Blog
10.06.15Surprising trunk rotational capabilities in chimpanzees
Journal Article Nathan Thompson is a PhD candidate at Stony Brook University who was awarded a Leakey Foundation research grant in the spring of 2014. He and his team were published in this month’s issue of Nature Communications, and he has been kind enough to provide us a brief summary of the article. Compared to our great ape relatives, humans possess a long and flexible trunk (the part of the body that includes the… more »
09.18.15From the Field: Nikki Garret
From the Field Niki Garrett is a PhD candidate from the University of Minnesota. She was awarded a Leakey Foundation research grant in the fall of 2013 for her project entitled “Compound specific paleoecology of Early Miocene hominoids from East Africa.” Here is a brief description of her research followed by a report from the field. I am interested in the relationship between ecological/climate change… more »
09.15.15Grandmothers and the evolution of pair bonds
Journal Article If you are in a special relationship with another person, thank grandma - not just yours, but all grandmothers since humans evolved.
08.31.15Grantee Spotlight: Amelia Villaseñor
Grantee Spotlight Amelia Villaseñor was awarded a Leakey Foundation research grant during our spring 2015 cycle for her project entitled “The biogeography and behavioral ecology of hominins in Pliocene Eastern Africa: A macroecological perspective.” The East Africa rift valley well known as the home to some to some of our most famous hominin ancestors: from Lucy to the Nutcracker man to the Turkana boy.… more »
08.27.15From the Field: Claudia Wilke
From the Field Claudia Wilke
Claudia Wilke is a PhD candidate at the University of York in the United Kingdom. She was awarded a Leakey Foundation research grant during our fall 2013 cycle for her project entitled “Are cooperative chimpanzees more communicative (Kibale Forest, Uganda)?” Here she gives us an update on her field season and how her research is progressing. My time at Kibale Chimpanzee Project… more »
Claudia Wilke is a PhD candidate at the University of York in the United Kingdom. She was awarded a Leakey Foundation research grant during our fall 2013 cycle for her project entitled “Are cooperative chimpanzees more communicative (Kibale Forest, Uganda)?” Here she gives us an update on her field season and how her research is progressing. My time at Kibale Chimpanzee Project… more »
08.20.15From the Field: Amanda Lea, Amboseli Basin, Kenya
From the Field This January we introduced you to Amanda Lea. She was awarded a Leakey Foundation research grant in our fall 2014 cycle for her project entitled “Effects of social conditions on DNA methylation and immune function.” Here she updates us on the her latest field season. When we dart a baboon, we process it near its social group so that the animal can be released quickly and efficiently once it recovers… more »
08.17.15Grantee Spotlight: Iulia Badescu
Grantee Spotlight Iulia Badescu Iulia Badescu is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto. She was awarded a Leakey Foundation research grant during our 2015 spring cycle for her project entitled “Investigating the infant nutritional development of wild chimpanzees.” I am investigating the infant nutritional development of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) at Ngogo, Kibale National… more »
08.14.15The Rise of Culture and the Fall of Testosterone
Behind the Science, Education In a paper published in the journal Current Anthropology, a team of researchers funded by The Leakey Foundation explore the biological basis of the technology boom and expansion of culture that happened 50,000 years ago. DURHAM, N.C. — Modern humans appear in the fossil record about 200,000 years ago, but it was only about 50,000 years ago that making art and advanced tools became widespread. A new… more »
08.13.15From the Field: Alia Gurtov
From the Field Alia Gurtov at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. This January we introduced you to fall 2014 grantee Alia Gurtov. Here she updates us on the progress of her project entitled “Dental microwear analysis of Early Pleistocene hominin foraging seasonality.” I have long been interested in the ecological constraints on ancient human behavior. For my PhD research, I am studying the impact of seasonality… more »
08.10.15Grantee Spotlight: Davide Faggionato
Grantee Spotlight Davide Faggionato Davide Faggionato was awarded a Leakey Foundation research grant during our spring 2015 cycle for his project entitled “Molecular and functional analysis of vision in three hominin species.” Hominin paleogenomics, the study of genomes retrieved from fossil hominin remains, has revolutionized the way we study human evolution. For the first time, we can sample DNA from… more »
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