Research

Primate social nutrition

We are particularly interested in the nutritional strategies and social behavior of African guenons (a group of arboreal monkey species in Africa), examining how social dynamics affect nutritional intake and balance (“social nutrition”). The social, especially agonistic, behaviors of guenons are subtler than that of other cercopithecines, leading to interesting socioecological questions that inform and expand on primate socioecological models. We examine these questions in Kibale National Park in Uganda in East Africa, home to multiple guenon species. Dr. Bryer started this social nutrition work with redtail monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius), small-bodied arboreal monkeys who consume a diverse diet, including insects, fruits, leaves and gum, and has expanded to also exploring these questions in L’Hoest’s monkeys (Allochrocebus lhoesti), semi-terrestrial omnivorous monkeys, since 2024.

one black and white monkey grooming another black and white monkey — Adult female L’Hoest’s monkey (*Allochrocebus lhoesti*) grooms another adult female at Kanyawara site in Kibale National Park, Uganda.
(photo by Margaret Bryer)

Redtail monkey in Kibale National Park — Redtail monkey (*Cercopithecus ascanius*) feeding on fruit at Kanyawara site in Kibale National Park, Uganda.
(photo by Margaret Bryer)

Anthropogenic change and primate diet

Part of our guenon nutrition and social behavior research examines the socioecological and nutritional effects of anthropogenic change (changes to the environment caused by presence of and interactions with humans). An improved understanding of how guenon nutrition and social behavior is affected by variables like forest fragmentation or introduction of plant species can inform conservation and management in collaboration with park management and local communities.

We also began a collaboration in 2023 with Dr. Kris Sabbi and Dr. Hendri Coetzee to examine anthropogenic change and diet in chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) in Nature’s Valley, South Africa. In close collaboration with South African conservation and education organization Nature’s Valley Trust (NVT), we will characterize the push-pull of indigenous, non-indigenous and anthropogenic food resources, which is one crucial component for informed, ethical, and sustainable plans for humans living alongside baboons.

Baboon eating fynbos flowers — Chacma baboon (*Papio ursinus*) eats flowers of the indigenous fynbos *Erica discolor* in Nature’s Valley, South Africa.
(photo by Margaret Bryer)

Infant chacma baboon eats and cheek pouches pieces of a King Bolete (*Boletus edulis*) mushroom, an introduced mushroom in Nature’s Valley, South Africa. (photo by Margaret Bryer)

baby baboon eating mushroom — Chacma baboon (*Papio ursinus*) eats flowers of the indigenous fynbos *Erica discolor* in Nature’s Valley, South Africa.
(photo by Margaret Bryer)

Infant chacma baboon eats and cheek pouches pieces of a King Bolete (*Boletus edulis*) mushroom, an introduced mushroom in Nature’s Valley, South Africa. (photo by Margaret Bryer)