One World Science Field Projects International

Spider monkeys are not just charming and charismatic denizens of the rainforest, but they are also behaviorally complex and evolutionarily fascinating. Apart from living in complex fission-fusion societies similar to chimpanzees, these jungle gymnasts travel at breakneck speeds high in the canopy seeking fruits on which to gorge themselves, all the while dispersing seeds for hundreds of tree species. Without spider monkeys, the famous diversity of tropical forests would suffer -- a tragedy for certain -- but it barely scratches the surface of what would be lost if these endangered primates slipped away.
In this episode, we discuss everything spider monkey: from the anatomy that allows such jaw-dropping acrobatics, to ways that they might be saved so that future generations might also fall in love with these spectacular creatures.  
Our featured guests on this episode include behavioral ecologist Andres Link, Robert Wallace of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Identidad Madidi, and Nena Baltazar Lugones from Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi. Extra thanks to our contributors Cecilia Coro, Gaspard Renault, and Cristina Boronat.The music for this episode was by Heavenly Queen, Eaters, Lobo Loco, Doctor Turtle, Bio Unit, Tepalcate, and Podington Bear -- provided through Creative Commons licensing (CC BY-NC 3.0) or permission from the artist.
For links to organizations and projects mentioned, as well as additional readings, please visit our website, oneworldscience.org. One World Science is an initiative of Field Projects International, which offers field biology training opportunities around the globe. To learn more visit fieldprojects.org.

This premier episode of the One World Science podcast explores the iconography and ecology of spectacled bears. Elusive and poorly understood -- yet also in conflict with human development -- South America's only native bear species inhabits not just a fragmented range, but also a unique position at the intersection of culture and conservation.
Special thanks to all of our guests on this episode:
Dr. Thomas Regele, Professor of Modern Languages and Literature at Montana State University-Billings
Travis Vineyard, Curator of Animals at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Dr. Isaac Goldstein, Coordinator of the Wildlife Conservation Society‘s Andean Bear Program and co-coordinator of the Andean Bear Conservation Alliance
Flynn Vickowski, Fulbright grantee researching bears in Peru. Read her blog at: bearfootperu.wordpress.com
Deep gratitude also to:
Podington Bear, who provided the wonderful music throughout this episode under Creative Commons licensing (CC BY-NC 3.0)
Gretchen Bailey for beautifully playing the quena, a traditional flute of the Andes
Katie Corr, Education Specialist at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, for her unflagging support of this project
For links to organizations and additional readings, visit our website oneworldscience.org