Modeling the movement and seed dispersal service of black howler monkeys in degraded forests
Onja Razafindratsima, Professor
Integrative Biology
Closed. This professor is continuing with Fall 2025 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Spring 2026.
Seed dispersal by frugivores depends on behavior such as fruit preference, movement, gut retention, and habitat use. Primates play a critical role as seed dispersers, but in degraded or fragmented landscapes, reduced food availability and restricted movement may limit their effectiveness.
Black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra), native to Southeast Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, are particularly important dispersers: they consume and disperse large seeds (up to 40 mm) from a wide range of tree species. However, forest degradation poses a serious threat to their role in maintaining forest diversity.
This project will use an agent-based model (ABM) in NetLogo to estimate seed dispersal distances by black howler monkeys across gradients of human disturbance. The goal is to explore how movement patterns affect dispersal outcomes and to contribute to a better understanding of primates’ ecological importance in changing landscapes.
Role: The URAP student will help design and develop a NetLogo model that simulates black howler monkey movement and seed dispersal. They will learn and apply agent-based modeling techniques for ecological research questions and gain hands-on experience in applied ecological modeling.
Qualifications: Required:
-Strong motivation and reliability.
-Excellent organizational skills.
-Undergraduate coursework in statistics.
-Some experience with the NetLogo environment*
Desirable but not essential
-Undergraduate coursework in ecology, biology, or related fields.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Anaid Cardenas-Navarrete, Ph.D. candidate
Hours: 6-8 hrs
Biological & Health Sciences