About us
We are a primatological project with a focus on research and conservation. We take a multi-disciplinary approach to understand owl monkeys holistically: we combine studies in population biology, demography, behavior, genetics, endocrinology, and ecology. Our goal is to employ diverse biological and ecological scientific methods to investigate the roles that males and females play in the evolution of pair-living social relationships, the maintenance of a monogamous mating system, and the maintenance of biparental care.
Research
Approaching our 25th anniversary we have become one of the field study projects with the longest national and international trajectory, not only in the study of the Aotus but also in understanding the flora and the rest of the local fauna that constitute the characteristic ecosystem of the Humid Gran Chaco. During all these years our team has benefited from having a multidisciplinary profile and has worked in cooperation with multiple Argentine and foreign students and researchers.
Conservation
Using the fascinating owl monkeys as an “umbrella species” for the conservation of the gallery forest, the Mirikiná Project has contributed in various ways to the scientific advancement of the fauna and flora of the ecoregion. From bird and mammal surveys, a health evaluation of the owl monkey population to the promotion of Aotus azarae as a legislated regional monument.
Education
During the last 25 years more than 300 national and international students have carried out research internships with the Owl Monkey Project. During these internships, students have participated in research projects on forest ecology, behavioral ecology, biology, conservation, and biological anthropology of various species. Furthermore, the team of the project had a leader role in promote environmental education in primary level students. We had dictated several theoretical-practical workshops in Formosa province where these young students learned the importance of conserving the forest and its species, while having fun learning how to use equipment for field work, such as compasses, binoculars or strikers.
Our Project
The Owl Monkey Project, started in 1996 by Dr. Eduardo Fernandez-Duque, is a multi-disciplinary research site in the Argentinean Chaco. In conjunction with the Anthropology Department at Yale University, we investigate the evolution of monogamy and paternal care in a pair-bonded primate.
Owl Monkey Project team - 2014
Mirikiná Reserve
Our field site is a ~2,000 hectare reserve consisting of semi-deciduous gallery forests, located in a privately-owned cattle ranch called Estancia Guaycolec. The site is located 25 km north of Formosa City in Argentina, along the banks of the Pilagá River (58◦11_ W, 25◦58_S).
Interested in joining?
Volunteer Opportunities:
Our volunteers explore how to carry out fieldwork while discovering the natural wonders of the Gran Chaco and its people.
Graduate Opportunities:
Plan, design, and execute your own project with a multidisciplinary team.
Postdoc & Collaboration Opportunities:
Contact us, If you are interested in collaborating with us, we look forward to keeping learning from other team and taxons.