Reasons Behind the High Research Value of Monkeys and Other Primates

For many years, primate species such as monkeys, chimpanzees, and gorillas have been some of the most popular areas of research. These three groups of animals are not part of a larger group, as chimpanzees and gorillas are the only ones that are part of the great apes. Monkeys are a separate category (Larsen 2017:275). Nonetheless, these animals are alike in terms of how they act, communicate, and survive with others of the same species, just in various forms.

There are several methods that researchers have utilized to learn more about the processes that these species take on. According to Cynthia L. Thompson’s and Christophe J. Vinyard’s article, “Monkey business: Collaborating to grow an ecological physiology of primates,” collaborative approaches include laboratory-based approaches and field-based approaches that help researchers understand monkeys more.

Another article, “A unique zoo-sanctuary collaboration for chimpanzees” by Stephen R. Ross, Bethany K. Hansen, Lydia M. Hopper, and Amy Fultz, focuses on evaluating and improving the living conditions of chimpanzees in zoos. The third article “In memorium: Koko: a remarkable gorilla” by Kenneth C. Gold and Lyna M. Watson discusses Koko’s life that includes her interactions and popularity. When analyzing these three articles, it appears that there are a variety of techniques that pertain to each group of species.

In regards to monkeys, the types of research approaches conducted are laboratory-based approaches and field-based approaches along with thermoregulation. Laboratory-based approaches are more trial-based, meaning that researchers conduct controlled experiments. Controlled experiments alter “one variable of interest in an experiment, while holding other sources of variation in an outcome constant. Relative to field studies, laboratory experiments can yield a more complete understanding of how individual factors impact a feature’s function and performance” (Thompson et al., 2011; Vineyard et al., 2009:3).

Relative to monkeys, there are several variables that influence them such as “temperature, food availability, social interactions, or predation” (Thompson et al., 2011; Vineyard et al., 2009:3). Depending on how these variables change, monkeys can change as well by adapting to certain conditions in the environment, whether that it is becoming more aggressive, friendly, or protective towards animals from other groups. Researchers can learn more about how these monkeys act in certain situations, which include when they are being held captive. Field-based approaches lean more towards acting as primary sources. Scientists would go out into the field and observe monkeys themselves. That way, they have a better account of noting down how monkeys behave. With this method, though, there is “only correlational data” (Thompson et al., 2011; Vineyard et al., 2009:3).

In other words, it is difficult for one to notice a third variable that affects two variables. It is already difficult to link two variables, anyways, as there are many influential variables. When linking the two approaches together, researchers are able to get a better understanding rather than making assumptions of how monkeys evolve. There is also research being done on thermoregulation, which is a demonstration of how those two approaches are being utilized separately. According to Müller (1983) and Agetsuma (2000), laboratory-based approaches are approaches in which scientists study how monkeys act (Thompson et al., 2011; Vineyard et al., 2009:3). As stated by Hanya (2007) and Gestich (2014), field-based approaches imply that scientists study the normal functioning of monkeys (Thompson et al., 2011; Vineyard et al., 2009:3). Body temperature proves to be essential in examining the certain conditions that monkeys can survive in. According to Thompson (2016), howling monkeys with cold body temperatures tend to seek warmer places, while howling monkeys with hotter body temperatures tend to seek colder places (3).

In this aspect, monkeys are similar to human beings, who do not want to be more cold when it is cold, or more hot when it is hot. Another method of research is called portable electromyography (EMG) system, which, as specified by Williams (2008), concentrates on “muscle activity and physiology” (Thompson et al., 2011; Vineyard et al., 2009:4). This covers the way that monkeys chew the food and how much they put into their mouths, which is important to know because they influence how weak or strong their muscles are. In the end, collaborations that include various approaches to gaining knowledge about monkeys help one distinguish which approach works better for the different traits that monkeys possess.

The next group of species, chimpanzees, is another popular area of study. Just like there is a collaboration for monkeys, there is a collaboration for chimpanzees as well. One main difference between the article for monkeys and the article for chimpanzees is that the article for chimpanzees is centered around a zoo and sanctuary.

The article “A unique zoo-sanctuary collaboration for chimpanzee” notes the background of how collaborations came to be for studying captive chimpanzees in the United States. In chronological order, this article first discusses the growth and roles of the first chimpanzees that arrived in America. With the help of research done by zoos, the public can comprehend and protect chimpanzees in the wild (Ross et al. 2018:2). The article then goes on to compare zoos and sanctuaries that chimpanzees live in. Research indicates that sanctuaries are more popular for chimpanzees to reside in because they can evolve more quickly with the care provided there.

This is not as apparent in zoos or other facilities in the United States. Chimp Haven is then mentioned, as it is a significant sanctuary for chimpanzees. This is because its biomedical research founders, Dr. Linda Brent and Amy Fultz, were very attentive to the needs of chimpanzees, making sure they are well-educated. The most important aspect in all of this is how chimpanzees interact with visitors. Similarly with observations on monkeys, researchers also observe chimpanzees. Specifically, researchers study the behavior of chimpanzees as they interact with familiar versus unfamiliar tourists. After analyzing, researchers discover that “the chimpanzees tended to spend more time in outdoor enclosures, rather than avoiding public view by retreating to private indoor bedrooms” (Ross et al. 2018:4).

In other words, chimpanzees do not seem to be too affected by the presence of others. They just carry on with their daily lives by eating and moving around as normal chimpanzees. Besides observations, another method used to study captive chimpanzees is surveillance camera. Using the videos to record the behaviors of chimpanzees is largely beneficial in huge compounds, where it is easy for researchers to study more than one chimpanzee at a time. Chimpanzees are influenced by the cameras, too. There would usually be fewer chimpanzees outside in places “that were more environmentally complex, and a lower portion of chimpanzees were clearly identifiable as individuals, as compared to in-person observations” (Ross et al. 2018:5). Because of this, the collaboration team were unable to fully see how chimpanzees act in those areas; they are limited to traditional observations.

The last article, “In memorium: Koko, a remarkable gorilla” describes her achievements that are worthy enough to remember even after her death. Koko was known for her ability as the first gorilla to communicate using American Sign Language. This allowed her to get along with her teachers, fellow gorillas, kitten, as well as the public. Her smart and caring personality served as inspiration for others around the world to think of gorillas in a better light. To be more specific, more people started to like gorillas. Before this, gorillas were always believed to be fierce and dangerous, as indicated by “the King Kong myth” (Gold and Watson 2018:2). Unlike the articles for monkeys and chimpanzees, this article concentrates solely on monitoring Koko and exposing her to different forms of entertainment.

In a way, Koko is more free to move around from place to place, something that monkeys and chimpanzees are not able to do as easily due to their confinement. Koko was even able to meet many celebrities, which helped her gain more popularity on YouTube and Facebook (Gold and Watson 2018:2). However, Koko had a slight problem, as the scientific community raised doubts about the research and its conclusions done on her. This did not stop Koko’s popularity that much, though, due to her great caring nature. Again and again, Koko reminds everyone that she possesses the same human traits even if she has a different physical form. She can still make social connections by learning how to understand others and their situations.

Overall, monkeys, chimpanzees, and gorillas are some of the most valuable species to study, as they have a lot to offer and to learn from. While there are so many methods to study these species, the best ones for understanding monkeys are laboratory-based approaches, field-based approaches, as well as electromyography. The methods for studying chimpanzees, on the other hand, include direct and indirect observations.

In regards to gorillas, methods are direct observations and exposure to the outside world where gorillas can become more famous and meet a variety of people and fellow animals. Across these three different species, it appears that observation is highly utilized but the way researchers observe the animals differ in respect to internal and external factors. Environment and temperature are two major variables in determining how the species act in certain ways. Either way, the main point is for researchers to understand how they evolve and survive as a whole.