IRES Track I: Behavioral Ecology, Demography and Conservation of Primates in the Humid Chaco of Argentina

该项目将培训美国学生进行研究，帮助理解哺乳动物和灵长类社会的演变，以及生态和社会因素如何影响它们的结构和功能。学生们将进行研究项目，以检验与捕食者和竞争对手(例如，鳄鱼、咆哮猴子)的互动是否会对猫头鹰猴子的一夫一妻制群体和独居飞蚊产生不同的影响。这些项目是在行为生态学、人口学和灵长类动物保护领域开发的，将在阿根廷潮湿查科的猫头鹰项目中进行。这个IRES网站将利用一个有23年历史的成功的国际研究项目，为18名从主要是本科院校招收的全国本科生提供机会。学生们将在为期8周的暑期研究体验之前、期间和之后接受培训、网络机会和指导。除其他外，社会福利将包括一系列免费提供的教育材料，用于生物人类学和灵长类动物学课程(英文和西班牙文)。该项目将为一个研究项目做出贡献，该项目正在为研究哺乳动物和灵长类动物的交配和社会制度的进化做出理论和经验上的贡献。学生活动将在猫头鹰猴子项目中开展，该项目自1996年以来一直在研究一夫一妻制的猫头鹰猴子(Aotus Azarae)。猫头鹰猴子是世界上为数不多的一夫一妻制灵长类动物之一，也是美洲唯一具有夜间习性的灵长类动物，也是哺乳动物中两种父亲照顾形式最极端的灵长类动物之一。为了进一步了解一夫一妻制、配对和父亲照顾的机制和演变，学生们将进行研究，以评估猫头鹰猴子独居漂浮者和成年猫头鹰之间的竞争对猫头鹰猴子种群的人口学、生活史和遗传相关性的影响。在暑期实地考察之前的春季，学生们将参加一个在线课程，向他们介绍灵长类动物行为和生态的关键概念，并指导他们设计高质量的可行研究项目。学生将在PIS和4名外国合作者的指导和指导下，在现场收集、整理和分析数据，时间为8周。在美国，参与者将通过虚拟会议接受数据分析和科学写作方面的额外培训和指导。秋季学期结束时，参与者将在专业会议上陈述他们的项目。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will train U.S. students to conduct research that contributes to understanding the evolution of mammal and primate societies and how ecological and social factors influence their structure and functioning. The students will conduct research projects to examine if the interactions with predators and competitors (e.g. coatis, howler monkeys) influence owl monkey monogamous groups and solitary floaters differently. Developed within the fields of behavioral ecology, demography and conservation of primates, the projects will be conducted within the Owl Monkey Project in the Humid Chaco of Argentina. This IRES site will leverage a successful 23-year-old international research program to offer opportunities to 18 undergraduate students recruited nationally from Primarily Undergraduate Institutions. The students will receive training, networking opportunities and mentorship before, during and after the 8-week summer research experience. Societal benefits will include, among other things, a series of freely available educational materials for use in biological anthropology and primatology courses (in both English and Spanish). The project will contribute to a research program that is making theoretical and empirical contributions to the study of the evolution of mating and social systems in mammals and primates. The student activities will be developed within the Owl Monkey Project, which has been studying monogamous owl monkeys (Aotus azarae) without interruption since 1996. Owl monkeys are one of the few monogamous primates in the world, the only primate genus with nocturnal habits in the Americas, and one of two primates with the most extreme forms of paternal care among mammals. To further understand the mechanisms and evolution of monogamy, pair-bonding, and paternal care, the students will conduct studies contributing to an evaluation of the influence that the competition between owl monkey solitary floaters and resident adults has on the demography, life-history and genetic correlates of the owl monkey population. In the spring prior to summer field work, students will participate in an online course to introduce them to key concepts in primate behavior and ecology, and to guide them designing high-quality feasible research projects. Students will spend 8 weeks in the field collecting, curating and analyzing data under the guidance and mentoring of the PIs and 4 foreign collaborators. Back in the US, participants will receive additional training and mentoring in data analysis and scientific writing via virtual meetings. At the end of the fall semester, participants will present their projects at a professional meeting.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.