Evolution of Primate Sleep Throughout my young career as a primate researcher I have focused on sleeping patterns in two different species (chimpanzees and ring-tailed lemurs). This research has helped me piece together some of the most important patterns and trends that have characterized the evolution of primate sleep. Full Article: Evolution of Primate Sleep … Continue reading Evolution of Primate Sleep
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Diurnality, Nocturnality, & Cathemerality
Diurnality, Nocturnality, & Cathemerality Understanding animal behaviour in the classroom is much different than understanding animal behaviour in the field. During my research trip to St. Catherines Island to study ring-tailed lemur activity patterns I realized that concepts I thought I understood were more problematic than they were helpful. Full Article: Diurnality, Nocturnality & Cathemerality … Continue reading Diurnality, Nocturnality, & Cathemerality
Where Are All The Panins?
Where Are All The Panins? Over the past few decades palaeoanthropologists have uncovered hundreds of fossil fragments that belong to our hominin ancestors. These fossils have allowed scientists to piece together our evolutionary history and better understand the pressures that led to our species unique characteristics. However, there has been only two fossils of panins … Continue reading Where Are All The Panins?
Welcome to the South
Welcome to the South During a research trip in the south I encountered a culture I had read and heard about, but had never directly experienced. As a result I did experience a degree of culture shock. Throughout the experience I spoke with a few different people about some sensitive issues and had to … Continue reading Welcome to the South
Among African Apes
Among African Apes What is it like to be a primatologist? There are several misconceptions and many people are interested in our closest relatives, but few people know exactly what it's like to conduct a primate field survey. Among African Apes transports you into the researchers world and introduces you to several important aspects of … Continue reading Among African Apes
A Good or Bad Exchange?
A Good or Bad Exchange? The world changed in profound ways after 1492. The Columbian Exchange resulted in the transfer of divergent and previously isolated flora and fauna becoming transported to new landscapes. This forever changed natural history and human history. However, did the Columbian exchange reap irreparable damage on the biosphere as a whole? … Continue reading A Good or Bad Exchange?
The Decline of Violence
The Decline of Violence Steven Pinker is a world-renowned psychologist and cognitive scientist. In The Better Angels of Our Nature Pinker explores the history of human violence to attempt to understand if we have become more or less violent. He approaches this topic from a multi-disciplinary perspective incorporating data from history, anthropology, biology, psychology, and … Continue reading The Decline of Violence
Disrespecting Social Theory
Disrespecting Social Theory A recent Gallup poll revealed that belief in creationism has not declined over the past few decades. The majority of scientists have responded to this as a disturbing trend. However, a few social scientists have pointed out that this trend may have more to do with cultural identity than it does with … Continue reading Disrespecting Social Theory
How Do Chimpanzees Mourn Their Dead?
How Do Chimpanzees Mourn Their Dead? Humans have complex rituals associated with the death another human being. These rituals may be culturally dependent but it is also a characteristic trait for our entire species. Do our closest relatives have rituals related to the death of another chimpanzee? Do they understand what death is? Do they … Continue reading How Do Chimpanzees Mourn Their Dead?
Joking About Race
Joking About Race Comedians frequently joke about controversial or sensitive issues. However, is joking about race ever acceptable? Do people who frequently make racial jokes on some level actually racist? Does it perpetuate stereotypes and negatively effect social integration in the western world? I recently encountered a situation that made me re-think many of these … Continue reading Joking About Race