Keynote speaker: John Mitani

Keynote speaker: John Mitani, University of Michigan, The behavior of wild chimpanzees. Monday 8:45 -- 9:45

Abstract

Chimpanzees have featured prominently in the study of animal behavior during the past 50 years, with nearly 200 person years devoted to observing them in the wild. Because of their long lifespans and slow reproduction, however, chimpanzees give up the secrets of their lives slowly, and several questions about their behavior persist. In this talk, I review findings from recent field research conducted on the behavior of wild chimpanzees. I highlight results derived from my own long-term study of an unusually large community of chimpanzees at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda. My observations of coalitionary behavior, hunting, meat sharing, and territoriality provide new insights into male chimpanzee cooperation. I conclude by emphasizing the importance of long-term field research and the relevance of primate studies to animal behavior.

Website:

http://sitemaker.umich.edu/mitani/home