Leslie J. Digby | Scholars@Duke

Leslie J. Digby
Associate Professor of the Practice of Evolutionary Anthropology

My research focuses on the behavior and ecology of non-human primates, including how primates balance cooperation and competition in their breeding strategies. In addition, I examine how animals mitigate the costs of temperature extremes through behavior and the use of microhabitats. Our results help us better understand the vulnerabilities of species facing more extreme weather fluctuations.

General Research Interests include:

Evolution of Primate & Human Social Behavior
Primate Behavioral Ecology
Mammalian Reproductive Strategies, Mating Systems, and Infanticide
Primate Microhabitat Use
Primate Behavioral Thermoregulation
Marmosets and Tamarins
Lemurs

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Associate Professor of the Practice of Evolutionary Anthropology, Evolutionary Anthropology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2009

Contact Information

08A Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC 27708
Duke Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708-0383
ldigby@duke.edu (919) 660-7398

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., University of California at Davis 1994
Duke Appointment History
- Director of Undergraduate Studies of Evolutionary Anthropology, Evolutionary Anthropology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2009 - 2018
- Assistant Professor of the Practice, Evolutionary Anthropology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2006 - 2009
- Assistant Research Professor of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Basic Science Departments, School of Medicine 1994 - 2006
Recognition
In the News
- SEP 5, 2014
  
  Cassidy Pomeroy-Carter: Studying Creatures Great and Small
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Saltzman, W., Digby, L. J., & Abbott, D. H. (2009). Reproductive skew in female common marmosets: what can proximate mechanisms tell us about ultimate causes?. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 276(1656), 389–399. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2008.1374
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  - Digby, L., & McLean Stevens, A. (2007). Maintenance of female dominance in blue-eyed black lemurs (Eulemur macaco flavifrons) and gray bamboo lemurs (Hapalemur griseus griseus) under semi-free-ranging and captive conditions.. Zoo Biology, 26(5), 345–361. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.20140
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  - Digby, L. J., & Kahlenberg, S. M. (2002). Female dominance in blue-eyed black lemurs(Eulemur macaco flavifrons).. Primates; Journal of Primatology, 43(3), 191–199. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02629647
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  - Nievergelt, CM, Digby, LJ, Ramakrishnan, U, & Woodruff, DS. (2000). Genetic analysis of group composition and breeding system in a wild common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) population. International Journal of Primatology , 21 (1), 1-20. Full Text
  - Archie, E. A., & Digby, L. J. (1999). Juvenile dominance in Eulemur macaco flavifrons: the influence of sex and maternal rank.. Folia Primatologica; International Journal of Primatology, 70(5), 277–281. https://doi.org/10.1159/000021708
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  - Digby, L. J. (1999). Targeting aggression in blue-eyed black lemurs (Eulemur macaco flavifrons). Primates, 40(4), 613–617. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02574836
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  - Digby, L. J. (1999). Sexual behavior and extragroup copulations in a wild population of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus).. Folia Primatologica; International Journal of Primatology, 70(3), 136–145. https://doi.org/10.1159/000021686
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  - Digby, L. J., & Barreto, C. E. (1998). Vertebrate predation in common marmosets. Neotropical Primates, 6(4), 124–126.
  - Ferrari, S. F., & Digby, L. J. (1996). Wild Callithrix groups: Stable extended families?. American Journal of Primatology, 38(1), 19–27.
  - Digby, L. J., Ferrari, S. F., & Castro, A. A. J. F. (1996). Preliminary records of common marmosets in the Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades, Piauí, Brazil. Neotropical Primates, 4(2), 53–55.
  - Digby, L. J. (1995). Social organization in a wild population of Callithrix jacchus: II. Intragroup social behavior. Primates, 36(3), 361–375. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02382859
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  - Digby, L. (1995). Infant care, infanticide, and female reproductive strategies in polygynous groups of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 37(1), 51–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00173899
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  - Digby, L. J., & Ferrari, S. F. (1994). Multiple breeding females in free-ranging groups of Callithrix jacchus. International Journal of Primatology, 15(3), 389–397. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02696100
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  - Tardif, S., Hyde, K., & Digby, L. (1994). . Evidence for suppression of ovulation in singly-housed female common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Laboratory Primate Newsletter, 33(2), 1–4.
  - Digby, L. J., & Barreto, C. E. (1993). Social organization in a wild population of Callithrix jacchus. I. Group composition and dynamics.. Folia Primatologica; International Journal of Primatology, 61(3), 123–134. https://doi.org/10.1159/000156739
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- Book Sections
  - Digby, L. J. (2011). Activity and ranging patterns in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus): implications for reproductive strategies.. In M. Norconk, A. Rosenberger, & P. Garber (Eds.), Adaptive Radiations of Neotropical Primates (pp. 175–185). Springer Science & Business Media.
  - Digby, L. J., Ferrari, S. F., & Saltzman, W. (2011). The role of competition in cooperatively breeding species. In C. Campbell, A. Fuentes, K. C. MacKnight, M. Panger, & S. Bearder (Eds.), Primates in Perspective (pp. 91–107). Oxford: Oxford University Press, USA.
  - Digby, L. J., & Saltzman, W. (2009). Balancing cooperation and competition in callitrichine primates: examining the relative risk of infanticide across species.. In S. Ford, L. Porter, & L. Davis (Eds.), The Smallest Anthropoids The Marmoset/Callimico Radiation (pp. 135–154). Springer Science & Business Media.
  - Abbott, D. H., Digby, L., & Saltzman, W. (2009). Reproductive skew in female common marmosets: Contributionsof infanticide and subordinate self-restraint. In Reproductive Skew in Vertebrates: Proximate and Ultimate Causes (pp. 337–368). https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511641954.014
    Full Text
  - Digby, L. J. (2000). Infanticide by female mammals: implications for the evolution of social systems. In Infanticide by Males and Its Implications (pp. 423–446). Cambridge University Press.
  - Digby, L. J. (n.d.). Cooperative Breeding. In A. Fuentes (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Primatology. Wiley Blackwell.
- Book Reviews
  - DIGBY, L. (1995). MARMOSETS AND TAMARINS - SYSTEMATICS, BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY - RYLANDS,AB. Animal Behaviour. ACADEMIC PRESS (LONDON) LTD.
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- Conference Papers
  - Schneider-Crease, I. A., Schopler, R., & Digby, L. J. (2013). Cross-species parasite patterns: Pinworm prevalence in captive lemurs.. In American Journal of Physical Anthropology (Vol. 150, pp. 243–244). Knoxville, TN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
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  - Digby, L., & King, L. (2011). Social learning in the ring-tailed lemur. In American Journal of Physical Anthropology (Vol. 144, pp. 126–126). Minneapolis, MN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
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  - Digby, L. J. (2009). A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR DETERMINING THREE DIMENSIONAL AND FOUR DIMENSIONAL HOME RANGE VOLUMES: AN UPDATE. In American Journal of Primatology (Vol. 71, pp. 72–72). San Diego, CA: WILEY-LISS.
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  - Digby, L. J., Haley, M., Schneider, A. C., & del Valle, I. (2008). Sensorimotor intelligence in aye-ayes and other lemurs: A puzzle box approach. In American Journal of Primatology (Vol. 70, pp. 54–54). Palm Beach Zoo, West Palm Beach, FL: WILEY-LISS.
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  - Digby, L. J. (2007). Marmosets: Cooperative breeders or fierce competitors?. In American Journal of Primatology (Vol. 69, pp. 124–124). WILEY-LISS.
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  - Digby, L. J. (2007). Determining home range "volumes" in primates: why are we using two-dimensional measures for species that live in a three-dimensional world?. In American Journal of Physical Anthropology (pp. 100–100). WILEY-LISS.
    Link to Item
  - Digby, L. J., & Saltzman, W. (2005). Is infanticide by females more common in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)? Implications for how callitrichines balance cooperation and competition.. In American Journal of Physical Anthropology (pp. 95–95). WILEY-LISS.
    Link to Item
  - Digby, L. J., & Stevens, A. M. (2004). A comparison of female dominance in blue-eyed black lemurs (Eulemur macaco flavifrons) and gray gentle lemurs (Hapalemur griseus griseus). In American Journal of Physical Anthropology (pp. 88–88). WILEY-BLACKWELL.
    Link to Item
  - Digby, L. J., & Barreto, C. E. (1996). Activity and ranging patterns in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) - Implications for reproductive strategies. In M. A. Norconk, A. L. Rosenberger, & P. A. Garber (Eds.), Adaptive Radiations of Neotropical Primates (pp. 173–185). MATL ZOOL PK, DEPT ZOOL RES, WASHINGTON, DC: PLENUM PRESS DIV PLENUM PUBLISHING CORP.
    Link to Item
- Theses and Dissertations
  - Digby, L. J. (1994). Social Organization and Reproductive Strategies in a Wild Population of Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus).. (P. Rodman, Ed.). Presented at the University of California, Davis.
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses
- EVANTH 344L: Primate Field Biology 2019
- EVANTH 393: Research Independent Study 2019
- EVANTH 495S: Advanced Research in Evolutionary Anthropology 2019
- EVANTH 744L: Primate Field Biology 2019
- EVANTH 391: Independent Study 2017
- EVANTH 791: Independent Study 2017
Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
Presentations & Appearances
Service to the Profession

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

In the News

Selected Publications

Academic Articles

Book Sections

Book Reviews

Conference Papers

Theses and Dissertations

Recent Courses

Presentations & Appearances

Service to the Profession