Conference Agenda

As part of investigating the nature of bonobo object manipulation and tool-using behavior at Wamba, DRC, data were collected on object utilization by young individuals during play. Most frequently played-with objects were sticks and small leafy branches. Infants began interacting with objects at ~3 months of age, having sufficient hand-eye coordination. As infants’ social relations changed, so did object-use during play. Until ~2 years of age, object play was primarily solitary. As infants spent more time playing with peers, social object play also increased. Infants >3 years were rarely observed in solitary-object play. Objects were incorporated into social play for play initiations, during play chases, and in tug-of-war “games.” In each of these, the object served as a mediator, rather than target of play, achieving a social goal. This reflects the behavior of adult bonobos, who exhibit many behaviors functioning to mediate social relations and coordinate social activities.

Allomothering is infrequent but present throughout the primate order, recorded in 16 of 23 monitored lemur species, but reported nonexistent in Milne-Edwards’ Sifaka. Throughout 38 years’ long-term data collection on P. edwardsi, only 3 discrete allocare instances were observed. In contrast, during the 2024 field season, numerous allomaternal care bouts were recorded (>20% of observed time). Behaviors included grooming, carrying, nursing. Generally, cooperative care leads to increased infant survival, shorter inter-birth intervals, decreased maternal energetic load, and increased social partners. Allocare in this species is correlated with forest and food quality. Mothers in anthropogenically disturbed habitats appear unable to acquire the necessary energy for infant care and nursing, leading to cooperative care to ensure infant survival. Ancillary effects include increased social play in infants. I acknowledge MNP, MMESD, and CAFFCORE committee for study permissions and thank CVB and MICET for logistic support.

Food insecurity is defined as a lack of access to food sources. Applied to geography, this condition is labeled a food desert. Anthropological theory suggests that lack of access to essential needs may lead to deviant behavior. Camden, New Jersey has been ranked as one of the most dangerous U.S. cities four times between 2004 and 2012 based on violent/property crime rates. This study examines, in geographical and enthnographic terms, the role that food insecurity plays in creating conditions conducive to criminal behavior. In Post-Structuralism/Functional Structuralism theory, society is connected through internal systems and the truth of society’s culture is found through the subjective experiences of its members. By applying mixed methods, the author discusses how internal structures affect food deserts and crime rates in Camden. Suggestions for where intervention would be most feasible/effective are made.

Over the last few years, there has been a frenzy of media outlets, celebrities, and influencers publicizing the effectiveness of semaglutides, like Ozempic, for an off-label use: weight loss. With the larger presence and availability of these medications for off-label use instead of diabetes management, outsiders believe that obese and overweight people who begin to look different are cheating. The public nature and visibility of weight loss subject the people losing weight to much speculation and scrutiny. In the past, many weight loss “solutions” have been proposed, diets created, and even surgeries performed, but these “solutions” have proven temporary. However, these semaglutides have proven to be an effective treatment plan, and yet there has never been such a debate surrounding this issue. Why is the use of weight loss medications like Ozempic considered cheating? Why is there a “right way” to lose weight, and where does this idea come from?