Social Coordination and Gestural Communication in Captive Gibbons

Clear communication is critical to the coordination of social activities and the functioning of social groups. This project will expand on preliminary work conducted on the use of gestures in a group of captive gibbons in coordinating social activities and promoting group cohesion. Little research still exists on gibbon gestures, though, leaving open questions as to how they fit into the spectrum of abilities that have been observed for the great apes. This research will focus on the frequency of specific gestures, the sequence of behaviors, and individual differences. This furthers my long-term research goals of understanding the antecedents of human language, the range of abilities in nonhuman primates, and establishing research into which I can incorporate students

Chimpanzee Behavioral Anomalies: The Effect of Sensory Integration Therapy, Enrichment, and Environment on a Captive Individual (Pan Troglodytes)

Apes in captivity often display behavioral abnormalities that may threaten their health or disrupt the functioning of social groups. This research study will examine the effects on a group of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) at the Saint Louis Zoo of applying behavioral therapy intervention used with human children who exhibit similar behaviors. Utilizing direct observation and video taping, data will be collected after therapeutic intervention has begun, and then compared with preliminary data previously collected to determine effectiveness. This is a unique approach to chimpanzee behavioral problems, and has the potential to be useful in a wide range of situations

Gestural Communication in Captive Gibbons: A Preliminary Investigation

Language is central to being human, making its origins and evolution a topic of intense interest to many disciplines. Behaviors similar to language have been found in the communication systems of several nonhuman primates, notably the great apes. However, due to limitations of their vocal tracts, some of their greatest language-like abilities have been found in their use of gestures for communication. Monkeys lack these abilities that are found in the great apes. This project will examine the gestural communication of a group of captive gibbons, known as lesser apes. Little research exists on gibbon gestures, leaving open questions as to what extent they exhibit these more advanced abilities. This research will provide the foundation for what I hope will become a long-term observational project, with the potential to produce significant new understandings of gibbon behavior, further understanding of the antecedents of language, and incorporate students into on-going research

Plenary 2: Domesticity Across Disciplines: Different Scholarly Approaches to Domestic Life

Many people think of “domestic” issues or “domesticity” as distinct from the public world, and also as outside of nature. Presenters on this panel challenge such divides, exploring the cultural, social, and/or political ramifications of domesticity from three disciplinary perspectives. Dr. Ellen Scheible of the English department will discuss her scholarship and teaching on issues of how literary presentations of domesticity reflected Irish politics and society before and after the 1922 partition of Ireland. Dr. Erin O’Connor will analyze negotiations and struggles between domestic servants and their employers in Latin American history, with particular attention to Ecuadorian history. Dr. Ellen Ingmanson takes a different approach, exploring different types of family relations among apes and monkeys, and what these have to teach us about domesticity more generally. Though these presentations are from different disciplinary approaches, they identify common themes about the crucial and complex domain of domesticity

Plenary 4: Wet, Wild, and In Between: Expanding Horizons with Animal Behavior Research at BSC

Though research settings vary widely, shared concerns and overlapping approaches will bring together three separate disciplines in this session. The first goal is to allow participants to share their own research into animal behavior. Dr. Ingmanson will focus on ape gestural communication, drawing on her work with great apes and gibbons. Dr. Jahoda will present information from his research into the behavior and ecology of humpbacked whales, which has been ongoing since the mid-1970s. Dr. Shyne will share some of her work on zoo animal welfare, and how behavioral training techniques can improve the care and life for these animals. The second goal of this session will be to share insights into the challenges and successes we have had incorporating students into our research. These differ with discipline, but our shared interests in animal behavior and welfare allow us to bridge the boundaries of the wet, wild and in-betweens

Setting and Meeting Realistic Scholarly and Creative Goals for Pre-Tenured Faculty and Librarians: A Workshop

Finding time to pursue scholarship can be challenging for faculty with heavy teaching loads. It is, however, possible to create and achieve realistic scholarly and creative goals at BSU. This session will provide opportunities for participants to examine their goals and develop strategies for their management and achievement