Dr. Kristina Walkup receives her degree from Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy. Also pictured is Dr. Jill Pruetz, an associate professor of anthropology who was Walkup’s academic adviser and chair of her dissertation committee. Photo courtesy of Jolesch Photography.

Des Moines, Iowa – June 18, 2009 – Great Ape Trust marked another milestone when the first doctorate degree was conferred on a student conducting dissertation research at the scientific research facility in southeast Des Moines studying great ape intelligence and behavior. Dr. Kristina Walkup, a research assistant at Great Ape Trust, received her Doctor of Philosophy degree from Iowa State University in May.

Walkup’s research involved a number of experiments on orangutan tool use and manufacture, and revealed the red apes’ sophisticated understanding of the cause and effect of using tools. Her work adds significantly to the literature available on orangutan tool use, said Dr. Rob Shumaker, a Great Ape Trust scientist who served on Walkup’s dissertation committee. To be accepted by the committee, a doctoral candidate’s dissertation work must produce novel research that advances the field.

“As in almost every area of cognition research, chimpanzees dominate the literature, and as a result, we know much more about chimpanzees than any other type of great ape,” Shumaker said. “This series of studies Dr. Walkup created becomes more important because it recognizes the abilities of an under-represented species and produces novel research that advances the field.”

“The other piece of her work that is noteworthy is that it explored causal understanding associated with novel forms of tool use, which is quite important,” he continued. “She used a compilation of established methods as well as devising new ones to explore what the orangutans understand. It would be exciting if this was replicated with bonobos, gorillas and chimpanzees.”

The research Walkup conducted with captive orangutans complements what scientists know and hypothesize about wild orangutans, found only in Indonesia and Malaysia. It is more difficult for researchers to study tool use among wild orangutans, the most arboreal of the great apes, since most of their tool using occurs high in the trees.

“Any research getting at causal understanding in the wild is tricky,” Shumaker said. “This type of research is very valuable to the field researchers in Indonesia and Malaysia studying wild orangutans because it helps to validate some of their hypotheses.”

“It is quite remarkable how adept they are at tool use in captivity,” added Dr. Benjamin Beck, Great Ape Trust director of conservation. “We are now learning a lot more about the ability of wild orangutans to use tools, how behavior is acquired and the cognitive processes involved. This can be complemented by the work Kristina has done.”

Walkup, 28, earned her bachelor of arts degree in biology from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., in 2002 and her master of arts degree in anthropology from Iowa State in 2004. She earned her Ph.D from the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program and the Department of Anthropology at Iowa State University. She has submitted several manuscripts for publication from her dissertation.

Walkup began working as a volunteer, conducting research with the orangutans for Great Ape Trust in 2004, which helped her develop solid relationships with the individual orangutans before she began her research trials. “Developing respectful relationships with the apes is so important in everything we do here, including research,” she said. “That was really valuable.”

Walkup officially joined the Great Ape Trust staff in May 2006 as education coordinator. In January 2007, she became a research assistant. She is currently working with Shumaker and Beck on the second edition of Beck’s book, Animal Tool Behavior, first published in 1980. It is the only reference book examining tool use across the animal kingdom, and is the most-often cited reference on tool behavior.

Walkup said she enjoys working with orangutans, and hopes to work with other types of great apes, including Great Ape Trust’s six resident bonobos.

As the first doctoral candidate to conduct dissertation research at Great Ape Trust, Walkup holds a unique distinction, according to Shumaker.

“I think that’s of tremendous significance for our organization, and I also think it does a wonderful job of demonstrating The Trust’s commitment to academic excellence and cultivating the next generation of scientists doing cognitive research with great apes,” he said. “It’s a proud moment for Great Ape Trust.”

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Great Ape Trust of Iowa is a scientific research facility in southeast Des Moines dedicated to understanding the origins and future of culture, language, tools and intelligence. When completed, Great Ape Trust will be the largest great ape facility in North America and one of the first worldwide to include all four types of great ape – bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans – for noninvasive interdisciplinary studies of their cognitive and communicative capabilities.

Great Ape Trust is dedicated to providing sanctuary and an honorable life for great apes, studying the intelligence of great apes, advancing conservation of great apes and providing unique educational experiences about great apes. Great Ape Trust of Iowa is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization and is certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).