A doctoral student from Stony Brook University has been awarded a grant by the Leakey Foundation to study primate adaptation in coastal Kenya. Alex Chege, a PhD candidate in the Department of Ecology and Evolution and an associate at the Turkana Basin Institute, received the Dissertation Fieldwork Grant to fund his research on female vervet monkeys on Kiwayu Island.
Chege expressed his appreciation for the grant, stating it is “very encouraging and very validating for [his] research at this stage especially.” Dino Martins, director of the Turkana Basin Institute, praised Chege’s achievement, highlighting its potential to enhance understanding of modern primate behavior.
The grant builds upon previous support that Chege received for pilot research through the Safina Center Junior Fellowship and the Leakey Foundation Baldwin Fellowship. His work focuses on how vervet monkeys use marine resources such as crabs and seaweed. Under guidance from Catherine Markham and mentorship from Richard Leakey, Chege’s study evolved to explore primates’ spatial ecology in dynamic coastal environments.
H. Gregory from the Leakey Foundation remarked that supporting early-career researchers like Chege is part of their mission. He noted that Chege’s contributions will advance knowledge about human origins and evolution.
Chege’s work has significant implications for understanding non-tool-using primates’ adaptations to coastal life, which could provide insights into early human survival strategies. Additionally, his research contributes to conservation efforts amid threats from development in these regions.
Reflecting on challenges faced during fieldwork initiation, Chege recounted advice from Richard Leakey about studying coastal primates’ survival tactics. Despite initial difficulties in locating monkey groups, he now conducts organized fieldwork with detailed behavioral data collection using technology.
Chege continues to find adventure in his structured research activities while remaining committed to advancing scientific understanding of evolutionary history.
