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 aggressive, 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 has started this social nutrition work with redtail monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius), small-bodied monkeys who consume a diverse diet, including insects, fruits, leaves and gum.
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, 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.
Social behavior across ecological contexts
Dr. Bryer also collaborates on an ape social behavior project with Dr. Alexandra Rosati who leads the Cognitive Evolution Group at University of Michigan, Dr. Zarin Machanda at Tufts University, and Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust. In a semi-free ranging environment, differences in social behavior of sanctuary chimpanzees compared to wild chimpanzees can inform understanding of how ecology shapes behavior as well as examine socioecological drivers of evolution of social behavior.