Integrative and Comparative Biology Advance Access originally published online on March 18, 2008
Integrative and Comparative Biology 2008 48(4):535-536; doi:10.1093/icb/icn009
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Book Review |
Gorilla Society: Conflict, Compromise and Cooperation Between the Sexes. Alexander H. Harcourt and Kelly J. Stewart, editors.
Department of Zoology
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7617
Correspondence: E-mail: morton.blake{at}gmail.com
Gorilla Society: Conflict, Compromise and Cooperation Between the Sexes. Alexander H. Harcourt and Kelly J. Stewart, editors.
Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 2007. 416 pp. ISBN 0-22-31602-5 (cloth) $75.00; ISBN 0-226-31603-3 (paper) $30.00.
Research on primate socioecology explores the mechanistic relationships that are formed between primates and their environment, attempting to understand how variation in these relationships shapes the heterogeneous social systems seen across species. Since the pioneering work of George B. Schaller and Dian Fossey during the 1960s, much data have been amassed on gorillas dealing with a range of academic topics. Inevitably with data spanning four decades, many different people have been involved, and methods and priorities at each site have resulted in significant variation in the data available. The authors of Gorilla Society have done an excellent job in undertaking the enormous task of compiling this information into a single text, and making sense out of it using socioecological models.
Until recently, there has been a long-standing bias in the amount of data available on mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei) compared to the ecologically distinct western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) who inhabit lowland rainforest. However, more data have now become available on western gorillas to allow researchers to begin testing and further refining hypotheses on the evolution and function of gorillas’ socioecological systems. This is exactly what Gorilla Society is all about.
The authors’ logic behind why this book examines only a single species of primate is that understanding variation within a species, versus between a species, is equally as important for understanding socioecological principles. It also is necessary to point out that one thorough example can be worth a thousand words of general explanation. When appropriate, however, comparisons across primate species, notably Pan and Pongo, are incorporated into the discussions.
The book opens with a general discussion on the study of primates and provides a critical background on socioecological principles such as the influences of diet and group-living on cooperation and competition among individuals. The chapters that follow examine these same principles more-closely from a "gorilla perspective."
Part 2 introduces gorilla biology and provides basic information to the reader, which establishes a foundation for the remaining parts of the book. It contains information on taxonomic classifications of the different gorilla subspecies and provides an overview of their life history, such as social structure, body size and sexual dimorphism, reproduction, maturation, and mortality. Information is also given on the relationships between gorilla diet and body size, group social dynamics, habitat types, ranging behavior, and population densities.
Parts 3 and 4 dive more deeply into the driving mechanisms behind what we observe in gorilla societies. Part 3 discusses the influence of males on the strategies of females, such as female–female competition and cooperation, dispersal between groups, reproduction, and perceived risks of infanticide and predation. In contrast, Part 4 discusses the influence of females on the strategies of males, such as mate acquisition, group control and protection, the formation of nonbreeding multi-male groups, and competition–cooperation between breeding groups.
Each chapter is articulate and packed with relevant citations, graphs, tables, and photographs to further emphasize points being made. At the end of each chapter, a conclusion provides a concise summary of what has just been discussed. Also, at the end of each chapter, statistics have been pulled from the actual sources of the major works cited within the text, allowing the reader to further examine case studies on particular topics.
Despite the available data on gorilla socioecology, there is still much that we can learn from these animals. Part 5 of the book discusses the remaining gaps in our understanding of gorilla societies, and examines where the future is taking this research. Out of critical necessity, in light of the endangered status of all gorilla subspecies, the authors also discuss the current situation in Africa, raising several hard-hitting questions such as "Why should we conserve gorillas?" and "How does socioecological research aid conservation management?" They reflect on the status of populations across Africa, the modern threats to gorillas, problems faced by conservationists, and examine the impact of park systems and ecotourism programs. Particular ethical issues are also highlighted, such as balancing the benefits and risks of habituating gorilla groups for research and ecotourism.
The authors of this book have contributed much over the span of their careers to what we know about gorilla socioecology. Their expertise in this field of study has clearly aided them in making Gorilla Society a book that will be of value to fellow naturalists, conservationists, and zoo keepers interested in finding the latest biological information on this species. When possible, the authors have provided data from the most recently published research, and in some cases provide data being published for the first time. Gorilla Society represents a first-rate source for anyone wanting a broad overview of what topics are currently being explored by biologists in this field. The book is well worth the price, and I strongly recommend it to academics and anyone else who is genuinely interested in learning more about these magnificent animals and what we can do to conserve them for future generations to enjoy.
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