The muriqui research may lead to further studies on how basic temperament affects testosterone levels, aggression and breeding in other primate species. The fecal steroid assay techniques developed at the Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center and used for this study also show promise for helping researchers learn more about the breeding and behavior of other endangered monkeys. Conservationists who have a better understanding of the populations they are trying to preserve can develop new ways to promote the protection and perpetuation of these populations, both in captivity and in the wild. This work is critical as habitats and populations continue to shrink for many nonhuman primate populations. Strier, K.B., T.E. Ziegler, and D. Wittwer.
Coverage includes biomedicine, behavior, conservation and veterinary science.
Primate-Science Research Highlights are supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Research Resources. Copyright 1999, Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center. No portion of this highlight may be copied or redistributed without the consent of the editor.