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
- Background
-
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., University of California - Davis 1994
-
Previous Appointments & Affiliations
- 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 -
SEP 5, 2014 Duke Today
-
- 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. Biological Sciences, 276(1656), 389–399. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2008.1374Full Text
-
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.20140Full Text
-
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/bf02629647Full Text
-
Nievergelt, C. M., Digby, L. J., Ramakrishnan, U., & Woodruff, D. S. (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. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005411227810Full 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/10.1159/000021708Full Text
-
Digby, L. J. (1999). Targeting aggression in blue-eyed black lemurs (Eulemur macaco flavifrons). Primates, 40(4), 613–617. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02574836Full Text
-
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/10.1159/000021686Full Text
-
Digby, L. J., & Barreto, C. E. (1998). Vertebrate predation in common marmosets. Neotropical Primates, 6(4), 124–126.
-
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.
-
Ferrari, S. F., & Digby, L. J. (1996). Wild Callithrix groups: stable extended families? American Journal of Primatology, 38(1), 19–27.
-
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/BF02382859Full Text
-
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/BF00173899Full Text
-
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/BF02696100Full Text
-
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/10.1159/000156739Full Text
-
-
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/CBO9780511641954.014Full 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.Link to Item
-
-
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.Link to Item
-
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.Link to Item
-
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.Link to Item
-
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.Link to Item
-
Digby, L. J. (2007). Marmosets: Cooperative breeders or fierce competitors? In American Journal of Primatology (Vol. 69, pp. 124–124). WILEY-LISS.Link to Item
-
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 2023
- EVANTH 393: Research Independent Study 2023
- EVANTH 344L: Primate Field Biology 2022
- EVANTH 393: Research Independent Study 2022
- EVANTH 495S: Advanced Research in Evolutionary Anthropology 2022
- EVANTH 744L: Primate Field Biology 2022
- EVANTH 344L: Primate Field Biology 2021
- EVANTH 495S: Advanced Research in Evolutionary Anthropology 2021
- EVANTH 744L: Primate Field Biology 2021
- Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
-
Presentations & Appearances
- Pursuing Radical Transformation in Nursing Education. October 22, 2011 2011
- Understanding Behavior: What Animal Behavior Can Tell Us About Competition and Cooperation. October 1, 2011 2011
- Behavioral Thermoregulation in Lemurs. January 22, 2011 2011
- Supporting departmental distinctiveness within undergraduate research.. December 26, 2010 2010
- Lemurs, marmosets and murder: what animal behavior can tell us about cooperation and competition in human evolution. July 1, 2009 2009
- The Missing Dimension? Why are we using 2D measures for animals that live in a 3D world?. January 1, 2009 2009
- Invited Speaker: LemurCon “The Lost Dimension: Measuring 3D and 4D Home Range Volumes in Primates. September 1, 2008 2008
- A new approach to primate home ranges. August 1, 2008 2008
- Mudereres or Altruists: What Animal Behavior Can Tell us About Cooperation and Competition. July 1, 2008 2008
-
Service to the Profession
- reviewer : American Journal of Primatology. December 16, 2013 2013
- reviewer : Folia Primatologica. 2013 2013
- reviewer : Leakey Foundation. 2013 2013
- reviewer : National Science Foundation. 2013 2013
- reviewer : American Journal of Physical Anthropology. January 5, 2012 2012
- Building Babies: Primate Developmental Trajectories in Proximate and Ultimate Perspectives. Edited by Clancy, K, Hinde, K and Rutherford, J.. December 26, 2011 2011
- Animal Behaviour. 2011 2011
- Grant Reviewer : Leakey Foundation. December 16, 2009 2009
- Grant Reviewer : National Science Foundation. December 16, 2009 2009
- chapter review : Developments in Primatology Book Series. December 16, 2009 2009
- reviewer : Animal Cognition. December 16, 2009 2009
- reviewer : International Journal of Primatology. December 16, 2009 2009
- reviewer : Journal of Ethology. December 16, 2009 2009
- reviewer : Exudate Feeding in Primates (edited volume). December 18, 2008 2008
Some information on this profile has been compiled automatically from Duke databases and external sources. (Our About page explains how this works.) If you see a problem with the information, please write to Scholars@Duke and let us know. We will reply promptly.