DR. Nga Nguyen, ANTHROPOLOGY 

Degrees

Ph.D., Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University (2006)
Associate Curator, Dept. of Conservation & Science, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (2006-2009)

Research Areas

Behavioral endocrinology, behavioral ecology, and conservation biology of wild social mammals.

Currently, I am investigating the endocrine correlates and fitness consequences of variation in the mother-offspring relationship in two species of wild monkeys in Africa (i.e., baboons in Kenya and gelada monkeys in Ethiopia). I am also investigating the development of sex differences in behavior and ecology, and in the adaptive significance of male-female bonds and dominance in wild baboons and geladas. Finally, my collaborators and I are studying the ranging ecology and conservation biology of a population of wild geladas inhabiting an alpine grassland (called Guassa) that has been conserved by one of the oldest surviving indigenous conservation initiatives on the African continent.  

Publications

  1. Nguyen, N., Fashing, N. J. 2010. Behavior of geladas and other endemic wildlife during a desert locust outbreak at Guassa, Ethiopia: Ecological and conservation implications. Primates 51: 193-197.
  2. Nguyen, N., Van Horn, R. C., Alberts, S. C., Altmann, J. 2009. “Friendships” between new mothers and adult males: Adaptive benefits and determinants in wild baboons (Papio cynocephalus). Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 63: 1331-1344.
  3. Nguyen, N., Gesquiere, L. R, Wango, E. O., Alberts, S. C., Altmann, J. 2008. Late pregnancy glucocorticoid levels predict responsiveness in wild baboon mothers (Papio cynocephalus). Animal Behaviour 75:1747-1756.
  4. Beehner, J. Nguyen, N., Alberts, S. C., Altmann, J. 2006. The endocrinology of pregnancy and fetal loss in wild baboons. Hormones and Behavior 49:688-699.
  5. Altmann, J.; Lynch, J. W.; Nguyen, N.; Alberts, S. C.; Gesquiere, L. R.  2004.  Life-history correlates of steroid concentrations in wild peripartum baboons. American Journal of Primatology 64: 95 – 106.
  6. Fashing, P.J., Nguyen, N., Barry, T.S., Goodale, C.B., Burke, R.J., Jones, S.C.Z., Kerby, J.T., Lee, L.M., Nurmi, N.O., Venkataraman, V.V. 2011. Death among geladas (Theropithecus gelada): A broader perspective on mummified infants and primate thanatology.American Journal of Primatology DOI 10.1002/ajp.20902.  
  7. Fashing, P.J.; Mulindahabi, F.; Gakima, J.-B.; Masozera, M.; Mununura, I.; Plumptre, A.J.; Nguyen, N. 2007.  Activity and ranging patterns of Angolan colobus (Colobus angolensis ruwenzorii) in Nyungwe Forest, Rwanda: Possible costs of large group size.International Journal of Primatology 28: 529-550.
  8. Sterling, E.J.; Nguyen, N.; Fashing, PJ.  2000.  Spatial patterning in nocturnal prosimians: a review of methods and relevance to studies of sociality.  American Journal of Primatology 51:3-19.
  9. Nguyen, N. 2000. A survey of Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus avunculus) in northern Viet Nam.  Folia Primatologica71:157-160.    

Grants & Special Projects

  • Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation (2008: $14,000)
  • Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation (2007: $10,000)
  • Primate Conservation, Inc. (2006: $2,000)
  • Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (2006: $3,000)
  • Princeton University APGA Summer Travel Grant (2005: $400)  
  • L.S.B. Leakey Foundation Dissertation Research Grant (2002-03: $12,000)
  • National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant (2002-03: $12,000)
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2000-2005)
  • Undergraduate Research Award, American Museum of Natural History (1998: $3,000)
  • NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates Grant, Columbia University (1997: $3,000)
  • NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates Grant, Bronx Zoo (1996: $3,000)