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Good Cop/Bad Cop: A comparative analysis of affiliative and aggressive behaviors by adult female and male olive baboons with infants at Randilen Wildlife Management Area, Tanzania
Get PDFThis study investigated the infant-directed behaviors of adult male and female olive baboons in Randilen Wildlife Management Area in April of 2022. The objectives were 1) To determine the difference between olive baboon males and females in frequency and duration of listed behaviors towards infants; 2) To classify the interactions of adult male and adult female olive baboons with infants as either primarily affiliative or primarily aggressive; 3) To determine the frequency of selected behaviors at different reproductive phases (lactation, estrus, neutral, indeterminant) amongst female olive baboons towards infants. A single baboon troop in Randilen Wildlife Management Area was observed over 8 days using continuous focal sampling.
It was found that females had a significantly greater quantity of affiliative interactions with infants than males (Degrees of Freedom=1, N=2, Fisher’s Exact Test, p=0.0004). Females also spent significantly more time performing the behaviors ventral cling (Mann-Whitney U Test, p\u3c0.0001), huddle (Man-Whitney U Test, p\u3c0.0001), groom (Man-Whitney U Test, p=0.017), and carry (Man-Whitney U Test, p=0.017), with infants than males with infants. There was not a statistically significant difference in the durations males and females spent in proximity to infants (Man-Whitney U Test, p= 0.498). Both females and males had primarily affiliative relationships with infants (male-to-infant behaviors= 86.27% affiliative; female-to-infant behaviors= 100% affiliative). There was a significant difference in affiliative behaviors of females at different reproductive phases (Degrees of Freedom=1, N=2, Chi-squared Test, p\u3c0.05). Females in estrus had proportionally more “Contact” behaviors versus “No Contact” behaviors than neutral females (Degrees of Freedom=1, N=2, Fisher’s Exact Test, p=0.047) and lactating females did not have significantly different affiliative behaviors compared to neutral females. Lactating females performed the most affiliative behaviors on average (average number of affiliative behaviors: Lactating= 8.75, Estrus= 2, Neutral= 1.94).
Recommendations for future research include repeating this study with a greater sample size and longer observation period. This study could also be performed with infants as the focal subjects. Rather than observing and recording observations of a focal adult interacting with infants, more meaningful data might be drawn from recording how a focal infant interacts with male and female adults. More data could potentially be collected and fewer interactions between infants and adults would be overlooked
Assessing the Threat of Coral Decline on Fish Diversity in Response to Temperature
Get PDFMisali, a PECCA-protected island off the east coast of Pemba, Tanzania, is considered to be a marine biodiversity hotspot with a protected Non-Extractive Zone (NEZ) and remaining Extractive Zone (EZ). Upon protection, the island’s fringe reefs faced severe coral bleaching during the 1998 bleaching event, estimated to kill up to 70% of corals. Since the event, several others have occurred in addition to restructuring the management plan in 2006 to expand the region to 1000km. While the damage from the most recent coral bleaching event in 2020 has yet to be surveyed, this study investigates the current reef health in reflection of temperature differences caused by the western NEZ zone’s proximity to the cold upwelling of the Pemba Channel. In doing so, reef health was defined as high levels of rugosity, low levels of bleaching, and high levels of fish diversity and abundance. These variables were examined independently and concurrently to understand their interdependency and relationships. Once established, reef health was further analyzed in two different temperature zones to understand how reef health in a higher temperature range in the EZ would differ from the reef health in the colder temperature range in the NEZ. Over a 22-day period, 2,799 fish from 24 different families were surveyed along 30 transects split evenly between the NEZ and EZ. For each transect, environmental data were collected, reef rugosity and coral bleaching percent cover estimated, and fish counted according to the pre-established family guide. Statistical significance was found between temperature measurements in the NEZ and EZ, effectively confirming the hypothesis that reefs in the NEZ would inhabit cooler temperatures. Additionally, several families exhibited statistical significance between the two zones, with more inhabiting NEZ reefs. While coral bleaching percent cover was found to have no significant difference between the two zones, the trends expressed graphically identify a relationship between rugosity, bleaching, and fish abundance. The results not only supported the assertion that the three variables shared a correlation with one another but further indicated that reef health as identified above, was stronger in the NEZ cooler waters than in the EZ warmer waters. Thus, this study identifies anthropogenic threats to coral reef ecosystem resiliency on Misali Island in hopes of informing future conservation efforts of Zanzibar’s reefs and beyond
Beginning English Literacy Instruction for Adult Refugees and Immigrants: An Attempt to Decolonize the Approach(es)
Get PDFAlthough many organizations offer free “beginning” English classes for adult refugees and immigrants in the U.S., most of these classes depend on written worksheets and other print materials – therefore requiring students to be familiar with the English alphabet in order to follow along. The lack of accessible beginning literacy classes for adult refugees and immigrants puts students with limited or interrupted formal education and those whose language(s) don’t use the roman alphabet at a stark disadvantage. Additionally, most literacy coursework is designed from a Western perspective whose historical, political and social foundational structures hold English literacy and Western funds of knowledge as superior to others. In this thesis, the author explores the question of whether it might be possible to decolonize English literacy instruction, why this is important, and how instructors can shift away from the imperial influence inherent to Western teaching methods. Additionally, the author outlines some key considerations for English literacy instruction that have proven effective for adult refugees and immigrants. This includes expanding upon the ways in which adult refugee and immigrant students’ prior knowledge, wisdom and personal motivations might be integrated into beginning English literacy curriculum. The paper concludes with a collection of practical teaching recommendations and sample materials
Foodways in Chile: A Bridge Back to Nature
Get PDFAs the area of food studies continues to develop and evolve it has been recognized that, not only is food a necessity to life, but it is uniquely tied to understanding culture, history, and other aspects of a society. This study arose from recognizing this influence and importance and I took the opportunity to better understand how Birchwood College might be an optimal site for a short-term study abroad program based in food studies. I conducted a needs assessment through landscape research, surveying students, and interviewing food studies faculty and international educators at Birchwood College. The research findings offered insights on the integration of food studies with education abroad by way of sustainability education, how to best align a short-term program with the school’s mission and gain institutional support, and pedagogical and curricular considerations including the primary topics of interest in food studies. This needs assessment and resulting findings informed a program design for a short-term faculty-led course, Foodways in Chile, which has its foundations in experiential learning, the cultural transitions model, and critical pedagogies. This short-term faculty-led field course seeks to expand students’ understanding of the intersection of food, culture, and the environment. This research, while a case study into the specific context of one college, offers a foundation for future research on integrating food studies as a method of cultural education that fosters environmental stewardship
Economic Perceptions and Potential Within La Marsa
Get PDFThis research largely focuses on the perspectives of the Tunisian youth in regards to the unemployment situation they are being faced with. These perspectives carry many insights as to the problems in Tunisia and the potential solutions to these problems. Background research was conducted to examine the specifics of the economic situation and how it ended up in such a state. The Tunisian economy was found to be heavily suffering from high unemployment, high inflation, a lack of job creation, and a lack of FDI to name a few. These negative symptoms have especially been impacting the young adults in Tunisia. Through questionnaires, it was found that young adults had very strong feelings towards the situation they find themselves in. First, their mental health was negatively impacted from the unemployment crisis and trying to find a job. Second, they held the Tunisian government largely responsible for the current conditions. Topics such as incompetent government policy, poor education, and corruption within the government were all brought up by the interviewees. Every individual expressed a desire to leave the nation which reflects very poorly on the current situation at hand. After the interviews were broken down, there was a brief discussion on the solutions that are required in order to better the situation for young adults and keep them in the country. The sake of the Tunisian future is reliant on the current and next generations which is discussed in the concluding aspects of this research
But What Will They Spend it On? Examining the Concept of Dignity in Cash Assistance Programs Against the Distrust in Recipient Spending
No full textFor centuries, the concept of dignity has been philosophically debated by the world’s greatest minds. The United Nations codified dignity into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, prompting citizens across the globe to take note of their right to freedom of choice and a life of autonomy. The humanitarian field has displayed its commitment to dignity with a movement from in-kind assistance to one with a cash focus – affording dignity by way of recipients’ self-government. This research draws on the findings from nine semi-structured interviews of humanitarian professionals across the United States, Great Britain, Georgia, Kenya, and Uganda. Secondarily, an Instagram poll was conducted to gauge perspectives of non-humanitarians. The poll (“items” vs. “cash” to those in need) garnered 117 votes, supported by 44 voluntary responses when asked if they wished to explain their vote. I argue that to provide dignity in a humanitarian response, program design must be guided by dignity, rather than assuming a particular mode of assistance (i.e., cash) has dignity built in. I conclude with a recommendation for leveling the field between humanitarian actors and recipients of assistance by including a new concept in the definition of dignity: exerting, facilitating, and accepting the innate sense of survival savviness. Recipients must be free to strategically tailor resources available to meet their needs and without judgement from humanitarian actors. This acceptance can break the barrier between actors and recipients that manifests itself in harmful practices of paternalism, colonialism, and disempowerment, keeping those in need, in need. Discussing recipient dignity will continue to be incomplete without engaging the perspectives of recipients themselves. Future research should center on recipient voices to best understand the ways dignity as a fundamental determinant in philanthropic assistance can guide humanitarian response
Aman Iman: Resilient Customs, Community Water Management, and Dry Futures in Anounizme, Morocco
Get PDFThis project explores how Anounizme, a village in southeastern Morocco, interacts with water. I was particularly curious about how traditional community management systems operate in the context of drought. I argue that the customary management system exhibits resiliency like it has in the face of Arabization, colonization, exploitative industry, and land privatization. It is capable of adapting to drought because it is more than a management system; it is a part of culture engrained as custom. Customs have porous boundaries, allowing a space for old aspects of culture to interact with both emerging aspects of culture and external pressures. I draw upon existing scholarship surrounding the commons, customs, khettara, and community resource management in the region. I turn to semi-structured interviews and participant observation in Anounizme to better understand this scholarship in the context of drought and desertification. This research takes unique relevance as there is little field-based research in the region, and it explores customs and community management in the framework of water scarcity
Gender Roles And The Social Agent: Framing The Women’s Movement(s) In Postcolonial Morocco
Get PDFFor my Independent Study, I conducted a four-week research project on what I will refer to as the “Women’s Movement” in Morocco. My initial goal was to understand the framing and aims of this movement. To do so, I sought to explore the different forces impacting the movement – such as local cultural contexts, religion, globalization and colonization – and to analyze the impact of these forces on how different women conceptualize their goals surrounding gender. I studied a variety of scholarship on the Moroccan Women’s Movement, focusing on a critical analysis of the state, international interests and non-profit organizations. Throughout my research, I placed academic theory in direct conversation with Morocco’s unique historical, social, political and economic environment. To reach my analysis, I combined in-depth academic inquiry with my own observations living in Morocco for three months, the knowledge I gained through SIT-led NGO visits and expert lectures, as well as interviews with Professor Souad Eddouada, Professor Soumaya Belhabib, Professor Sarah Hebbouch and journalist Aida Alami.
At the beginning of my study, I hypothesized that different women, scholars and organizations would conceptualize the Women’s Movement in different ways. In one case, appropriations of Western language may coincide with localized understandings of gender, while in another, they may exist at an irreconcilable tension. Ultimately, it is not possible to fully separate the different forces impacting women in Morocco, as they are constantly overlapping and interacting. I am not interested in finding one “right” way to lead a Women’s Movement, but in understanding women’s hopes and goals through conversation, observation and engaged analysis
If These Walls Could Talk: Restoring 15th Century Paintings in Upper Mustang
Get PDFThe Thupchen monastery, or gompa, in Lomanthang is a site that hosts monumental 15th century Buddhist artworks, which reflect an abundant history from the key trade region of Upper Mustang, Nepal. This site, after neglect and use as a storage space until the 1990s, has seen radical change in the past two decades through an ongoing painting restoration project. Since these restorations began, there have been discrepancies between how scholars and restoration artists believe the work should be done, and how the local community of Lomanthang wants their monastery to be restored. This study aims to examine why the temple went out of use and halted its function as a devotional worship space, and why it became recognized as such a space once again in the 1990s. I will be discussing the value of restorations at the local level, since many locals of Lomanthang were employed through these restorations and received years of artistic training. By understanding and contextualizing the restoration methods and challenges at hand, this paper will demonstrate how the Thupchen monastery reflects cultural values of the local community of Lomanthang. Specifically, I will explore how locals perceive their own goals of conservation and preservation, and how this project provides a space for Buddhist women to engage in religious and artistic work, as well as how they understand their own role as women in these religious endeavors