The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund operates the longest-running gorilla research site in the world, founded by Dr. Dian Fossey in 1967.
Read more at gorillafund.org/what-we-do/scientific-research/.
Hundreds of publications, in partnership with other organizations, have come out of Karisoke Research Center to date, and many more continue to be published every year. This information not only leads to general scientific understanding but also helps us develop the best methods for saving the gorillas and their ecosystem as well. Click here to see the full list of scientific publications from Karisoke Research Center from 1967 to the present.
Galbany, J., Abavandimwe, A., Vakiener, M., Eckardt, W., Mudakikwa, T., Ndgaijimana, F., Stoinski, T.S., McFarlin, S. (accepted). Body growth and life history in wild mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) from Volcanoes National park, Rwanda.
Grueter, C. Robbins, R., Abavandimwe, D., Vecellio, V., Ndagijimana, D., Ortmann, S., Stoinski, T.S., Robbins, M.M. (accepted). Quadratic relationship between group size and the foraging efficiency of the Virunga mountain gorillas. Scientific Reports.
Mirville, M., Muyco, S., Vecellio, V., Ndagijimana, F., Stoinski, T., Grueter, C. (accepted). Low familiarity and similar ‘group strength’ between opponents increases the intensity of intergroup interactions in mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.
Ito, A. Eckardt, W. Stoinski, T.S., Gillespie, T. Tokiwa, T. (in review). Three new Troglodeytella and a new Gorilloflasca ciliates (Entodiniomorphida) from mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Rwanda.
Porter, A., Eckardt, W., Vecellio, V., Guschanski, K., Niehoff, T., Ngobobo, U., Nishuli, R., Stoinski, T., Caillaud, D. (in review). Behavioral response to conspecific death and corpses in adult eastern gorillas (Gorilla beringei).
Wright, E., Galbany, J., McFarlin, S., Ndayishimiye, E., Stoinski, T., Robbins, M.M. (in review). Male body size, dominance rank and strategic use of aggression in a group-living mammal.
Eckardt, E., Ryu, Stoinski, T., Santymire, R., Williams-Newkirk, Hensley, Abavandimwe, D., Mucyo, S., Gonzalez-Astudillo, Gillespie, T. (in review). The effects of human presence and other stressors on the prevalence of pathogenic and non-pathogenic Entamoeba species in wild mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Rwanda.
Eckardt, T., Stoinski, T., Rosenbaum, S., Santymire, R. (in review). Social and ecological factors negatively affect the stress physiology of Virunga mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei)
Rosenbaum, S., Eckardt, W., Stoinski, T., Kuzawa, Ch., Santymire, R. (in review). Validation of an androgen enzyme immunoassay as a measure of fecal testosterone and 5-dihydrotestosterone metabolites in wild male mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei)
van der Hoek, Y., Emmanuel, F., Eckardt, W., Kwizera, I., Derhé, M., Caillaud, D., Stoinski, T., Tuyisingize, D. (in review) Recent decline in vegetative regeneration of bamboo (Yushania alpina), a key food plant for primates in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Scientific Reports.
van der Hoek, Y., Tuyisingize, D., Eckardt, W., Garriga, N., Derhé, M. (in review) Spatial variation in anuran richness, diversity, and abundance across montane wetland habitat in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Ecology and Evolution.
Kayitete, L., van der Hoek, Y., Nyirambangutse, B., Derhé. M. (in review). Observations on regeneration of the keystone plant species Hagenia abyssinica in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. African Journal of Ecology.
Galbany, J., Muhire, T., Vecellio, V., Mudakikwa, A., Nyiramana, A., Cranfield, M.R, Stoinski, T.S., & McFarlin, S.C. (in review). Incisor wear and age determination in mountain gorillas from Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. American Journal of Physical Anthropology.
Rosenbaum, S., Vigalant, L., Kuzawa, C., Stoinski, T.S. (2018). Caring for infants associated with male reproductive success in mountain gorillas. Scientific Reports.
Mirville, M.O., Ridley, A., Muyco, S., Vecellio, V., Ndagijimana, F., Stoinski, T.S., Grueter, C. (2018). Factors influencing individual participation during intergroup interactions in mountain gorillas, Animal Behaviour (2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.08.003
Bass, P. van der Valk, T., Vigilant, L., Ngobobo, U., Binyinyi, E., Nishuli, R., Caillaud, D., Gushanski, K. (2018). Population level assessment of genetic diversity and habitat fragmentation in critically endangered Grauer’s gorillas. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 165, 656-575.
Ito, A., Eckardt, W., Stoinski, T.S., Gillespie, T.R., & Tokiwa, T. (2017). Gorilloflasca Africana n.g., n.sp., (Entodiniomorphida) from wild habituated Virunga mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Rwanda. European Journal of Protistology, 60, 68-75.
Campos, F.A., Morris, W.F., Alberts, S.C., Altmann, J., Brockman, D.K., Cords, M., Pusey, A., Stoinski, T.S., Strier, K.B., & Fedigan, L.M. (2017). Does climate variability influence the demography of wild primates? Evidence from long-term life-history data in seven species. Global Change Biology, 23 (11), 4907-4921.
Kralick, A., Burgess, M.L., Glowacka, H., Arbenz-Smith, K., McGrath, K.J., Ruff, C.B., Chan, K.C., Cranfield, M.R., Stoinski, T.S., Bromage, T.G., Mudakikwa, A., & McFarlin, S.C. (2017). A radiographic study of permanent molar development in wild Virunga mountain gorillas of known chronological age from Rwanda. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 163 (1), 129-147.
Galbany, J., Abavandimwe, D., Vakiener, M., Eckardt, W., Mudakikwa, A., Ndagijimana, F., Stoinski, T.S., & McFarlin, S.C. (2017). Body growth and life history in wild mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) from Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 163 (3), 570-590.
Glowacka, H., McFarlin, S.C., Vogel, E.R., Stoinski, T.S., Tuyisingize, D., Mudakikwa A., & Schwartz, G.T. (2017). Toughness of the Virunga mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) diet across an altitudinal gradient. American Journal of Primatology, 79 (8), e22661.
Colchero, F., Rau, R., Jones, O.R., Barthold, J.A., Conde, D.A., Lenart, A., Nemeth, L., Scheuerlein, A., Schoeley, J., Torres, C., Zarulli, V., Altmann, J., Brockman, D.K., Bronikowski, A.M., Fedigan, L.M., Pusey, A.E., Stoinski, T.S., Strier, K.B., Baudisch, A., Alberts, S.C., & Vaupel, J.W. (2016). The emergence of longevous populations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113 (48), e7681-e7690. Winner of the Cozarrelli Prize.
Rosenbaum, S., Vecellio, V., & Stoinski, T.S. (2016). Observations of severe and lethal coalitionary attacks in wild mountain gorillas. Scientific Reports, 6, 37018.
Madinda, N.F., Ehlers, B., Wertheim, J.O., Akoua-Koffi, C., Bergl, R.A., Boesch, C., Akonkwa, D.B.M., Eckardt, W., Fruth, B., Gillespie, T.R., Gray, M., Hohmann, G., Karhemere, S., Kujirakwinja, D., Langergraber, K., Muyembe, J., Nishuli, R., Pauly, M., Petrzelkova, K.J., Robbins, M.M., Todd, A., Schubert, G., Stoinski, T.S., Wittig, R.M., Zuberbühler, K., Peeters, M., Leendertz, F.H., & Calvignac-Spencer, S. (2016). Assessing host-virus codivergence for close relatives of Merkel cell polyomavirus infecting African great apes. Journal of Virology, 90 (19), 8531-8541.
Robbins, M.M., Ando, C., Fawcett, K.A., Grueter, C.C., Hedwig, D., Iwata, Y., Lodwick, J.L., Masi, S., Salmi, R., Stoinski, T.S., Todd, A., Vecellio, V., & Yamagiwa, J. (2016). Behavioral variation in gorillas: evidence of potential cultural traits. PLoS ONE, 11 (9), e0160483.
Grueter, C.C., Robbins, M.M., Abavandimwe, D., Ortmann, S., Mudakikwa, A., Ndagijimana, F., Vecellio, V., & Stoinski, T.S. (2016). Elevated activity in adult mountain gorillas is related to consumption of bamboo shoots. Journal of Mammology, 97 (6), 1663-1670
Bronikowski, A.M., Cords, M., Alberts, S.C., Altmann, J., Brockman, D.K., Fedigan, L.M., Pusey, A.E., Stoinski, T.S., Strier, K.B., & Morris, W. (2016). Female and male life tables for seven wild primate species. Scientific Data, 3, 160006.
Glowacka, H., McFarlin, S.C., Catlett, K.K., Mudakikwa, A., Bromage, T.G., Cranfield, M.R., Stoinski, T.S., & Schwartz, G.T. (2016). Age-related changes in molar topography and shearing crest length in a wild population of mountain gorillas from Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 160 (1), 3-15.
Rosenbaum, S., Hirwa, J.P., Silk, J.B., Vigilant, L., & Stoinski T.S. (2016). Infant mortality risk and paternity certainty are associated with postnatal maternal behavior toward adult male mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei). PLoS ONE, 11(2), e0147441.
Rosenbaum, S., Maldonado-Chaparro, A.A., & Stoinski, T.S. (2016). Group structure predicts variation in proximity relationships between male-female and male-infant pairs of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei). Primates, 57 (1), 17-28.
Eckardt, W., Stoinski, T.S., Rosenbaum, S., Umuhoza, M.R., & Santymire, R. (2016). Validating faecal glucocorticoid metabolite analysis in the Virunga mountain gorilla using a natural biological stressor. Conservation Physiology, 4 (1), cow029.
Ito, A., Eckardt, W., Stoinski, T.S., Gillespie, T.R., & Tokiwa, T. (2016). Prototapirella ciliates from wild habituated Virunga mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Rwanda with the descriptions of two new species. European Journal of Protistology, 54, 47-58.
Galbany, J., Stoinski, T.S., Abavandimwe, D., Breuer, T., Rutkowski, W., Batista, N.V., Ndagijimana, F. & McFarlin, S.C. (2016). Validation of two independent photogrammetric techniques for determining body measurements of gorillas. American Journal of Primatology, 78 (4), 418-431.
Galbany, J., Imanizabayo, O., Romero, A., Vecellio, V., Glowacka, H., Cranfield, M.R., Bromage, T.G., Mudakikwa, A., Stoinski, T.S. & McFarlin, S.C. (2016). Tooth wear and feeding ecology in mountain gorillas from Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 159 (3), 457-465.
Grueter, C. & Stoinski, T.S. (2016). Homosexual behavior in female mountain gorillas: reflection of dominance, affiliation, reconciliation or arousal? PLoS ONE, 11(5), e0154185.
Rosenbaum, S., Hirwa, J.P., Silk, J.B., & Stoinski T.S. (2016). Relationships between adult male and maturing mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) persist across developmental stages and social upheaval. Ethology,122 (2), 134-150.
Glowacka H., McFarlin S.C., Catlett K.K., Mudakikwa A., Bromage T.G., Cranfield M.R., Stoinski T.S., Schwartz G.T. (2016). Age-related changes in molar topography and shearing crest length in a wild population of mountain gorillas from Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 160:3-15.
Habumuremyi, S., Robbins, M.M., Stephens, C., Fawcett, K.A., & Deschner, T. (2016). Endocrine assessment of cyclic activity in female mountain gorillas. Physiology and Behavior, 151, pp. 185-195.
Eckardt, W., Fawcett, K. & Fletcher, A (2016). Weaned age variation in the Virunga mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei): Influential factors
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 70, 493-507.
Galbany J, Stoinski TS, Abavandimwe D, Breuer T, Rutkowski W, Batista NV, Ndagijimana F & McFarlin SC (2016). Validation of two independent photogrammetric techniques for determining body measurements of gorillas. American Journal of Primatology. DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22511.
Grueter, C., Robbins, A., Abavandimwe, D., Vecellio, V., Ndagijimana, F., Ortmann, S., Stoinski, T.S., & Robbins, M.M.. (2015). Causes, mechanisms, and consequences of content competition among female mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Behavioral Ecology, doi:10.1093/beheco/arv.212.
Rosenbaum S, Hirwa JP, Silk JB, Vigilant L, & Stoinski T.S. (2015). Male rank, not paternity, predicts male-infant relationships in mountain gorillas. Animal Behaviour, 104, 13-24
Eckardt, W., Steklis, D., Steklis, N., Fletcher, A., Stoinski, T.S. & Weiss, A. (2015). Personality structure of wild Virunga mountain gorillas. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 129, 26-41.
Vigilant, L., Roy, J., Bradley, B., Stoneking, C.J., Robbins, M.M., & Stoinski, T.S. (2015). Reproductive competition and inbreeding avoidance in a primate with habitual female dispersal. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 69, 1163-1172.
Wright, E., Grueter, C.C., Seiler, N., Abavandimwe, D., Stoinski, T.S., Ortman, S., Robbins, M.M.. (2015). Energetic responses to variation in food availability in the two mountain gorilla populations (Gorilla beringei beringei). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22808.
Barks, S.K., Calhoun, M.E., Hopkins, W.D., Cranfield, M.R., Mudakikwa, A., Stoinski, T.S., Patterson, F.G., Erwin, J.M., Hecht, E.E., Hof, P., & Sherwood, C.C. (2015). Brain organization of gorillas reflects species differences in ecology. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 156, 252-262.
To view previous publications, please refer to https://gorillafund.org/what-we-do/scientific-research/scientific-publications/