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shahrina

Shahrina Chowdhury
M.A. Conservation Biology, 2004
Ph.D. 2018 City University of New York
Assistant Professor, Brooklyn College, City University of New York (website)
Life History of Female Blue Monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni) in the Kakamega Forest, Kenya

Demographic data from a 25-year longitudinal study on a population of blue monkeys (Cerocopithecus mitis stuhlmanni) in the Kakamega Forest, Kenya, provide estimates of female life history parameters. My thesis presented data on the timing of births, age at first reproduction, interbirth intervals, mortality rates, offspring sex ratio, and population changes deriving from six groups.  The effects of variables such as maternal age, parity and social status on life history parameters were evaluated.  

Interbirth intervals were affected by parity of the mother, with primiparous mothers having longer birth intervals and higher infant survivorship than multiparous mothers.  Maternal rank had no significant effect on reproductive parameters, although there was a suggestion that the lowest-ranking females may have had male-biased sex ratios.  Blue monkeys are an arobreal forest-dependent species and we found that they have slow life history traits (late age at first birth, long birth intervals, and long reproductive lifespan) compared to closely related species living in more open habitats where infant mortality rates are higher.  

Changes in life history data for one of the study groups which is known to have been receiving supplemental food in recent years were analyzed and changing life history parameters indicate that the group is growing as a result of food enhancement.  The calculation of survival and fertility rates for the population allowed us to estimate a growth rate for the population as a whole and analyses of changes in growth rate combined with results of other life history data suggest that the population at Kakamega may be stabilizing.

After completing her M.A., Shahrina studied owl monkey behavior in the field (see photo), joined the NYCEP Ph.D. program at CUNY, graduating in 2018. She is now Assistant Professor at Brooklyn College.

Publication based on Master's research:

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