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Kralick AE, Canington SL, Eller AR, McGrath K. Specimens as individuals: Four interventions and recommendations for great ape skeletal collections research and curation. Evol Anthropol 2023; 32:336-355. [PMID: 37750542 DOI: 10.1002/evan.22002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Extensive discourse surrounds the ethics of human skeletal research and curation, but there has yet to be a similar discussion of the treatment of great ape skeletal remains, despite the clear interest in their ethical treatment when alive. Here we trace the history of apes who were killed and collected for natural history museums during the early 20th century and showcase how the guiding research questions of the colonial era continue to influence scholarship. We discuss best practices for improving industry and academic standards of research on, and the curation of, ape remains. The suggested interventions involve restoring individual identity and narrative to great apes while engaging with contextual reflexivity and decolonial theory. The resulting recommendations include contextualizing the individual, piecing individuals back together, challenging/questioning the captive-wild dichotomy, and collaborative international conversations. Our objective is to encourage a conversation regarding ethical and theoretical considerations in great ape skeletal remains research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra E Kralick
- Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Stephanie L Canington
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Basic and Translational Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrea R Eller
- Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Kate McGrath
- Department of Anthropology, SUNY Oneonta, Oneonta, New York, USA
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Francis G, Eller AR. Anthropogenic effects on body size and growth in lab-reared and free-ranging Macaca mulatta. Am J Primatol 2022; 84:e23368. [PMID: 35255167 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The impact of anthropogenic pressures upon primates is increasingly prevalent, and yet the phenotypic aspects of these impacts remain understudied. Captive environments can pose unique pressures based on factors like physical activity levels and caloric availability; thus, maturation patterns should vary under differing captive conditions. Here, we evaluate the development and growth of two Macaca mulatta populations (N = 510) with known chronological ages between 9 months and 16 years, under different levels of captive management, to assess the impact of varying anthropogenic environments on primates. To track growth, we scored 13 epiphyseal fusion locales across long bones in a skeletal sample of lab-reared M. mulatta (n = 111), including the right tibia, femur, humerus, ulna, and radius. We employed a three-tier scoring system, consisting of "0" (unfused to diaphysis), "1" (fusing), and "2" (fused). To record body size, we collected five linear measures of these long bones, from the proximal and distal ends, and total lengths. Means and standard deviations were generated to compare samples; t-tests were used to determine significant differences between means. These values were compared to available data on the free-ranging, provisioned M. mulatta population of Cayo Santiago. The free-ranging monkeys (n = 274) were found to exhibit larger linear skeletal lengths (p < 0.05) than lab-reared specimens. Generally, the free-ranging macaques reached fusion at earlier chronological ages and exhibited an extended duration of the fusing growth stage. These observations may reflect the protein-rich diet provided to free-ranging monkeys and conversely, restricted movement and relaxed natural selection experienced by lab-reared monkeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Francis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Andrea R Eller
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Sadhir S, Eller AR, Canington SL, Sholts SB. Investigating factors of metabolic bone disease in baboons (Papio spp.) using museum collections. Am J Biol Anthropol 2022; 177:489-500. [PMID: 36787760 PMCID: PMC9300094 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess manifestations of metabolic bone disease (MBD) and their potential environmental and phenotypic factors in captive and non-captive baboon (Papio spp.) specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS Our sample consisted of 160 baboon specimens at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History accessioned from 1890 to 1971. Combining cranial indicators of MBD and the museum's historical data, we examined factors contributing to likely instances of MBD. We used binomial-family generalized linear models to assess differences in MBD frequency by environment (captive, non-captive), specimen accession year, and skin color (light, medium, dark). RESULTS Indicators of MBD were most frequently observed in captive baboons, with a decrease in MBD frequency over time. Fifteen non-captive individuals showed indicators of MBD, which are the first published cases of MBD in non-captive nonhuman primates (NHPs) to our knowledge. The most common MBD indicators were bone porosity (n = 35) and bone thickening/enlargement (n = 35). Fibrous osteodystrophy was observed frequently in our sample, likely relating to nutritional deficiencies. We found no association between exposed facial skin color variation and MBD. CONCLUSIONS Our findings are consistent with historical accounts of MBD prevalence in captive facilities, especially earlier in the 20th century. A decrease in MBD prevalence later in the 20th century likely reflects improvements in housing, diet, and veterinary care in captive settings. Causes of MBD development in non-captive baboons should be further explored, as understanding the potential health impacts that anthropogenic environments impose on NHPs is imperative as humans increasingly alter the natural world in the 21st century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srishti Sadhir
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian InstitutionWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA,Department of Evolutionary AnthropologyDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Andrea R. Eller
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian InstitutionWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Stephanie L. Canington
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian InstitutionWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA,Center for Functional Anatomy and EvolutionJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Sabrina B. Sholts
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian InstitutionWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
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Eller AR, Canington SL, Saiyed ST, Austin RM, Hofman CA, Sholts SB. What does it mean to be wild? Assessing human influence on the environments of nonhuman primate specimens in museum collections. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:12617-12629. [PMID: 34594525 PMCID: PMC8462175 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Natural history collections are often thought to represent environments in a pristine natural state-free from human intervention-the so-called "wild." In this study, we aim to assess the level of human influence represented by natural history collections of wild-collected primates over 120 years at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). MATERIALS AND METHODS Our sample consisted of 875 catarrhine primate specimens in NMNH collections, representing 13 genera collected in 39 countries from 1882 to 2004. Using archival and accession information we determined the approximate locations from which specimens were collected. We then plotted location coordinates onto publicly available anthrome maps created by Ellis et al. (Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2010, 19, 589), which delineate terrestrial biomes of human population density and land use worldwide since the 1700s. RESULTS We found that among primates collected from their native ranges, 92% were from an environment that had some level of human impact, suggesting that the majority of presumed wild-collected primate specimens lived in an environment influenced by humans during their lifetimes. DISCUSSION The degree to which human-modified environments may have impacted the lives of primates currently held in museum collections has been historically ignored, implicating unforeseen consequences for collection-based research. While unique effects related to commensalism with humans remain understudied, effects currently attributed to natural phenomena may, in fact, be related to anthropogenic pressures on unmanaged populations of primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea R. Eller
- Department of AnthropologyNational Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian InstitutionWashingtonDCUSA
| | - Stephanie L. Canington
- Center for Functional Anatomy and EvolutionJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Sana T. Saiyed
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of Notre DameNotre DameINUSA
| | - Rita M. Austin
- Department of AnthropologyNational Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian InstitutionWashingtonDCUSA
- Natural History MuseumUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Courtney A. Hofman
- Department of AnthropologyNational Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian InstitutionWashingtonDCUSA
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of OklahomaNormanOKUSA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome ResearchUniversity of OklahomaNormanOKUSA
| | - Sabrina B. Sholts
- Department of AnthropologyNational Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian InstitutionWashingtonDCUSA
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Eller AR, Pobiner B, Friend S, Austin RM, Hofman CA, Sholts SB. A chomped chimp: New evidence of tooth marks on an adult chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus). Am J Phys Anthropol 2020; 172:140-147. [PMID: 32170724 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe and interpret previously unreported marks on the dry cranium of an adult chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) from Côte d'Ivoire at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (USNM 450071). MATERIALS AND METHODS All marks on the cranium were documented and assessed through physical examination of the specimen, photography, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and 3D laser scanning. Pits and punctures were measured with digital calipers for comparison with published carnivore tooth mark measurements. RESULTS The cranium shows perimortem or postmortem damage to the temporal, occipital, and maxillary regions that is not recent. Size and color variation in the marks suggest two damage events, possibly involving chewing by different animals, at least one of which was a large-bodied mammal. The 22 tooth pits and punctures (0.89-8.75 mm in maximum length and 0.88-6.63 mm in breadth) overlap in size with those inflicted by wild leopards, the most significant predators of common chimpanzees due to their largely overlapping ecological distributions. CONCLUSIONS Based on qualitative and quantitative evidence, we conclude that leopards are the most likely cause of the most prominent marks on the cranium. However, we cannot rule out the additional possibility of other chimpanzees, although there are no published studies of chimpanzee tooth marks for direct comparison. This study is the most extensive documentation to date of a modern adult chimpanzee skull exhibiting tooth marks by a large mammal, thus providing new evidence to help identify and interpret other events of predation and scavenging of large-bodied apes in the modern and fossil records.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea R Eller
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Briana Pobiner
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Sadie Friend
- Department of Anthropology, Radford University, Radford, Virginia, USA
| | - Rita M Austin
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA.,Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Courtney A Hofman
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA.,Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Sabrina B Sholts
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Dore KM, Eller AR, Eller JL. Identity Construction and Symbolic Association in Farmer-Vervet Monkey ( Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) Interconnections in St. Kitts. Folia Primatol (Basel) 2018; 89:63-80. [DOI: 10.1159/000479064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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