University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada: Object Play Culture and Complex Foraging in Balinese Long-Tailed Macaques
Hiring Organization: University of Lethbridge
Date Posted: 2015-10-13
Position Description:
We are currently seeking an independent, conscientious and highly motivated student to embark on a four-year Ph.D. program in the Department of Psychology at the University of Lethbridge (starting in September 2016), under the supervision of Dr. Jean-Baptiste Leca.
We are currently seeking an independent, conscientious and highly motivated student to embark on a four-year Ph.D. program in the Department of Psychology at the University of Lethbridge (starting in September 2016), under the supervision of Dr. Jean-Baptiste Leca.
The
Ph.D. research project will consist of investigating the developmental
and evolutionary links between the non-instrumental manipulation of
objects (e.g., object play) and complex extractive foraging techniques
(e.g., processing difficult foods and tool use) in multiple free-
ranging groups of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis)
living on the island of Bali, Indonesia. This project also aims to
quantify the social transmission of group-specific object- oriented
behavioral patterns (e.g., object manipulation, stone handling, eye
covering play, coconut bashing, and tool use) in this primate species,
by using network-based diffusion analysis.
Further details about the research project can be found at: http://www.jbleca.webs.com/
Before
officially starting the Ph.D. program, the successful applicant will
first conduct a 5-month field study in Bali (scheduled from mid-March to
mid-August 2016), focusing on three pairs of large neighboring groups
of monkeys living at Uluwatu (south Bali), Ubud (central Bali), and
Pulaki (west Bali). These macaques are commensal (i.e., they live in
human-dominated habitats, including Balinese temples) and some of the
field sites are visited daily by many tourists.
The
Ph.D. student will collect social and behavioral data on a large number
of immature and adult monkeys (more than 50 individuals/group). Data
collection will include a combination of instantaneous group scan
sampling (using a pre-established ethogram), as well as pen-and- paper,
psion-recorded, and video-recorded continuous focal-animal sampling. The
field workload is significant: about 10 hours/day (from 8 am to 6 pm)
and 6 days a week. The Ph.D. student will also be responsible for
managing the data collected on a daily basis.
In
the field, the Ph.D. student will be accommodated in a guest house
located not too far from each field site (about 20-25 minutes by
motorbike), with basic equipment and utilities, including electricity,
running water (but probably not hot water), and wireless internet.