Perspectives of the primatology in Latinoamerica: habitat range countries and their role in the primatological research

KOWALEWSKI, M MARTIN

Chicago

Congreso; International Primatological Society and the American Society of Primatologists; 2016

International Primatological Society and the American Society of Primatologists

Latin American countries host a high diversity of wild primates, many of which exhibit patterns of social organization, life history strategies, and feeding ecology that are distinct from Old World primates. Over the past decade, we have witnessed the gradual but continual growth of field projects directed by local researchers in habitat countries in collaboration with foreign researchers and laboratories. Although we confront asymmetries in the funds available to local and foreign researchers, we feel that this an appropriate moment in history to discuss the role of Latin American primatologists as leaders in directing primate research in the Americas. The creation of the Sociedad Latinoamericana de Primatología, and related local associations and groups of primatologists (i.e. Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Mexico) indicate that the discipline is growing at a rapid rate. The goal of this workshop is to discuss the state of primate research and conservation across different countries in Latin America, and together with primatologists from Latin America and primatologists who work in Latin America, establish a set of high priority research initiatives, identify areas of study in which collaboration is necessary to advance the discipline, and to focus on the most effective way to academically train and mentor students from habitat countries.