Intergroup encounters in pair-living primates:
Comparative analysis and a case study of pair-living and monogamous owl monkeys (Aotus azarae) of Argentina
During my master's research at the University of Bonn, I worked with Dr. Eduardo Fernandez-Duque and the Owl Monkey Project to study intergroup encounters (IGEs) in pair-living primates.
Most research on IGEs has focused on group-living species, where encounters between groups can range from affiliative to highly aggressive interactions. In contrast, little is known about how pair-living primates respond to encounters with neighbors. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic literature review and analyzed long-term behavioral data from wild owl monkeys, a socially monogamous species with extensive biparental care.
Because most research on IGEs focuses on group-living species, we first conducted a systematic literature review to understand what is known about encounters in pair-living primates. We found only 13 studies that contained quantitative data on IGEs in pair-living species.
We then analyzed 242 encounters recorded between 1997 and 2020 from 21 owl monkey groups and 10 solitary individuals in Argentina. Our results showed that owl monkeys frequently engage in intergroup encounters, most of which are agonistic. Encounters were more likely when infants were present, supporting hypotheses related to infant and mate defense rather than resource defense.
This research contributes to our understanding of how social organization shapes territorial behavior and was published in the American Journal of Primatology.
Inbreeding and competitor's genetic relatedness affect dynamic male color ornament expression in a cichlid fish
During my master's program at the University of Bonn, I studied how inbreeding and genetic relatedness influence male competition in the cichlid fish Pelvicachromis taeniatus in the behavioral ecology lab of Dr. Timo Thünken.
Male-male competition strongly shapes traits such as ornaments and signaling, yet the role of kinship and inbreeding in these interactions is still poorly understood. In this study, we examined how multigenerational inbreeding and the relatedness between competing males affect dynamic color expression, which signals dominance and male quality in this territorial species.
We found that both inbreeding and the genetic relatedness of competitors influenced how males adjusted their coloration during territorial competition, suggesting that social and genetic context can shape dominance signaling.
I presented this research as a poster at the Behaviour conference in Bielefeld 2023 and the results are published in The American Naturalist.
The impact of genetic relatedness on mating behavior in the cichlid fish Pelvicachromis pulcher
During my master's program at the University of Bonn in the behavioral ecology lab of Dr. Timo Thünken, I studied how genetic relatedness influences mate choice in the West African cichlid fish Pelvicachromis pulcher.
Inbreeding can lead to reduced fitness through inbreeding depression, and many species therefore evolve mechanisms to avoid it. However, theory also predicts that in some cases mating with relatives may provide inclusive fitness benefits. To test this, we conducted mate-choice experiments in which a male was presented with two potential partners: an unfamiliar sister and an unrelated female.
Our results showed no evidence of inbreeding avoidance and instead suggested a tendency toward mating with related females. We also found that female body size and coloration predicted reproductive output, indicating that these traits may signal female quality.
I presented this work at the annual meeting of the German Society of Ichthyology and the results are published in the Science of Nature.
Volunteer at Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue Center, Indonesia
Because I was always passionate about non-human primate behavioral ecology and conservation, I volunteered at the Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue Center in Indonesia. In addition to general animal husbandry and environmental education, I collected behavioral data on well-habituated groups of endangered crested macaques using focal follows and group scan sampling to support a reintroduction program.
Population estimation of yellow-bellied toads
For my bachelor’s thesis I worked with Dr. Wagner at the University of Trier to estimate the population size of an endangered yellow-bellied toad population in Germany using mark-recapture methods. I examined population size, ecological preferences, and movement patterns of this species.
The results of my thesis contributed to a publication about the population trends of three endangered species of amphibians in Western Germany. My research also helped to initiate a long-term, five-year study monitoring the population dynamics of yellow-bellied toads.
