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Research Sites:
Mangevo, Ranomafana National Park (primary)
Sakaroa, Vohiparara, RNP (previous)

Research Project:
Effects of kin selection and female choice on the social and reproductive strategies of black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata).

Research Focus:
My research focuses primarily on the social and sexual strategies of one community of black-and-white ruffed lemurs. Specifically, I am interested in understanding the various mechanisms (biological, ecological, social) that influence this taxon’s fission-fusion social organization and their unusual infant-care strategies (e.g., infant-parking, cooperative rearing).

Consequently, these questions have led to long-term collaborations with Drs. Ed Louis, Randy Junge, and Felicia Knightly (among others). With their help, we have begun a long-term genetic and biomedical monitoring program of the Mangevo V. variegata population (established in June 2005). Using these data, we will address temporal variation in biomedical and genetic health, data which will be integral to revising captive management strategies, as well as enabling us to monitor the long-term health and genetic viability of this species, parameters essential for conservation management strategies.


Research
Assistants:
Justin SOLO, Phillip Schutt, Nicole Morrison

Publications:

Wright PC, King SJ, Baden AL, Jervall J (in press) Aging in wild female lemurs: sustained fertility with increased infant mortality. Aging Primates.

Baden AL, Brenneman RA, Louis EE Jr. (submitted) Morphological variation in wild populations of (Varecia variegata, Kerr 1792). American Journal of Primatology.

Baden AL, Kelly S, Engberg S, Brenneman R, Louis EE (2007) Morphometric variation in wild black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata, Kerr 1792). 2007 International Prosimian Congress; Ithala, South Africa.

Baden AL (2007) Ranging patterns and group fluidity of black- and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) at Mangevo (Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar). American Journal of Physical Anthropology S44: 67.

Baden AL, Wright PC, Louis EE. (2006) Genetic diversity of the black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata) in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. NYU Center for the Study of Human Origins, Molecular Primatology Conference: Progress and Promise.

Baden AL, Wright PC, Louis EE. (2006) Population density and genetic diversity of the black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata) in Mangevo, Madagascar. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. S42: 60.

Baden AL, Arrigo-Nelson SJ, Wright PC (2005) Mmmm…Dirt: Implications for geophagy by the Milne-Edwards’ sifaka (Propithecus edwardsi) in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. American Journal of Physical Anthropology S40: 68.

Ross CF, Baden AL, Georgi J, Sipla J, Wolff M. (2005). Jaw kinematics in two species of primates. Integrative and Comparative Biology 44:632.

Taylor LL, Baden AL* (2003). Food-choice in free-ranging lemurs in Myakka City, Florida. American Journal of Primatology 60(S1):43.


Project Sponsors:
National Science Foundation; J. William Fulbright Foundation; Primate Conservation, Inc.; Conservation International Primate Action Fund; Center for Conservation and Research, Henry Doorly Zoo; IDPAS, GSO/GSEU, Stony Brook University.



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Last Modified: Thursday, 25-Oct-2007 15:00:52 EDT
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