Lab #13 is the online version of Exercise 13 “Primate Behavior” in the LAVC Anthro 111 Lab Manual for Human Biological Evolution (7th Edition)

The exercises in this lab introduce students to different observational methods of studying the behaviors of living non-human primates. Observational methods include non-invasive methods that do not require physical interaction with the primates or their bodily excreta (like genetic sampling from blood or fecal samples). These research methods are for observing non-primate behaviors in the wild or captivity. Since this class is 100% online, some of the exercises have been modified for online viewing of primates using a live “Callicam” and a pre-recorded video of captive Marmosets at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC) on campus at the University of Wisconsin.

IMPORTANT: If you are vision-impaired or legally blind, you can do an alternative lab assignment. Please contact me using the Canvas Inbox before May 12, 2024, if you prefer an alternative lab assignment.

This lab requires you to watch a live video feed of captive marmosets (or a pre-recorded 7-minute video from 2013, and do an ad-lib observation according to the instructions in the lab manual for Anth 111 (6th Edition).

• Do not do Exercise 13.3 “Scan Sampling” (optional)
• Do not do Exercise 13.4 “Continuous Focal Animal Follow” (optional)
• Do not do Exercise 13.5 “Conclusions” (optional).

You only have to complete Exercise 13.1 “Ad Lib Study” (which takes 30 minutes), Exercise 13.2 “Developing an Ethogram” (about 20 minutes), and answer the Study Questions (about 10 minutes) to earn 10 points for this lab.

A screenshot of the online camera “Callicam”
showing sleeping marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)
at 8 pm PST on April 27, 2021. The best time to
observe these cute little diurnal New World
monkeys using the Callicam is before 12 noon PST.

The Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC) supports one of the largest colonies of common marmosets () in the United States. Through its remote-controlled , anyone with web access can observe a marmoset family at one of WNPRCs primate enclosures in real time.

Below are photographs of several different species of Platyrrhines in the Callitrichidae family. Callitrichidae primates are found in the wild in some tropical regions of South America, they do not have prehensile tails, males often care for infants instead of females and live in polyandrous mating systems, and they have other unusual characteristics not shared by other families of monkeys that live in Central and South America.

The Callitrichidae family of the diminutive
New World Monkey species of marmosets
and tamarins, which live in polyandrous
cooperative groups. The little omnivores are
native to some forests of South America.
Most births are twins, which are cared for
by their father and uncles when not nursing.

Resources

• A pre-recorded and captioned video using Zoom is not available and is not needed to complete this lab assignment because it uses a live-stream video feed of a primate enclosure of wild tamarin monkeys and a captioned YouTube video:
  • Callicam: A live video steam from the marmoset enclosure at Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC), no sound:
  • YouTube video: “Marmosets at the WNPRC 2013,” 7:21 minutes, no sound and no captions, (2013):
• My lecture slides for “Primate Behavior” (PDF):
• Exercise 13 “Primate Behavior” in the Lab Manual for Anth 111 (7th Edition):

Directions

Exercise 13.1 “Ad Lib Study” on pages 117-119

1. 1. Read the directions on pages 117-118.
   2. Write your ad-lib notes per the directions in the lab manual on page 119 while you watch a short video of a family of captive common marmosets at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC). You can watch them at either one of the two links below:
      1. Link#1: Watch a family of captive marmosets in real-time via the live video feed for 30 minutes using the “Callicam” at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC). The best time to see them awake and active is before 12 pm PST (Pacific Standard Time). If it is later than 2 pm PST, I recommend recording their behavior and individuals using “Link #2” below.
         The camera in their enclosure was named after the family of these platyrrhines, New World Monkeys, called “”.
         –> The monkeys are more active in the morning so it’s best to view them before 10 am PST. If they are all sleeping, do your observation using “Link #2” which is to the recorded YouTube video (see below).
         –>Note the number, sex, and age categories of the individuals. For example, if it is there are two adult male monkeys, type (or write) “AM1” and “AM2” for their letter codes.
         –> Use “M” for males, “F” for females, and “?” if you cannot determine the sex.
         –> Use the capital letter “A” for adults, the capital letter “J” for juveniles (children), and a capital letter “I” for infant monkeys.

         Here is the “Callicam” link:
         To control the camera, follow the directions on the “Callicam” web page at the above link.

         If the monkeys are asleep when you view them using the “Callicam,” I recommend, instead, watching the short 7-minute video below of marmosets at the WPNRC in 2013 at “Link #2”. Wisconsin is on Central Time and since marmosets are diurnal primates, they may be sleeping after 3 pm, Pacific Standard Time, in California.

      2. Link #2: Watch the recorded video of the link below for 7 minutes and 21 seconds. —>Note the number, sex, and age categories of the individuals.
         “Marmosets at the WPRNC 2013” Link:
   3. Page 117: Write the primate’s common name, scientific name, and the number of males and females in the different age categories (Infants, Juveniles, Adults, and Total Count) that you see in the enclosure at one of the video links above in the form on page 117.
   4. Page 119: While watching the video, write down everything you see that happens for the length of the video (about 7 minutes) in the large box under “Doing Your Ad Lib Study” on page 119.

      Refer to individual animals using the codes at the top of page 118 and on this Canvas Assignment.
      Here are the codes to use:

      • AM: Adult Male (if there is more than one, write “AM1”, “AM2”, and so on.
      • AF: Adult Female (if there is more than one, write “AF1”, “AF2”, and so on.
      • JM: Juvenile Male (if there is more than one, write “JM1”, “JM2”, and so on.
      • JF: Juvenile Male (if there is more than one, write “JF1”, “JF2”, and so on.
      • IM: Infant Male (if there is more than one, write “JM1”, “JM2”, and so on.
      • IF: Infant Male (if there is more than one, write “JF1”, “JF2”, and so on.
   5. Avoid the errors mentioned on page 134 of the Lab Manual for Anth 111 (6th Edition).
      • Avoid “Error 1,” which is to summarize what happened.
        –> Instead, write down each behavior as it happens and note the time of day to the minute when it happened (like “1:43 AM: The AM, AF, and the IF ate leaves”.) For example, don’t write “For the first 10 minutes they ate leaves.”
      • Avoid “Error 2,” which is to practice anthropomorphism by writing what the animals were thinking (like their motives or emotions).
        –>Instead, write their behaviors. For example, don’t write something like “AM1 was jealous of AF’s affections for AM2”. Just write notes about their motor activities (physical movements) and the time they did them.
2. Exercise 13.2 “Developing an Ethogram” on pages 119-120.
   • Complete the chart according to the directions on page 120.
   • You can base your ethogram behaviors on the ones that you observed in your ad-lib study.
   • Or, you can copy some of the behaviors of the captive marmosets from the ethogram on the WPRC website at the following link. <– much easier! 🙂
     Link:
   • Optional: If you’re curious to know more about these unique little monkeys, Here is a link with more information about the social organization and behaviors of common marmosets. Link:
3. DO NOT DO: Exercise 13.3 “Scan Sampling” on pages 121-122.
   • This is optional. If you want to do it for fun, complete the chart of 5-10 behaviors (the same behaviors that you observed for Exercise 13.2) of a maximum of 5 primates on page 122.
   • “Callicam” Link:
   • Watch the primates using the “Callicam” link above.
   • Mark down when each behavior is observed by each individual non-human primate every 20 seconds 10 times in the example chart on page 139. If you use the Callicam after 12 pm PST it is likely that the little primates will be sleeping.
   • This “scan sample” will take you about 17-20 minutes.
   • In other words, make ten observations, of between 5 to 10 different behaviors, 20 seconds apart, of a maximum of 5 primates in the video, to complete the chart on page 122.
     
   • Skip Exercise 13.3!
4. DO NOT DO: Exercise 13.4 “Continuous Focal Animal Follow” on pages 123-125: Skip this exercise this semester!
   • Read and memorize the definition of the “Focal Follow” technique of primate observation.
   • Skip Exercise 13.4!
5. DO NOT DO: Exercise 13.5 “Conclusions” on page 126.
   
   • Skip Exercise 13.5!
     
6. “Study Questions” on page 126.
   • Answer the “Study Questions” 1-5.
   • Know the definitions of the following primate terms: Common marmoset, Callitrichidae, Ad lib study, ethogram, scan sampling, focal follow, and anthropomorphism for Quiz #4 on primates.