans (Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, E. coli, Chilomastix mesnili, Balantidium coli, T. abrassarti, and T. cava) were detected in baboon fecal samples. The low prevalence of pathogenic parasite species and high prevalence of symbiotic protozoa in Fongoli chimpanzees are indicative of good overall population health. However, the high prevalence of pathogenic parasites in baboons, who may serve as transport hosts, highlight the need for ongoing pathogen surveillance of the Fongoli chimpanzee population and point to the need for further research into the epidemiology and cross-species transmission ecology of zoonotic pathogens at this site.

Ethics of Field Primatology: reflections, concerns, new directions

I recently wrote about a stand-out symposium at the 2009 American Society of Primatologists meeting; Katie MacKinnon of St. Louis University and Erin Phelps Riley of San Diego State University organized a session to explore current issues in the ethics of conducting field primatology. Fortunately for those who were not there, they also just produced an edited issue of the American Journal of Primatology that rounds up some wonderful insights on this complex subject. I especially like Karen Strier's sometimes sober reflection on the unintended consequences of long-term field sites. Kudos to Erin and Katie for giving voice to this issue! (p.s. Congrats to newly-tenured Dr. Erin Riley!)

Free access to BANDIT articles in Wiley-Blackwell journals

The BANDIT blog has teamed with the good people at Wiley-Blackwell to provide free access to highlighted articles in American Journal of Primatology, American Journal of Physical Anthropology, American Journal of Human Biology, and Evolutionary Anthropology. BANDIT will no longer be posting full pdfs of articles, but you can reach the official Wiley-Blackwell pdf from BANDIT links. Caveat: free access to these articles will expire within a few days, so be sure to visit the blog frequently to check on article updates.

Special AJP issue on Conservation Education highlights the work of BANDIT members!

The American Journal of Primatology has produced several special issues that explore in depth a central theme in primatological research. The May 2010 issue, guest edited in part by Dr. Francine Dolins, Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan at Dearborn, addresses the creation, implementation, and impact of conservation education programs. In addition to Francine's efforts as editor and author, Dr. Hogan Sherrow, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Ohio University, also makes an important contribution to the discussion. Check out the issue's table of contents, and be sure to read these pieces:

Francine Dolins, et al.:
Conservation Education in Madagascar: Three Case Studies in the Biologically Diverse Island-Continent

Hogan Sherrow:
Conservation Education and Primates: Twenty-First Century Challenges and Opportunities

BANDIT member Dr. Katie Hinde in American Journal of Primatology

Dr. Katie Hinde, currently a postdoc at the California National Primate Research Center and the University of California Davis has a paper out in AJP today. In addition to her impressive moves on the dance floor, Katie is doing some fabulous work on the role of lactation and milk composition in intergenerational programming of temperament in macaques. She's that cool.