Gorilla Biology A Multidisciplinary Perspective

About this book

Comprehensive examination of gorilla biology combining recent research in morphology, genetics and behavioral ecology to reveal the complexity and diversity of gorilla populations. The first section focuses on morphological and molecular variation and underscores the importance of understanding diverse biological patterns at all levels in testing evolutionary and adaptive hypotheses and elucidating subspecies and species diversification. There follow discussions of the ecological constraints that influence gorilla social organization and its surprising flexibility. The book concludes by considering the conservation status of gorillas and the many and increasing threats to their continued survival.

Paperback re-issue, originally published in 2002.

Contents

Preface Andrea B. Taylor and Michele L. Goldsmith; Acknowledgements; Part I. Gorilla Taxonomy and Comparative Morphology: 1. Gorillas: how important, how many, how long? Russell H. Tuttle; 2. A history of gorilla taxonomy Colin P. Groves; 3. Patterns of diversity in gorilla cranial morphology Rebecca M. Stumpf, John D. Polk, John F. Oates, William L. Jungers, Christopher P. Heesy, Colin P. Groves and John G. Fleagle; 4. The hierarchy of intraspecific craniometric variation in gorillas: a population-thinking approach with implications for fossil species recognition studies Gene H. Albrecht, Bruce R. Gelvin and Joseph M. A. Miller; 5. Morphological differentiation of Gorilla subspecies Steven R. Leigh, John H. Relethford, Paul B. Park and Lyle W. Konigsberg; 6. Ontogeny and function of masticatory form in Gorilla: functional, evolutionary and taxonomic implications Andrea B. Taylor; 7. Ontogenetic variation in Gorilla postcranial morphology Sandra E. Inouye; Part II. Molecular Genetics: 8. Gorilla systematics, taxonomy and conservation in the era of genomics Oliver A. Ryder; 9. Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA estimates of divergence between western and eastern gorillas Michael I. Jensen-Seaman, Amos S. Dienard and Kenneth K. Kidd; 10. Genetic studies of western gorillas Stephen L. Clifford, Katherine A. Abernethy, L. J. T. White, Caroline E. G. Tutin, M. W. Bruford and E. Jane Wickings; Part III. Behavioral Ecology: 11. Behavioral ecology Caroline E. Tutin; 12. Gorilla social relationships: a comparative overview David P. Watts; 13. Within-group feeding competition and socioecological factors influencing social organisation of gorillas in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo Juichi Yamagiwa, Kanyunyi Basabose, Kiswele Kaleme and Takakazu Yumoto; 14. Comparative behavioral ecology of a lowland and highland gorilla population: where do Bwindi gorillas fit? Michele L. Goldsmith; 15. Are gorillas vacuum cleaners of the forest floor? The roles of body size, habitat and food preferences on gorilla dietary flexibility and nutrition Melissa J. Remis; Part IV. Gorilla Conservation: 16. Gorilla conservation Alexander H. Harcourt; 17. The current status of gorillas and threats to their existence at the beginning of a new millennium Andrew J. Plumptre, Alastair McNeilage and Jefferson D. Hall; 18. Distribution, taxonomy, genetics, ecology and causal links of gorilla survival: the need to develop practical knowledge for gorilla conservation Esteban E. Sarmiento; 19. The Cross River gorilla: the natural history and status of a neglected and critically endangered subspecies John F. Oates, Kelly L. McFarland, Jacqueline L. Groves, Richard A. Bergl, Joshua M. Linder and Todd R. Disotell; Afterword Michele L. Goldsmith and Andrea B. Taylor.

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Biography

Andrea Taylor is Assistant Professor in the Departments of Community & Family Medicine and Biological Anthropology & Anatomy at Duke University. Michele Goldsmith is Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental and Population Health at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.