I am interested in physiological and behavioral strategies that primates use to cope with dynamic environments. I study the ways in which species distribute energy in response to changes in their environments to determine how they resolve the competing needs of growth, reproduction and survival. I'm currently investigating the hormonal basis of intrasexual dominance relationships and will begin a project on infant allocare in lemurs.

To study environmental selection pressures on wild primates and assess how species mitigate environmental stress, I employ hormonal, phenological, ecological, and behavioral measures. My fieldwork takes place in Madagascar, and my primary taxonomic focus is on lemurs.

Ph.D. Anthropology, University of Texas-Austin

Primatology

Endocrinology

Ecology

Life History

Energetics

Conservation Biology

Tecot, S, Gerber, B, King, S, Verdolin, J, Wright, PC. (2013). Risky business: Sex ratio, mortality, and group transfer in Propithecus edwardsi in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. Behavioral Ecology doi: 10.1093/beheco/art008

Tecot, S. (2013). Variable energetic strategies in disturbed and undisturbed rain forest habitats: fecal cortisol levels in southeastern Madagascar. Leaping Ahead: Advances in Prosimian Biology (Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects). J. Masters, M. Gamba, F. Génin, R. Tuttle, eds. New York: Springer.

Tecot, S, Baden, A, Romine, N., Kamilar, J. (2013). Reproductive strategies in Malagasy strepsirhines. In: Rutherford J, Hinde K, Clancy K (eds) Building babies: Primate development in proximate and ultimate perspective (Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects). New York: Springer.

Tecot, S and Romine, N. (2012). Female leadership of group movements in a pair-living, co-dominant, monomorphic primate species. American Journal of Primatology. 74:591-601. DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22011

Tecot, S, Baden, A, Romine, N, Kamilar, J. (2012). Infant parking and nesting, not allomaternal care, influence Malagasy primate life histories. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. DOI: 10.1007/s00265-012-1393-5

King, SJ, Boyer, DM, Tecot, SR, Zohdy, S, Blanco, M, Wright, PC, Jernvall, J. (2012). Lemur habitat and dental senescence in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. American Journal of Physical Anthropology Special Issue on Dental Ecology. 148(2):228-237. DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.21589

Wright PC, Erhart EM, Tecot SR, Baden AL, Arrigo-Nelson S, Morelli TL, Deppe A, Ratelolahy F, Blanco M, Atsalis S, Johnson SE, Ratolahy F, Tan CLM, Zohdy S. (2012). Long-term lemur research at Centre ValBio, Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. In: Kappeler PM, Watts D, editors. Long-term research in Primates. Dordrecht: Springer.

King, SJ, Morelli, TL, Arrigo-Nelson, S, Ratelolahy, FJ, Godfrey, LR, Wyatt, J, Tecot, S, Jernvall, J, Wright, PC. (2011). Morphometrics and pattern of growth in wild sifakas (Propithecus edwardsi) at Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. American Journal of Primatology. 73(2):155-172. DOI: 10.1002/ajp.20881

Wright, PC, Tecot, SR, Erhart, E, King, SJ, Baden, AL, Grassi, C. (2011). The role of lemurs in maintaining Madagascar ecosystems: Implications for forest composition. American Journal of Primatology. 73:1-18. DOI: 10.1002/ajp.20936

Rakotonirina, L.H., Spirall, G.J., Ratsimbazafy, J.H., Ravelonjanahary, S., Ralaiarison, R., Tecot, S., Hall, A., Calhoon, T., Randria, G.R. (2010). Effet de la dégradation de l’habitat sur la consommation alimentaire d’Eulemur rubriventer dans deux sites: Talatakely et Vatoharanana, du Parc National de Ranomafana. Lemur News. 15:47-51.

Tecot, S. (2010). It’s all in the timing: Out of season births and infant survival in Eulemur rubriventer. International Journal of Primatology. 31(5): 715-735. DOI:10.1007/s10764-010-9423-5.

Tecot, S and Wright, PC. (2010). “Primate Conservation Efforts”. Yearbook of Science and Technology. McGraw Hill: New York.

Baden, A, Lu, A, Tecot, S. (2009). 2009 annual meetings of the American Society of Primatologists. Evolutionary Anthropology. 18:164-165.

Tecot, S. (2008). In Reference to Lemurs: A Comprehensive Field Guide and Call to Action on Behalf of the Unique Primates of Madagascar (book review). American Journal of Primatology. 70:204-206.