Staff Profile
Fredrick Blake Morton
PhD Student, Scottish Primate Research Group / Behaviour & Evolution Research Group, PsychologyUniversity of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA Scotland, UK
morton.blake@gmail.com
Originally from the U.S., I graduated from N.C. State University with a B.S. in Zoology, after which I moved to the University of Stirling to complete a PhD in Psychology. Over the years, I have developed or collaborated on various behavioural and ecological projects on wild primates, which were based in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Costa Rica, and Indonesia. Additionally, I have developed projects in the United Kingdom and United States, involving primates living in captivity. My main research interests include: personality, cognition, brain evolution, socio-ecological strategies, and social network analysis.
Current Research (2009-Present):
This study examines two questions: 1) To what extent do Orangutans and Gibbons incorporate what they know about their resources into their ranging decisions?; and 2) Do Asian apes forage in such a way that suggests they know where to find food based on past, present, and future experiences? This research will provide a clearer understanding of the relationships between brain size, diet quality, sociality, and cognition. Collaborators: Susan M. Cheney, Helen Morrogh-Bernard, and Simon E. Husson. Field Site: Sabangau Peatswamp Forest, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
Individual Differences in Personality, Cognition, and Social Networking Strategies of Non-human Primates
Dissertation research investigating interactions between personality, cognition, individual behaviour, and social networking strategies of non-human primates. Ultimately, this research questions how we should interpret the mechanics of the practical use of cognition among group-living primates, thereby providing critical insight into how living within an intense social arena may have been an evolutionarily selective force for primate encephalization. Supervisors: Phyllis C. Lee and Hannah Buchanan-Smith. Principle Research Site: Living Links Centre for Human Evolution, Edinburgh, UK
Selected Past Research Involvement (2004-2008):
• Non-invasive visual health monitoring of western gorillas habituated for tourism and research, Central African Republic.
• Agile mangabey socioecology (contributor of long-term study), Central African Republic.
• Dietary niche separation of sympatric chimpanzees and gorillas, Cameroon.
• Effects of forest canopy gaps on black howler monkey locomotion, Costa Rica.
• Non-assisted recruitment abilities of tropical forest trees, Cameroon and Central African Republic.
• Spring Semester 2011: Teaching assistant for “Innovation & Brain Evolution”, and “Sex & Cooperation” modules of third-year Animal Behaviour course.
• Spring Semester 2010: Teaching assistant for “Innovation & Brain Evolution” and “Sex & Cooperation” modules of third-year Animal Behaviour course.
• Spring Semester 2009: Teaching assistant for “Sex and Cooperation” modules of third-year Animal Behaviour course.
• Fall Semester 2008: Research project supervisor for third-year Human Developmental Psychology course.
• Spring Semester 2010: Teaching assistant for “Innovation & Brain Evolution” and “Sex & Cooperation” modules of third-year Animal Behaviour course.
• Spring Semester 2009: Teaching assistant for “Sex and Cooperation” modules of third-year Animal Behaviour course.
• Fall Semester 2008: Research project supervisor for third-year Human Developmental Psychology course.
Journal Articles:
• Morton, F.B., et al. (submitted). Non-invasive Visual Health Monitoring of a Wild Western Lowland Gorilla Group in a Controlled Research and Tourism Program at Bai Hokou, Central African Republic. American Journal of Primatology.
• Morton, F.B., et al. (in prep.). Behavioral Validation of Personality Structure in Captive Brown Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus apella).
Abstracts:
• Morton, F.B. (2011). Why Smart Monkeys Can Be So Stupid: The Influence of Personality on Learning and Performance. Scottish Conference for Animal Behaviour (SCAB). Abstract published in proceedings.
• Morton, F.B. et al. (2010). Monitoring Health Status of Habituated Western Lowland Gorillas at Bai Hokou, Central African Republic. Primate Society of Great Britain, 2010 Winter Conference. Abstract published in proceedings.
• Todd, A.F. et al. (2009). The Primate Habituation Programme, Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, Central African Republic: Long-term Health Monitoring of Western gorillas, Past, Present and Future. 2009 Great Ape Health Conference. Abstract published in proceedings.
• Morton, F.B. (2008). Wild Western Gorilla Diet Composition, Seasonality, and Nutrition: Implications for Better Captive Management in Zoos. National Crissey Zoological Nutrition Symposium. Abstract published in proceedings.
• Morton, F.B. (2006). Seed Dispersal by Western Lowland Gorillas in Southeast Cameroun. NCSU Annual Research Symposium. Abstract published in proceedings.
Book Reviews:
• Morton, F.B. (2011). Review of “Integrative Wildlife Nutrition”. Barboza, P.S., Parker, K.L., Hume, I.D. (Eds.). Springer (2009). The Biologist.
• Morton, F.B. (in prep.). Review of “Mind the Gap: Tracing the Origins of Human Universals”. Kappeler, P.M., Silk, J.B. (Eds.). Springer (2010). The Biologist.
• Morton, F.B. (in prep.). Review of “The Primate Fossil Record”. Hartwig, W.C. (Ed.). Cambridge (2002). Folia Primatologica.
• Morton, F.B. (2011). Review of “Spatial Cognition, Spatial Perception: Mapping the Self and Space”. Dolins, F.L., Mitchell, R.W. (Eds.). Oxford (2010). The Biologist.
• Morton, F. B. (2011). Review of “Primate Neuroethology”. Platt, M., Ghazanfar, A. (Eds.). Oxford (2010). Folia Primatologica.
• Morton, F.B. (2011). Review of “The Indonesian Primates”. Gursky-Doyen, S., Supriatna, J. (Eds.). Springer (2010). Primate Eye.
• Morton, F.B. (2010). Review of “The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology”. Lappan, S, Whittaker, D.J. (Eds). Springer (2009). Primate Eye.
• Morton, F.B (2008). Review of “Gorilla Society: Conflict, Compromise, and Cooperation Between the Sexes”. Harcourt, A.H and Stewart, K. (Eds). The University of Chicago Press (2007). Journal of Integrative and Comparative Biology.
Selected Technical Papers:
• Morton, F.B. (2011). Guide to Analyzing Questionnaire-Based Data in SPSS to Assess Personality in Animals. University of Stirling. 37pp.
• Morton, F.B. (2010). Primate Personalities: An Evolutionary Conundrum for Machiavellian Intelligence and the ‘Social Brain’. Report submitted to PhD Review Committee of Department of Psychology, University of Stirling. 24pp.
• Morton, F.B., Meyer, L. (2008). Gap-crossing Techniques of Semi-habituated Howler Monkeys at El Zota, Costa Rica: Implications for living in fragmented forests. Final report submitted to El Zota Field Station, Costa Rica. 27 pp.
• Morton, F.B., et al. (2008). Structural damage to Thomandersia spp. shrubs by Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla g.g.): Potential for a plant-animal relationship? Report submitted to Zoology Department of N.C. State University for degree course credits. 12 pp.
• Morton, F.B. (2008). Seed Recruitment Under Conspecific Trees of Six Tropical Fruit Species: Implications for an “easy-survey technique” to assess animal dispersal roles in the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park? Final grant report submitted to Explorers Club, New York. 8 pp.
• Morton, F.B., et al. (submitted). Non-invasive Visual Health Monitoring of a Wild Western Lowland Gorilla Group in a Controlled Research and Tourism Program at Bai Hokou, Central African Republic. American Journal of Primatology.
• Morton, F.B., et al. (in prep.). Behavioral Validation of Personality Structure in Captive Brown Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus apella).
Abstracts:
• Morton, F.B. (2011). Why Smart Monkeys Can Be So Stupid: The Influence of Personality on Learning and Performance. Scottish Conference for Animal Behaviour (SCAB). Abstract published in proceedings.
• Morton, F.B. et al. (2010). Monitoring Health Status of Habituated Western Lowland Gorillas at Bai Hokou, Central African Republic. Primate Society of Great Britain, 2010 Winter Conference. Abstract published in proceedings.
• Todd, A.F. et al. (2009). The Primate Habituation Programme, Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, Central African Republic: Long-term Health Monitoring of Western gorillas, Past, Present and Future. 2009 Great Ape Health Conference. Abstract published in proceedings.
• Morton, F.B. (2008). Wild Western Gorilla Diet Composition, Seasonality, and Nutrition: Implications for Better Captive Management in Zoos. National Crissey Zoological Nutrition Symposium. Abstract published in proceedings.
• Morton, F.B. (2006). Seed Dispersal by Western Lowland Gorillas in Southeast Cameroun. NCSU Annual Research Symposium. Abstract published in proceedings.
Book Reviews:
• Morton, F.B. (2011). Review of “Integrative Wildlife Nutrition”. Barboza, P.S., Parker, K.L., Hume, I.D. (Eds.). Springer (2009). The Biologist.
• Morton, F.B. (in prep.). Review of “Mind the Gap: Tracing the Origins of Human Universals”. Kappeler, P.M., Silk, J.B. (Eds.). Springer (2010). The Biologist.
• Morton, F.B. (in prep.). Review of “The Primate Fossil Record”. Hartwig, W.C. (Ed.). Cambridge (2002). Folia Primatologica.
• Morton, F.B. (2011). Review of “Spatial Cognition, Spatial Perception: Mapping the Self and Space”. Dolins, F.L., Mitchell, R.W. (Eds.). Oxford (2010). The Biologist.
• Morton, F. B. (2011). Review of “Primate Neuroethology”. Platt, M., Ghazanfar, A. (Eds.). Oxford (2010). Folia Primatologica.
• Morton, F.B. (2011). Review of “The Indonesian Primates”. Gursky-Doyen, S., Supriatna, J. (Eds.). Springer (2010). Primate Eye.
• Morton, F.B. (2010). Review of “The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology”. Lappan, S, Whittaker, D.J. (Eds). Springer (2009). Primate Eye.
• Morton, F.B (2008). Review of “Gorilla Society: Conflict, Compromise, and Cooperation Between the Sexes”. Harcourt, A.H and Stewart, K. (Eds). The University of Chicago Press (2007). Journal of Integrative and Comparative Biology.
Selected Technical Papers:
• Morton, F.B. (2011). Guide to Analyzing Questionnaire-Based Data in SPSS to Assess Personality in Animals. University of Stirling. 37pp.
• Morton, F.B. (2010). Primate Personalities: An Evolutionary Conundrum for Machiavellian Intelligence and the ‘Social Brain’. Report submitted to PhD Review Committee of Department of Psychology, University of Stirling. 24pp.
• Morton, F.B., Meyer, L. (2008). Gap-crossing Techniques of Semi-habituated Howler Monkeys at El Zota, Costa Rica: Implications for living in fragmented forests. Final report submitted to El Zota Field Station, Costa Rica. 27 pp.
• Morton, F.B., et al. (2008). Structural damage to Thomandersia spp. shrubs by Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla g.g.): Potential for a plant-animal relationship? Report submitted to Zoology Department of N.C. State University for degree course credits. 12 pp.
• Morton, F.B. (2008). Seed Recruitment Under Conspecific Trees of Six Tropical Fruit Species: Implications for an “easy-survey technique” to assess animal dispersal roles in the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park? Final grant report submitted to Explorers Club, New York. 8 pp.