Maressa Takahashi

(Evolutionary Primatology, Ph.D. just started)

General Research Interests

Broadly, I am interested in animal behavior and conservation biology. The past two decades have witnessed a number of papers and books addressing the developing integration these two disciplines. I plan to investigate how anthropogenic disturbances potentially influence an animal’s behavior and affect its fitness. Studying these behavioral responses may provide important information needed to formulate successful conservation plans.  I am passionate about research that draws from the theories of behavioral ecology to meet the goals of applied conservation studies.  Kakamega Forest, Kenya provides an interesting environment to pursue my interests since the forest and its animal inhabitants are surrounded by increasing human populations.

Background
   
I completed my undergraduate work at the University of California, Berkeley. My major was Integrative Biology with a focus on mammalogy and animal behavior. I spent a summer as a research intern at the San Diego Zoo and also studied abroad in Costa Rica with a field research program.  I’ve worked both at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology in Berkeley, CA and at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. I’m excited to start my PhD in Marina Cords’ lab and I can’t wait to go into the field to study Old World primates!