Research Interests for Carl Erickson

The aye-aye is one of the world's most endangered animals Its unusual foraging behavior presents a provocative challenge to those interested in the evolution, development and sensory-motor coordination of complex behavior as well as to those concerned wi th the captive breeding of endangered species. The aye-aye hunts for woodboring insect larvae by tapping its middle finger on the surface of dead trees. When a cavity is detected, it uses its razor-sharp incisors to gnaw away the wood. Our studies have focused on the aye-aye's capacity to form representations of the subsurface cavities and to exploit them most efficiently. Because of our successful breeding program, Duke has the largest colony of captive-bred aye-ayes in the world. This program has allowed us a unique opportunity to study the early development of the aye-aye's complex behavior patterns. Ultimately, this research is critical to the reintroduction of this species to protected areas of Madagascar.

Recent Publications   (search)

1. C. Erickson, Cues for Prey Location by Aye-Aye, Daubentonia Madagascariensis, Folia Pimatologica, vol. 69 (suppl) (1998), pp. 35-40.
2. C. Erickson, Nowicki, S., Dollar, L. & Goehring, N., Percussive Foraging: Stimuli for Prey Location by Aye-Ayes, (Daubentonia madagascariensis) International Journal of Primatology, vol. 19 (1998), pp. 111-122.
3. Erickson, C.J., Nowicki, S., Dollar, L. & Goehring, N., Percussive foraging: Stimuli for prey location by aye-ayes, (Daubentonia madagascariensis), International Journal of Primatology, vol. 19 (1998), pp. 111-122.
4. C. Erickson, Cues for prey location by aye-ayes, (Daubentonia madagascariensis), Folia Primatologica, vol. 69 (suppl) (1998), pp. 35-40.
5. C. Erickson, Sociopathy and Sociobiology: Biological Units and Behavioral Units, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, vol. 18 (1995), pp. 555-556 (A commentary on L. Mealey's "The Sociobiology of Sociopathy: An Integrated Evolutionary Model".).