MA, Kent State University, 2018, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Anthropology

Habitat fragmentation and secondary growth forests are becoming increasingly common around the world, and as a result, many animal species are being forced to adapt to these changes. In the Guiana Shield region of interior Suriname, I observed the ranging patterns and micro-habitat preference of several groups of Saguinus midas (golden-handed tamarin), one of the least-studied tamarin species, with the intention of assessing the similarity in habitat preference to another Saguinus species, S. bicolor. I hypothesized that S. midas and S. bicolor would have similar micro-habitat preferences, and that S. midas would prefer areas of the forest with small tree size, low basal area, and high liana density. I conducted a survey of selected trees along a trail system in Bergendal, Suriname, to determine local habitat characteristics. I also conducted a home range survey to determine the number of groups and the size of each group in the study area. I found that there were four distinct groups of S. midas in the area, and they preferred the micro-habitats as predicted. This suggests that like S. bicolor, S. midas does not utilize forest resources randomly. The study of micro-habitat preference and forest structure preference can be used for further research in primate conservation, and S. midas' role as a pioneer species make it an ideal research candidate.

Committee: Marilyn Norconk PhD (Advisor); Mary Ann Raghanti PhD (Committee Member); Richard Meindl PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Animals; Biology; Ecology

MA, Kent State University, 0, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Anthropology

The Brownsberg Nature Park(BNP) in Suriname is home to eight monkey species: Saguinus midas, Saimiri sciureus, Cebus apella, Alouatta seniculus. Pithecia pithecia, Cebus olivaceus, Chiropotes satanas (sagulatus), and Ateles paniscus. Several studies have undertaken the task to better study the feeding and behavioral ecology of these species within the park. However, studies on the black spider monkey (Ateles paniscus) have been absent. As part of my thesis, I decided to conduct a baseline feeding and behavioral ecology study of this species during the period May 2008 – July 2008. In addition, I developed a field method for determining mercury levels (in parts per million = ppm) in fecal and urine samples of wild monkeys. Since the park is under enormous pressure from illegal gold mining activities, I decided to collect baseline data on potential exposure of wild monkeys to mercury in the environment. I also collected samples from monkeys at the zoo in Paramaribo and monkeys born in captivity at Hiram College in Ohio. I collected data on the frequency of feeding, resting, and traveling by black spider monkey subgroups every 10 minutes during all day follows. Feeding ecology data consisted of identifying fruits eaten by these subgroups. For the mercury analysis I used the OSUMEX LTD. home testing kit. Results from the behavioral data show the following frequencies of activities for the entire study period: 32% feeding, 43% resting, and 25% traveling. The feeding data further justifies spider monkeys as ripe fruit frugivores: 76% of food items consisted of ripe fruit, while 22% consisted of leaves, and 2% was comprised of flowers. The mercury testing results from the Brownsberg and zoo populations ranged between 0.025 ppm to 0.1 ppm (toxic level = 0.8 ppm). The Hiram College monkeys all displayed levels at 0.000 ppm. The results from the mercury analyses indicate that 1) wild monkeys in the vicinity of gold mining activities may not be under the same threat as humans, (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Marilyn Norconk Phd (Advisor); Richard Meindl Phd (Committee Member); Christopher Vinyard Phd (Committee Member) Subjects: Animal Sciences; Animals; Behavioral Sciences; Biology; Botany; Conservation; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Physical Anthropology; Toxicology; Wildlife Conservation; Wildlife Management; Zoology

MA, Kent State University, 0, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Anthropology

The Brownsberg Nature Park(BNP) in Suriname is home to eight monkey species: Saguinus midas, Saimiri sciureus, Cebus apella, Alouatta seniculus. Pithecia pithecia, Cebus olivaceus, Chiropotes satanas (sagulatus), and Ateles paniscus. Several studies have undertaken the task to better study the feeding and behavioral ecology of these species within the park. However, studies on the black spider monkey (Ateles paniscus) have been absent. As part of my thesis, I decided to conduct a baseline feeding and behavioral ecology study of this species during the period May 2008 to July 2008. In addition, I developed a field method for determining mercury levels (in parts per million = ppm) in fecal and urine samples of wild monkeys. Since the park is under enormous pressure from illegal gold mining activities, I decided to collect baseline data on potential exposure of wild monkeys to mercury in the environment. I also collected samples from monkeys at the zoo in Paramaribo and monkeys born in captivity at Hiram College in Ohio. I collected data on the frequency of feeding, resting, and traveling by black spider monkey subgroups every 10 minutes during all day follows. Feeding ecology data consisted of identifying fruits eaten by these subgroups. For the mercury analysis I used the OSUMEX LTD. home testing kit. Results from the behavioral data show the following frequencies of activities for the entire study period: 32% feeding, 43% resting, and 25% traveling. The feeding data further justifies spider monkeys as ripe fruit frugivores: 76% of food items consisted of ripe fruit, while 22% consisted of leaves, and 2% was comprised of flowers. The mercury testing results from the Brownsberg and zoo populations ranged between 0.025 ppm to 0.1 ppm (toxic level = 0.8 ppm). The Hiram College monkeys all displayed levels at 0.000 ppm. The results from the mercury analyses indicate that 1) wild monkeys in the vicinity of gold mining activities may not be under the same threat as humans, (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Marilyn Norconk Phd. (Advisor); Richard Meindl Phd. (Committee Member); Christopher Vinyard Phd. (Committee Member) Subjects: Animal Sciences; Animals; Behavioral Sciences; Biology; Botany; Conservation; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Geographic Information Science; Toxicology; Wildlife Conservation; Wildlife Management; Zoology

Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2009, Film Scholarship (Fine Arts)

This research mapped 175 audiovisual festivals that took place in South America in 2008 and analyzed them regarding the types of events they are, the place and time of the year they take place, what kind of films/videos they exhibit and the number of years that they have been happening. The research also compared the data with the population of each country, their GDP and number of internet users. The research also performed case studies of successful events and events that have been discontinued and compared their analysis in order to identify reasons and elements that can turn an audiovisual festival into a success or a failure.

Committee: Ruth Bradley (Committee Chair); Jack Wright (Committee Member); Jenny Nelson (Committee Member) Subjects: Fine Arts; Latin American History; Motion Pictures

PHD, Kent State University, 2011, College of Arts and Sciences / School of Biomedical Sciences

Bearded sakis (genus Chiropotes) are among the least studied primates in the world. This study documented social behavior, ecology, habitat use, and responses to seasonal changes in the Guianan bearded saki (Chiropotes sagulatus) in continuous forest in Brownsberg Nature Park, Suriname. The results of this study provide further support for existing information about this genus and make new contributions to our knowledge of these elusive animals. Social behavioral data demonstrated highly affiliative relationships between males within groups. There was a strong bias towards male-male partnerships during social interactions, and interactions were affiliative in 100% of cases. There was also initial documentation of all-male (sub)groups, and higher rates of affiliative behaviors between males when in all-male groups suggest that these times are potential opportunities for bond reinforcement. Results of the ecological data set demonstrate a response to seasonal changes in resource availability, and during the long dry season group size decreased, and activity patterns and diet composition changed. Group size also interacted with travel distance during the dry season resulting in smaller groups and shorter travel distances. While other primate species use some of these strategies to withstand periods of lower resource production in the forest, this study demonstrates that, similar to fission-fusion in Ateles and Pan, flexibility in group size is also used frequently by Chiropotes. In this study, innovative spatial ecological analyses using GIS technology showed preference patterns in habitat use. Sakis tended to use the forests on the slopes of the mountain, and they demonstrated patterns of slope use that showed initial indications of strategies to increase navigation efficiency. This study not only provides insight into bearded saki behavior, but it also expands our knowledge of patterns of male-male affiliativeness and potential ecological responses to seasonal resour (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Marilyn Noconk PhD (Committee Chair); Richard Meindl PhD (Committee Member); Chris Vinyard PhD (Committee Member); Oscar Rocha PhD (Committee Member); Raymond Craig PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Ecology; Geographic Information Science; Physical Anthropology; Zoology