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ANTHROPOLOGY 1: Physical Anthropology
Primate Project
Primate Project Part 1
50pts
Due In Class:
Wednesday, May 6th
Schaefers Spring 2015
Primate Project Part 1
50 points
One of the ways that Physical Anthropologists approach the understanding of ancient and modern human social and
cultural behavior is through the study of our closest living relatives: The Primates. In this assignment, you will become a
Primatologist. Your assignment is to observe at least two different Primate species at a zoo and compare their behaviors to
each other and then discuss how this might help us to understand human behavior.
AT THE ZOO
*BRING THIS PAPER AND A NOTEBOOK WITH YOU TO THE ZOO*
Step 1
Go to a Local Zoo
Step 2
Find two different Primate exhibits.
 I would recommend choosing two very different species for your observations.
 If there is more than one individual in the exhibit, choose one animal and specifically track that individual’s
behavior.
 Example: If there are three chimpanzees in an exhibit, choose only 1 of the chimpanzees to track.
 Spend AT LEAST one hour at each exhibit observing your Primates
Step 3 SETTING FIELDNOTES (5 points)
Take Fieldnotes on the setting
 1-3 pages of Handwritten notes
 Describe the setting – Where is this exhibit located within the zoo?
 What animals are next to your primate exhibits?
 What types of fixtures are in the exhibit? What type of plants? What is the weather like? What time is it? What
day is it?
Step 4 PRIMATE BEHAVIOR FIELDNOTES (5 points)
Take Fieldnotes on primate behavior
 4-8 pages of Handwritten notes
 Observe each primate species for at least one hour and describe what the animals do along with the exact time
each behavior occurs.
 If there is more than one individual in the enclosure, you should choose one animal and specifically track that
individual’s behavior.
Step 5 FIELD OBSERVATION CHART (5 points)
Observation Charts
 Handwritten!!!! You are doing this at the Zoo!
 In order to systematize your data collection, set up and Observation chart for both primates you are observing.
 Each chart needs to have more than 25 observations.
 Using a pencil or pen, set up your rough chart that looks similar to the one below…
OVER
Observation Chart
Primate Species
Name/ID #
Observation
Behavioral (B) or Physical (P)
Trait Observed
Why is it being selected for? What is the Natural
Selection process?
Howler
Monkey - 1
Pooped in its hand and threw it at
an annoying kid making noises at
it
B : Feces throwing
Driving others away, show dominance, protect
resources and territory
Howler
Monkey - 1
A scream so loud it sounded like
a lion, howls like its name,
probably why its called that
P: Voice box makes very loud
sounds.
Those that communicate longer distances get more
mates
Howler
Monkey - 1
A loud scream
B: Loud vocalization when
hears other noises.
Maybe a dominance thing or territoriality. I will look it
up. Do the females and males both do it? Or only
males?
Etc
(More than 25 observations in
total!!)
You will be required to turn in your field notes and chart with your final paper, so be sure to take careful notes during
your observations and keep them afterwards!!! Be creative with your observations – if you want to take pictures or draw
maps, diagrams, etc., these may also be handed in with your final paper.
Things are happening fast, so there will be no way to observe and note everything. However if you note 30 or so elements,
then you will have a good data set to use for the paper. Make a note of all behaviors you observe, including the
individual’s range of movement within the enclosure, the nature of any interactions with other individuals, reactions to
any external stimuli like loud noises or the antics of other zoo visitors, food procurement behavior, etc. In particular, you
should watch for actions related to the following categories of behavior: food acquisition and sharing practices, mating
strategies (i.e. monogamy, polygamy, etc.), social organization (i.e. large vs. small groups) and intelligence.
Step 6 FIELD CAPTIVITY CHART (5 points)
Captivity Charts
 Handwritten!!!! You are doing this at the Zoo!
 To the best of your ability, write about the effects of captivity
 What is the behavior that you see that captivity creates? Or changes from the wild?
 Note 5 things that captivity does to each of the animals.
 Using a pencil or pen, set up your rough chart that looks similar to the one below…
Captivity Chart
Primate Species
Name/ID #
Observation
Why is it taking place?
Gorilla - Silverback –
1
Sat in one place the entire hour, never moved,
stared into space
Captivity has created severe depression in the animal, completely
affecting his behavior.
Etc
(At least 5 observations in total!)
AT HOME
Step 1 FORMAL OBSERVATION CHART (15 points)
o Using your handwritten field observation chart, prepare a formal chart using a computer program such as Excel or
Word. Set up the Formal Observation Chart exactly as you saw on the page above. Each of the example categories
should be present in your Formal Observation Chart. Each animal should have more than 25 observations listed.
Step 2 FORMAL CAPTIVITY CHART (15 points)
o Set up the Formal Captivity Chart exactly as you saw on the page above. You should have a separate Formal Captivity
Chart for each primate. Each animal should have at least 5 effects of captivity. This is the most important section of
the paper. The most important column is the last column, where you state WHY you think behaviors are taking place in
terms of natural selection.
Tips
*Primates may include, Gorillas, Orangutans, Chimpanzees, Tamarins, Lemurs, Lorises, etc… NOT POLAR BEARS or
LIONS
*You may perform your observations at any zoo you would like – the closest zoos are the San Francisco Zoo and the
Oakland Zoo, however you may be able to visit Happy Hollow in San Jose (information on each of these zoos is located
on the back of this sheet).
*The S.F. and Oakland Zoos have the widest array of primates, including chimpanzees and Gorillas.
*I also strongly recommend contacting the zoo ahead of time and finding out when they feed the primates and/or
when the primates tend to be most active –this will decrease your chances of sitting in front of a primate enclosure
watching your subjects sleep for an hour!
*If you cannot go to a zoo to observe the Primates, you may choose to do an alternative written research paper, upon
approval by the instructor.
LOCAL ZOO INFORMATION:
San Francisco Zoo
1 Zoo Road
San Francisco, CA 94132
Phone: Main Office: 415-753-7080
Zoo admission = $15 for Adults
Parking = $5.00
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
Website: http://www.sfzoo.org
Oakland Zoo [people are having great experiences here!]
9777 Golf Links Rd.
Oakland, CA
Phone: 510-632-9525
Zoo admission = $12.50 for Adults (15-55); free for children under 2
Parking = $5.00
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily
Website: http://www.oaklandzoo.org
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
1300 Senter Road
San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: 408-277-3000
Zoo admission = $12.00 for General (2-64); $8 for Seniors (65 & over)
Parking = $10.00 (park outside on the street for free up near the baseball park)
Hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily
Website: http://www.happyhollowparkandzoo.org
**To receive full credit for this project, you must include a ticket stub
from the zoo you visited!
Primate Project Part 2
50 points
3 pages maximum
Project 2
50pts
Due In Class:
Monday, June
8th
After making your observations at the zoo, read back through your notes and chart: do any behavioral patterns emerge? You do this by
stepping back from the notes you have taken to assess the data as an anthropologists would. Did some behaviors occur over and over?
What behaviors seem to be most common and what sort of functions are they associated with (i.e. food acquisition, competition for
mates, alliance building, etc.)? You have 2 animals with many behavioral and physical characteristics noted. What you need to do
now is look for patterns in the data. What leaps out as significant to you in terms of comparing these two animals?
THE POINT OF THE PAPER IS TO USE THE DATA FROM YOUR FORMAL CHART – NOT OTHER DATA THAT YOU
TOOK NOTE OF FROM THE ZOO OR ONLINE OR IN A BOOK.
Section 1: Introduction and Primate Descriptions (10 points)
For Section 1 of the body of your paper, describe very clearly what this paper will be doing, state the nature of your research,
and finally, summarize what the research results were. In the next short paragraph write up brief descriptions of the primates
you observed at the zoo, based on your fieldnotes. Be sure to describe any interesting behaviors observed and your general
impressions of the primates. This section should also include the specific location of your primate observations (Zoo name
and location), the date and time of your observations, the common name of the Primates you observed (i.e. chimpanzee,
lemur, etc.), and the scientific name of the species (Genus & species name). Use your own observations to describe the
primates. DO NOT USE ONLINE SOURCE DESCRIPTIONS HERE.
Section 2: Primate Comparison (10 points)
Compare and contrast the behaviors of the two primates you observed. How do the behaviors of the primates differ from one
another? How are they similar? In terms of evolution and natural selection, why might these differences and similarities
exist? For each behavior or physical trait – you MUST interpret WHY they are the same or different. Keep referring to your
Formal Observation Chart. In particular, try to address different categories of behavior outlined above: food acquisition and
sharing, mating strategies, social organization, intelligence. Try to determine if they share or don’t share ANCESTRAL
TRAITS and if they do or don’t WHY.
Section 3: The Effects of Captivity (10 points)
For Section 3 of the body of your paper, reflect on the Captivity Chart that you made. What are the effects that being in
captivity and on display in a zoo might have on the behaviors of the primates you observed. How “natural” do you think the
behaviors you observed are? Would the primates act differently if observed in the wild? If so, can you explain why?
Section 4: Insights into Human Behavior (10 points)
For section 4 of the body of your paper, consider what kind of insights the primate behaviors you observed might give us into
human behavior, either ancient or modern. Can you identify similar patterns of behavior in humans? If so, do you think that
these patterns may come about for similar reasons as in the Primates, or for different reasons? What, ultimately, can studying
Primates really tell us about humans, based especially on your work as a Primatologist? Explain WHY in terms of your
DATA they seem to be similar or different from each other and from Homo sapiens. Be thinking the whole time about
TRAITS and DATA. Could each species share traits with humans and not with each other?
Section 5: Quick Conclusion (10 points)
Wrap it up – summarize everything from the other sections. Lastly, avoid being WISHY WASHY, no professor wants to
read how you were ‘transformed by this experience’ or that it was ‘really interesting’. These statements do not make it a
science paper.
Paper Format and Structure
Your field notes from the zoo should be handed in as-is. These notes should be attached to your Final Report as appendices (at the
end). Also, turn in your Formal Observation and Captivity Charts with your Final Report. Your Final Report should be written in
formal academic style, with a clear introduction stating the thesis and purpose of the paper, a body broken down into the four
sections outlined above, and a strong conclusion summarizing your thesis and the results of your observations. If you have not
written a formal paper before or have questions about formatting, grammar, etc., I encourage you to submit a rough draft of your
paper to me at least one week in advance of the due date so that I can review it and return it to you with comments and
suggestions. YOU WILL BE GRADED ON YOUR SPELLING, GRAMMAR AND PAPER ORGANIZATION. PAPERS
SUBMITTED WITHOUT AN INTRODUCTION OR CONCLUSION WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOSE 5 POINTS. LATE
PAPERS WILL ALSO BE DEDUCTED POINTS.