Anita Stone

Dr. Anita Stone is an Associate Professor of Biology at California Lutheran University (Cal Lutheran), leading the Stone Primate Behavior Lab. Her research focuses on the behavioral ecology of Neotropical primates, particularly Collins’ squirrel monkeys (Saimiri collinsi) in Eastern Amazonia, Brazil. She has conducted long-term field studies since 2000, examining primate social behavior, life histories, and sexual selection. Her work integrates field observations with molecular tools to study kinship, dispersal patterns, and reproductive strategies. Dr. Stone actively involves undergraduate students in her research, providing hands-on fieldwork and data analysis opportunities. She teaches courses such as Experimental Biology, Primate Ecology, and Animal Behavior.

Education: B.S. in Biology from Oberlin College; Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Research Interests: Primate social structure, reproductive strategies, “fattened male phenomenon,” urine-washing behavior, and conservation in fragmented Amazonian ecosystems. Her NSF-funded projects investigate how male squirrel monkeys’ seasonal fattening influences mating success and genetic quality.

Lab Activities: Collaborations with institutions like UCLA and the University of Texas Arlington include molecular genetics and statistical analyses. The lab emphasizes community conservation in Brazil, partnering with local landowners.

Grants: Received NSF funding for studying male squirrel monkeys’ reproductive strategies. Students in her lab are supported by Swenson Science and Jung Summer Fellowships.

Labs/Teams: Stone Primate Behavior Lab at Cal Lutheran, field site in Ananim, Pará, Brazil, with host family collaboration.