Marissa Milstein

Research Assistant

milsteinMarissa Milstein received her B.A. in anthropology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2006. After graduation, she was a field researcher at the Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve in Costa Rica, where she studied the social behavior of white-faced capuchin monkeys with Susan Perry, Ph.D., of UCLA. As the research assistant for the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, her current research focuses on the tool-use behaviors of the chimpanzees and gorillas at Regenstein Center for African Apes. She is responsible for the daily execution of this project as well as creating and maintaining the research database. She also performs administrative duties pertaining to the Fisher Center.

Publications

Calcutt, S., Milstein, M. Ross, S.R., Lonsdorf, E.V.  2009.  Acquisition of nut-cracking behaviors in a group of zoo-living chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).  American Journal of Primatology, 71, Supplement 1: 49.  

Lonsdorf, E.V., Ross, S.R., Linick, S.A., Milstein, M.S. and Melber, T.N.  2009.  An experimental, comparative investigation of tool use in chimpanzees and gorillas.  Animal Behaviour, 77: 1119-1126.  

Milstein, M.S., Lonsdorf, E.V. Ross, S.R., Bonnie, K.E., and Calcutt, S.  2009.  Extractive tool-use by a group of zoo-housed chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in an variable environment: preliminary evidence of persistent strategies.  American Journal of Primatology, 71, Supplement 1: 82.  

Foster, M.W., Linick, S.A., Milstein, M.S., Wagner, K.E., Margulis, S.W., Ross, S.R., and Lonsdorf, E.V.  2008.  Motivating a new generation of primatologists: the Lincoln Park Zoo’s Exploring Ape Behavior Program.  American Journal of Primatology, 70:38.  

Linick, S.A., Lonsdorf, E.V., Ross, S.R., and Milstein M.S.  2008.  The development of termite-fishing skills in captive Western lowland gorilla infants (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).   American Journal of Primatology, 70:58.  

Milstein, M.S., Lonsdorf, E.V., Ross, S.R. and Linick S.A.  2008.  A comparison between chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) social tolerance at an artificial termite mound.  American Journal of Primatology, 70:58.