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PhD from UCLA, MA degree from San Diego State University, BS in nursing from the University of San Diego. I have been at Kent State since 1992 as a faculty member of the anthropology department and graduate faculty of the school of biomedical sciences.

Personal Philosophy: Share my enthusiasm of exploration and learning with students.  

RESEARCH AREAS

My research program has been defined by interests in 1) feeding behavior and ecology saki monkeys (white-faced sakis and bearded sakis), and 2) evolution of sexual dichromatism in white-faced sakis. I have studied saki feeding ecology for many years and am currently interested in how sakis, as seed eaters, impact the reproduction of their major food resources. My students and I approach the second issue through long-term behavioral field studies as well as captive (zoo) and field experiments.

Selected Publications

Norconk, M.A., Conklin-Brittain, N.L. Bearded saki feeding strategies in a fragmented habitat. American Journal of Primatology (early view: 21 March 2015). 

Wright, K.A., Wright, B.W., Ford, S.M., Fragaszy, D., Izar, P., Norconk, M., Masterson, T., Hobbs, D.G., Alfaro, M.E., Lynch Alfaro, J.W. (2015). The effects of ecology and evolutionary history on robust capuchin morphological diversity, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 82, 455-466.

Gregory, T., Mullett, A., Norconk, M.A. (2014). Strategies for navigating large areas: A GIS spatial ecology analysis of the bearded saki monkey, Chiropotes sagulatus, in Suriname. American Journal of Primatology 76, 586-595.

Gregory, T.; Norconk, M.A. (2014). Bearded saki socioecology: affiliative male-male interactions in large free-ranging primate groups in Suriname. Behaviour 151, 493-533.

Veiga, L.M., Barnett, A.A., Ferrari, S.F., Norconk, M.A. (2013). Evolutionary Biology and Conservation of Titis, Sakis and Uacaris. Cambridge University Press. (7 chapters therein)

Thompson, C.L., Norconk, M.A., & Whitten, P.L. (2012). Why fight? Selective forces favoring between-group aggression in a variably pair-living primate, the white-faced saki (Pithecia pithecia). Behaviour 149, 795-820.

Barnett, A.A., Boyle, S.A., Norconk, M.A. et al. (2012). Terrestrial activity in pitheciins (Cacajao, Chiropotes, and Pithecia). American Journal of Primatology 74,1106-1127.

Norconk, M.A., Veres, M. (2011). Physical properties of fruit and seeds ingested by primate seed predators with emphasis on sakis and bearded sakis. Anatomical Record 294, 2092-2111.

Hartwig, W., Rosenberger, A.L. Norconk, M.A., Young Owl, M. (2011). Relative brain size, gut size and evolution in New World monkeys. Anatomical Record 294, 2207-2221.

Thompson, C.T., Whitten, P.L., Norconk, M.A. (2011). Can male white-faced saki monkeys (Pithecia pithecia) detect female reproductive state? Behaviour 148,1313-1331.

Thompson, C.T., Norconk, M.A. (2011). White-faced saki monkey social bonds reflect male/female pair preference, despite lacking typical monogamous traits.  American Journal of Primatology 73,1051-1061.

Norconk, M.A., Boinski, S., Forget, P.-M. (2011). Primates in 21st century ecosystems: Does primate conservation promote ecosystem conservation? American Journal of Primatology 73(1), 3-8.

Norconk, M.A. (2011). Sakis, uakaris, and titi monkeys: Behavioral diversity in a radiation of primate seed predators. In C. J. Campbell, A. Fuentes, K. C. MacKinnon, S. K. Bearder, R.M. Stumpf (Eds.). Primates in Perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 122-139. 

Sayers, K., Norconk, M.A., Conklin-Brittain, N.L. (2010). Optimal foraging on the roof of the world: Himalayan langurs and the classical prey model. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 141(3), 337-357.

Norconk, M.A., Wright, B.W., Conklin-Brittain, N.L., Vinyard, C.J. (2009). Mechanical and nutritional properties of food as factors in platyrrhine dietary adaptations. In Garber, P.A., Estrada, A., Bicca-Marques, C., Heymann, E., & Strier, K. (Eds.). South American primates: testing new theories in the study of primate behavior, ecology, and conservation. New York: Springer Science, 279-319.