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Phone: (612) 625-5700
Fax: (612) 624-6777
Email: wiggins@umn.edu

University of Minnesota
Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior
100 Ecology Building
1987 Upper Buford Circle
St. Paul, MN 55108

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Michael Wilson

Assistant Professor, Anthropology and Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior

Ph.D., Harvard University, 2001

Contact Information

Fax: 612-624-6777 (EEB); 612-624-3095 (Anthropology)
E-mail: wilso198 "at" umn.edu

Graduate Faculty Memberships

Anthropology; Ecology, Evolution and Behavior

Research Interests

Statement

I study the behavior and biology of chimpanzees because study of our closest living relatives provides many fascinating insights into the possible lives of our ancestors and provides a context for understanding ourselves today.

My research focuses on intergroup relations. Long-term studies at sites across Africa have revealed that intergroup relations in chimpanzees are routinely hostile and sometimes violent. Such intergroup aggression provides a striking example of competition that depends on within-group cooperation, and has inspired numerous comparisons to primitive human warfare. Until recently, however, few data were available on this topic, and little had been done to test specific hypotheses. My goal as a researcher has been to fill this gap by obtaining quantitative, systematic data on intergroup aggression and other territorial behaviors, and to test hypotheses using field experiments and analysis of long-term data. My work focuses on data from Gombe National Park, Tanzania and Kibale National Park, Uganda.

Selected Publications


Wilson, M. L., Hauser, M. D. & Wrangham, R. W. in press. Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) modify grouping and vocal behaviour in response to location-specific risk. Behaviour.

Pusey, A. E., Pintea, L. P., Wilson, M. L., Kamenya, S. & Goodall, J. 2007. The contribution of long-term research at Gombe National Park to chimpanzee conservation. Conservation Biology, 21, 623-634.

Wilson, M. L., Wallauer, W. & Pusey, A. E. 2004. New cases of intergroup violence among chimpanzees in Gombe National Park, Tanzania. International Journal of Primatology, 25, 523-549.

Wilson, M. L. & Wrangham, R. W. 2003. Intergroup relations in chimpanzees. In: Annual Review of Anthropology (Ed. by Durham, W. H.), pp. 363-92. Palo Alto, CA: Annual Reviews Inc.

Wilson, M. L., Britton, N. F. & Franks, N. R. 2002. Chimpanzees and the mathematics of battle. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B, 269, 1107-1112.

Wilson, M. L., Hauser, M. D. & Wrangham, R. W. 2001. Does participation in intergroup conflict depend on numerical assessment, range location, or rank for wild chimpanzees? Animal Behaviour, 61, 1203-1216.

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