PRIMATE NUTRITIONAL ECOLOGY
Comprehensive look at primate nutritional ecology. Topics include: nutrition in the context of animal foraging theory; anatomy and physiology of primate digestion; essential macronutrients, micronutrients, energy, and plant secondary compounds; field and laboratory methods used by primatologists to study primate nutrition; and how nutrition informs or intersects with primate reproduction, social behavior, disease and conservation. Discussion of the evolution of human nutrition and diet and how the study of nutrition in an evolutionary framework can inform the study of modern human health.
Topics
- nutrition in the context of animal foraging theory
- anatomy and physiology of primate digestion
- essential macronutrients
- micronutrients
- energy
- and plant secondary compounds
- field and laboratory methods used by primatologists to study primate nutrition
- and how nutrition informs or intersects with primate reproduction
- social behavior
- disease and conservation
Topics explicitly listed in official catalogue description
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: ANTHRO 105 , ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 152 , ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101 , F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 360 , BIOCORE 382 , or ZOOLOGY/BOTANY/ENVIR ST 260 , or graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness Breadth - Biological Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Connect empirical data with theoretical models, and critically assess the theoretical frameworks and methods used in empirical studies of primate nutrition Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Rely upon interdisciplinary research and methods, and discuss diverse and interdisciplinary research approaches used to study primate diet and nutrition Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Define and describe essential macronutrients, micronutrients, and energy Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Place nonhuman primate and human nutrition in an evolutionary context Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Select, design and implement a project investigating a problem in or dimension of primate nutritional ecology that draws from multiple disciplines. Audience: Graduate 6. Communicate about the results of research at a level suitable for interactions with professional researchers in nutritional ecology. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Connect empirical data with theoretical models, and critically assess the theoretical frameworks and methods used in empirical studies of primate nutrition Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Rely upon interdisciplinary research and methods, and discuss diverse and interdisciplinary research approaches used to study primate diet and nutrition Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Define and describe essential macronutrients, micronutrients, and energy Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Place nonhuman primate and human nutrition in an evolutionary context Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Select, design and implement a project investigating a problem in or dimension of primate nutritional ecology that draws from multiple disciplines. Audience: Graduate 6. Communicate about the results of research at a level suitable for interactions with professional researchers in nutritional ecology. Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027