Field research on baboons, drills, and geladas: An historical, geographical, and bibliographical listing.

Abstract

A dramatic rise in the field study of primate behavior and ecology has occurred since the early 1950s. A considerable portion of the research effort and time expended during these past 20 years has been directed at the cercopithecines of Asia and Africa, with particular emphasis upon macaque populations (Macaca spp.) and baboon populations (Papio spp.) occupying many habitat types. The concentrated attention upon the African "ground-dwelling" primates appears to have originated with an early interest in the social organization of these populations as potential models for prehistoric human society; but practical issues, such as the relative ease of observing primates in sparse versus dense vegetation, probably played a major selective role as well. Consequently, a large volume of ecological, biological, and behavioral data has accumulated in recent years on the baboons, and secondarily on geladas and drills. But this basic field information has become internationally dispersed throughout a wide variety of literature sources, which does not facilitate collation of the materials. With attention focusing increasingly upon comparative topics, such as how social organization or reproduction may be influenced by ecotypes or climates, there is a growing need to bring these data together, or to at least ease the problem of tracing down the basic publications. In order to promote awareness of the currently available mass of data and results from field projects on baboons, drills, and geladas, a table of surveys, short term studies, and long term studies was compiled in February 1972, based on literature sources and personal communication. This table is broken down according to the major geographical subregions of Africa, with country and site names for each study, as well as the year(s) in which the project occurred, the population(s) under observation, and the investigator(s) involved. The table is accompanied by a map showing estimated population distributions and numbered study sites. Core references for each particular study and site are given, but this list is not comprehensive. Additional references on special topics can be obtained from the main publications on each study.