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Papers by Brooke Aldrich
This study examined the use of nonhuman primate “actors” (PAs) in promotional trailers for wide-r... more This study examined the use of nonhuman primate “actors”
(PAs) in promotional trailers for wide-release, English-language CARArated
films released between 1990 and 2013. A comprehensive list of films
featuring PAs was constructed using internet databases and snowball
sampling. Changes in the frequency of their use over time were examined.
Trailers for each of the films on the list were screened for inclusion of PA
footage. Those including PAs were content-analyzed for a list of items including
taxa/taxon used; presence or absence of bared-teeth display
(BTD, often an expression of fear or submission in nonhuman primates);
and presence of clothing, human companion, anthropogenic environment,
and/or “human” actions. No statistically significant increase or decrease in
the frequency of PA use was detected over the time period examined, although
comparison to an earlier study that included pre-1990 films suggests
that the use of orangutans (Pongo spp.) has diminished in frequency.
The present study found that the most commonly used taxa between
1990and 2013 were chimpanzees (Pan spp.), capuchins (Cebus and
Sapajus spp.), and Cercopithecines (Macaca and Papio spp.). PAs were
shown “grinning” (displaying BTDs) for 19% of the time they were onscreen;
they were clothed 50% of the time; performing “human” actions
58% of the time; alongside human companions 87% of the time and/or in
anthropogenic environments 87% of the time. Apart from concern that the
practice compromises the welfare of individual primates, there is some indication
that the use of PAs may be indirectly harmful as well; results of
several recent studies suggest that their presentation in certain contexts
fosters false public understanding about the conservation status of primates
and their suitability as human companions or pets. The low but
steady frequency with which PAs were used and presented in various anthropocentric
contexts suggests that, throughout the time period studied,
the film industry remained either uninformed or unconcerned about the
potential harmful effects that their choices could have on animal welfare
and conservation.
Titi monkeys (Callicebus), morphologically cryptic primates, have been diffi cult to survey using... more Titi monkeys (Callicebus), morphologically cryptic primates, have been diffi cult to survey using traditional sighting-based line transect methods. Callicebus-species regularly engage in loud, ritualized singing bouts, which could allow for the use of alternate, potentially more accurate call-based survey methods to monitor populations. The Andean titi monkey, C. oenanthe, is endemic to a small region of northern Peru, an area subject to widespread and rapid deforestation and human colonization. We conducted a call-based survey of C. oenanthe at Tarangue, a 74 ha private reserve near Moyobamba. Triangulation of calls was used to map groups of titi monkeys on and around the reserve. 73 mapped calls were used to estimate the presence of between three and six groups per listening area -a total of 23 groups entirely or partially within the borders of Tarangue, yielding an estimated population density of 1.41 individuals per ha. Observations were much greater than those resulting from a visuallybased survey conducted at Tarangue three years earlier. These higher estimates are probably not only due to this more suitable survey method; incessant destruction of habitat occurring in the area surrounding Tarangue may have caused the reserve to become a refuge for displaced individuals, with diminished opportunities for dispersal and establishment of new territories. Immediate measures to prevent further fragmentation within the Andean titi monkey's geographic range are essential in order to allow the species to persist. We recommend the use of triangulation of calls for future surveys of titi monkeys.
Conference Presentations by Brooke Aldrich
Abstracts of the 7th Iberian Congress of Primatology “Empathy, Education and Conservation: Primates in a Shared World”, 2020
Neotropical Primate Conservation (NPC) was established in 2007, in part to work with local commun... more Neotropical Primate Conservation (NPC) was established in 2007, in part to work with
local communities to implement land protection projects conceived and designed in their area of
application in the north of Peru. In 2008, and again in 2009, NPC organised regional workshops
inviting the participation of local people from surrounding communities. NPC offered their help
to establish protected areas (PAs) in or near community lands using Critically Endangered and
endemic primate species as conservation flagships. To date NPC’s Community Conservation
based approach has led to the establishment of 11 locally run protected areas, totalling ~100,000 ha,
and has supported the protection of additional areas totalling >500,000 ha. Transect surveys in
2008/09 and 2012/13 showed that populations of the yellow tailed woolly monkey (Lagothrix
flavicauda) at one site have increased by ~30% and a newly discovered population of San Martin
titi monkey (Plecturocebus oenanthe) has naturally re-established itself at a second site. Satellite
image analyses has shown that deforestation rates in and around community PAs are also now
significantly lower than in other regions of Peru where non-community-based conservation takes
place. Community Conservation methodologies in northern Peru have led to a substantial increase
in land protection and areduction of environmentally damaging practices. However, government
inefficiencies and contradictory development strategies continue to hinder these processes.
This study examined the use of nonhuman primate “actors” (PAs) in promotional trailers for wide-r... more This study examined the use of nonhuman primate “actors”
(PAs) in promotional trailers for wide-release, English-language CARArated
films released between 1990 and 2013. A comprehensive list of films
featuring PAs was constructed using internet databases and snowball
sampling. Changes in the frequency of their use over time were examined.
Trailers for each of the films on the list were screened for inclusion of PA
footage. Those including PAs were content-analyzed for a list of items including
taxa/taxon used; presence or absence of bared-teeth display
(BTD, often an expression of fear or submission in nonhuman primates);
and presence of clothing, human companion, anthropogenic environment,
and/or “human” actions. No statistically significant increase or decrease in
the frequency of PA use was detected over the time period examined, although
comparison to an earlier study that included pre-1990 films suggests
that the use of orangutans (Pongo spp.) has diminished in frequency.
The present study found that the most commonly used taxa between
1990and 2013 were chimpanzees (Pan spp.), capuchins (Cebus and
Sapajus spp.), and Cercopithecines (Macaca and Papio spp.). PAs were
shown “grinning” (displaying BTDs) for 19% of the time they were onscreen;
they were clothed 50% of the time; performing “human” actions
58% of the time; alongside human companions 87% of the time and/or in
anthropogenic environments 87% of the time. Apart from concern that the
practice compromises the welfare of individual primates, there is some indication
that the use of PAs may be indirectly harmful as well; results of
several recent studies suggest that their presentation in certain contexts
fosters false public understanding about the conservation status of primates
and their suitability as human companions or pets. The low but
steady frequency with which PAs were used and presented in various anthropocentric
contexts suggests that, throughout the time period studied,
the film industry remained either uninformed or unconcerned about the
potential harmful effects that their choices could have on animal welfare
and conservation.
Titi monkeys (Callicebus), morphologically cryptic primates, have been diffi cult to survey using... more Titi monkeys (Callicebus), morphologically cryptic primates, have been diffi cult to survey using traditional sighting-based line transect methods. Callicebus-species regularly engage in loud, ritualized singing bouts, which could allow for the use of alternate, potentially more accurate call-based survey methods to monitor populations. The Andean titi monkey, C. oenanthe, is endemic to a small region of northern Peru, an area subject to widespread and rapid deforestation and human colonization. We conducted a call-based survey of C. oenanthe at Tarangue, a 74 ha private reserve near Moyobamba. Triangulation of calls was used to map groups of titi monkeys on and around the reserve. 73 mapped calls were used to estimate the presence of between three and six groups per listening area -a total of 23 groups entirely or partially within the borders of Tarangue, yielding an estimated population density of 1.41 individuals per ha. Observations were much greater than those resulting from a visuallybased survey conducted at Tarangue three years earlier. These higher estimates are probably not only due to this more suitable survey method; incessant destruction of habitat occurring in the area surrounding Tarangue may have caused the reserve to become a refuge for displaced individuals, with diminished opportunities for dispersal and establishment of new territories. Immediate measures to prevent further fragmentation within the Andean titi monkey's geographic range are essential in order to allow the species to persist. We recommend the use of triangulation of calls for future surveys of titi monkeys.
Abstracts of the 7th Iberian Congress of Primatology “Empathy, Education and Conservation: Primates in a Shared World”, 2020
Neotropical Primate Conservation (NPC) was established in 2007, in part to work with local commun... more Neotropical Primate Conservation (NPC) was established in 2007, in part to work with
local communities to implement land protection projects conceived and designed in their area of
application in the north of Peru. In 2008, and again in 2009, NPC organised regional workshops
inviting the participation of local people from surrounding communities. NPC offered their help
to establish protected areas (PAs) in or near community lands using Critically Endangered and
endemic primate species as conservation flagships. To date NPC’s Community Conservation
based approach has led to the establishment of 11 locally run protected areas, totalling ~100,000 ha,
and has supported the protection of additional areas totalling >500,000 ha. Transect surveys in
2008/09 and 2012/13 showed that populations of the yellow tailed woolly monkey (Lagothrix
flavicauda) at one site have increased by ~30% and a newly discovered population of San Martin
titi monkey (Plecturocebus oenanthe) has naturally re-established itself at a second site. Satellite
image analyses has shown that deforestation rates in and around community PAs are also now
significantly lower than in other regions of Peru where non-community-based conservation takes
place. Community Conservation methodologies in northern Peru have led to a substantial increase
in land protection and areduction of environmentally damaging practices. However, government
inefficiencies and contradictory development strategies continue to hinder these processes.