current Project

Hard tissue biology of mountain gorillas 

This research investigates relationships between hard tissue biology and life history in the well-documented population of Virunga mountain gorillas from Rwanda, many of whom were observed in life by Dian Fossey and DFGFI’s Karisoke Research Center. Given the unique ecology and life history of mountain gorillas among apes, research on their bones and teeth can add significantly to our understanding of the comparative development and life history of great apes in the wild. Further, since detailed life records are available for many individuals in the Mountain Gorilla Skeletal Project collection, this represents an unparalleled opportunity to test relationships between variation in hard tissue development and structure and observed features of their life history, behavior and environment. Knowledge gleaned from these studies will complement information obtained from the ongoing monitoring of mountain gorillas in life, and provide unique insights into their conservation and evolutionary biology.