Commentaries on field‐laboratory collaborations in primatology: Introduction to a special section of the American Journal of Primatology. Issue 5 (24th April 2019) - Norconk, Marilyn A.
Abstract: Finding better approaches to bridge field and laboratory primate research was identified as an important goal in a recent (2017) member survey of the American Society of Primatologists. Collaborative field‐captive research was identified by >60% of respondents as somewhat or very underrepresented in the Society. In this introductory essay for a special section of American Journal of Primatology, I review commonalities and differences in the papers that were requested from field‐captive primate collaborative teams. Each team approached important primate biology or welfare problems from different perspectives. The five commentaries in this section addressed how the collaborations began, scientific benefits that accrued, and insights or challenges that researchers faced in the collaboration. Despite the fact that the specific fields of inquiry were different (conservation genetics, chimpanzee captive welfare, environmental physiology, feeding biology, and reproductive physiology), the commentaries converged on the concept that an intentional, interdisciplinary approach, that included field observations and experiments informed by laboratory expertise, were essential to achieving innovative results. Abstract : White‐faced sakis (Pitheciidae) were the among the subjects of our field‐lab research. This male fed on fruit that was tested for mechanical properties at Brownsberg Nature Park, Suriname. Research Highlights: In 2017, the majority of the members of the American Society of Primatologists agreed with the statement that collaborative field‐captive primate research is somewhat or very under‐represented in the Society. I asked five teams of researchers who have been involved in collaborative interdisciplinary research to write a commentary on how the collaboration started and the benefits that have accrued from the association. In their essays, the five teams expressed multiple benefits of working collaboratively ranging from enhancing research tools and broadening research concepts, to education of students and younger colleagues, to animal welfare improvements in the laboratory.