Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 150511961

Factors Effecting Variation in Faecal Cortisol Levels in Nomascus annamensis Gibbons in Cambodia.

Biomarkers are important to animal behavioural studies as they help researchers understand the physiology of behaviour. Particularly, using glucocorticoids to measure stress responses allows us to understand what ecological, social or anthropogenic factors might be sources of stress. The purpose of this project will be to investigate the predictors of elevated cortisol levels and thus sources of stress in Nomascus annamensis gibbons of north-eastern Cambodia. N. annamensis is a newly described species in 2010, correspondingly only a handful of studies have been conducted on them. The emphasis of this research will be the impact of tourism in this area as currently there are no guidelines for tourism best practise. The research will be conducted at Veun-Sai Siem Pang Conservation Area in the Ratanakiri Province of north-eastern Cambodia, over a 15 week period. I intend to collect samples and data from 8 different groups of N. annamensis, including the one habituated group at the site.  This study has conservation significance as N. annamensis are already a flagship species, popular with eco-tourists, yet the impact of this has not been investigated. The impact of logging and food quality on the gibbons will also be gauged from this project. 

For further information regarding this project please contact Tara-Lyn Camilleri, u5604273@anu.edu.au