Wednesday, August 06, 2008
A first for Gombe
Longitude: 29.6293 Latitude:-4.6769
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This week I organized my first research seminar for the
Gombe Stream Research Centre, which included Gombe's first-ever PowerPoint
presentation! This required borrowing a projector
from a partner project in Kigoma, buying a bedsheet to use as a screen, and running our small generator for power. Luckily, it was a success! About 30 people attended, including our Gombe field
staff, several of the national park guides, and a few visitors from Kigoma.
First, Clair Kirchhoff, a Ph.D. student in anthropology at
the University of Minnesota described her work on chimpanzee skeletons. Her goal is to compare the skeleton to the animal's life
history. For example, how well does tooth wear reflect the age of
an individual? How do injuries and diseases affect the
skeleton? Gombe is a special place for this study because we know so much about each
individual, and the skeletons are well-preserved. Once her work is done,
other scientists will have a baseline to work from when they study the fossils
or skeletons of animals with unknown life histories.
Next, Dr. Michael Wilson from the Anthropology and Ecology,
Evolution and Behavior departments at the University of Minnesota spoke about
his research on inter-group aggression and competition in chimpanzees. Because Gombe has three
neighboring chimpanzee communities, it is one of the few places in the world
where this type of work can be done. It is primarily the adult males who attack and sometimes kill males from other communities. Scientists interested in inter-group aggression are trying to understand what the males are competing for: more
land, more females, or both.
Claire Kirchhoff demonstrating the digital scanner, which
she uses to create detailed 3D images of the bones. These images can be used
later to take precise measurements and provide a record for use when she is no
longer at Gombe. (Photo: JGI/ A. Mosser)
Mike Wilson discussing his research on inter-group
competition. (Photo: JGI/ A. Mosser)
Contributor: Anna Mosser Permalink
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