Max-Planck-Institut
Contact
Department of Primatology
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
phone: +49 (341) 3550 - 200
fax: +49 (341) 3550 - 299
Curriculum Vitae
Education
| 2011-2018 | PhD (submitted, expected completion in September), Biology, International Max Planck Research School, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany Thesis: Challenging the notion of chimpanzees as a strictly forest-adapted species: biomarker variation of chimpanzees on the edge Supervisor: Dr. Hjalmar Kühl |
| 2010-2011 | Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Multidisciplinary Graduate Program, Department of Community and Regional Planning, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa |
| 2009-2011 | Masters of Arts, Anthropology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa Thesis: Rank-dependent effects on travel and ranging patterns of savanna-dwelling chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) at Fongoli, Senegal. Advisor: Dr. Jill Pruetz |
| 2005-2009 | Bachelor of Science, Animal Ecology (Wildlife Option; Anthropology Minor), Magna Cum Laude, Honors, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa Advisor: Dr. W. Sue Fairbanks |
Professional and field experience
| 2012-Present | PhD Research, Kedougou and Bakel Regions, Sénégal (multiple stays) |
| 2010 | Student Researcher, Fongoli Savanna Chimpanzee Project, Sénégal |
| 2009 | Research Assistant, Fongoli Savanna Chimpanzee Project, Sénégal |
| 2007-2009 | Research Assistant, Great Ape Trust of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa |
| 2007-2009 | Research Assistant, Dr. Jill Pruetz, Iowa State University |
| 2007 | Primate Behavior and Conservation course, Danta: Association for Conservation of the Tropics, El Zota Biological Field Station, Costa Rica |
| 2006 | Intern, Minnesota Zoological Gardens, Apple Valley, Minnesota |
Conference presentations, posters and invited talks
| 2018 | Wessling, E.G., T. Deschner, R. Mundry, J.D. Pruetz, R. M. Wittig, H.S. Kühl. Addressing the concept of habitat marginality: physiological responses of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) to seasonality across an ecological continuum. XXVII Congress of the International Primatological Society (Nairobi, Kenya; Invited symposium presentation) |
| 2017 | Wessling, E.G., H Kuehl, T Deschner, R Mundry, J Pruetz. Seasonal variation in indicators of climatic and ecological stress in savannah-dwelling chimpanzees. 7th European Federation for Primatology Meeting. (Strasbourg, France; Oral Presentation) |
| 2016 | Wessling, E.G., H. Kuehl, T. Deschner, J.D. Pruetz. Costs of living at the edge: Patterns of seasonal stress in wild chimpanzees at Fongoli, Senegal. XXVI Congress of the International Primatological Society (Chicago, USA; Oral presentation) |
| 2016 | Wessling, E.G., J.D. Pruetz, V. Oelze, M.P. Richards, H.S. Kuehl. Living on the edge: Using isotopes to disentangle constraints imposed on chimpanzees at the frontier of the West African chimpanzee range. Chimps in Context. (Chicago, USA; Poster) |
| 2016 | Wessling, E.G., H.S. Kuehl. Incorporating long-term great ape research into a regional perspective: Life at the edge of the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) range. GEO BON Open Science Conference & All Hands Meeting (Leipzig, Germany; symposium talk) |
| 2016 | Wessling, E.G. Status update on West African chimpanzee distribution and density models in preparation for IUCN/SSC West African Chimpanzee Action Plan Workshop. UNEP Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP) West African Regional Meeting. (Monrovia, Liberia; Oral presentation) |
| 2016 | Wessling, E.G. (Panelist). The APES Database REDD+ Carbon Tool as a tool for Identifying Priority Areas for REDD Projects with Co-benefits for Great Ape Populations. UNEP Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP) West African Regional Meeting. (Monrovia, Liberia; Panelist) |
| 2015 | Wessling, E.G., Deschner, T., Kühl, H., J.D. Pruetz. Constraints associated with living in a savanna-woodland environment: seasonal stress patterns in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) at Fongoli, Senegal. 6th European Federation for Primatology Meeting. (Rome, Italy; Poster) |
| 2013 | Wessling, E.G. Determinants of the West African chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) range limit and constraints of savanna woodlands. Wenner Gren Engaged Anthropology Workshop: Atelier des Chimpanzés du Sénégal. (Kedougou, Senegal; Workshop presentation) |
| 2010 | Wessling, E.G., J.D. Pruetz. Methodological considerations of daily path length measurements of West African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus). (Midwest Primate Interest Group Conference. (Chicago, USA; Poster) |
| 2010 | Wessling, E.G. Status-dependent differences in home range use among Fongoli chimpanzees. GIS Poster Symposium, Iowa State University, Ames, IA. (Poster) |
| 2008 | Wessling E.G., J.D. Pruetz. Selection of microhabitat and likelihood of germination for mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) dispersed Castilla elastica seeds. ISU Honors Poster Symposium, Ames, IA. (Poster) |
Co-authored conference presentations
| 2018 | S Heinicke, R Mundry, C Boesch, B Amarasekaran, A Barrie, T Brncic, D Brugière, G Campbell, J Carvalho, E Danquah, D Dowd, H Eshuis, M Fleury-Brugière, J Gamys, J Ganas, S Gatti, L Ginn, A Goedmakers, N Granier, I Herbinger, A Hillers, S Jones, J Junker, C Y Kouakou, V Lapeyre, V Leinert, S Marrocoli, M Molokwu-Odozi, PK N’Goran, E Normand, L Pacheco, S Regnaut, T Sop, E Ton, J van Schijndel, E Vendras, V Vergnes, A Welsh, E G Wessling, H S Kühl. Applying the positive deviance approach to identify sustainable social-ecological settings. 5th European Congress of Conservation Biology (Jyväskylä, Finland; Oral presentation). |
| 2018 | S Heinicke, R Mundry, C Boesch, B Amarasekaran, A Barrie, T Brncic, D Brugière, G Campbell, J Carvalho, E Danquah, D Dowd, H Eshuis, M Fleury-Brugière, J Gamys, J Ganas, S Gatti, L Ginn, A Goedmakers, N Granier, I Herbinger, A Hillers, S Jones, J Junker, C Y Kouakou, V Lapeyre, V Leinert, S Marrocoli, M Molokwu-Odozi, PK N’Goran, E Normand, L Pacheco, S Regnaut, T Sop, E Ton, J van Schijndel, E Vendras, V Vergnes, A Welsh, E G Wessling, H S Kühl. Modeling western chimpanzee densities to support regional conservation planning. XXVII Congress of the International Primatological Society (Nairobi, Kenya; Symposium presentation) |
| 2018 | N Tagg, M McCarthy, P Dieguez, G Bocksberger, J Willie, R Mundry, F Stewart, M Arandjelovic, J Widness, A Landsmann, A Agbor, S Angedakin, A E Ayimisin, M Bessone, G Brazzola, K Corogenes, M ter Heegde, T Deschner, E Dilambaka, M Eno-Nku, H Eshuis, A Goedmakers, A Granjon, J Head, V Hermans, S Jones, P Kadam, M Kambi, K Langergraber, V Lapeyre, J Lapuente, K Lee, V Leinert, G Maretti, S Marrocoli, A Meier, S Nicholl, E Normand, L J Ormsby, A Piel, O Robinson, V Sommer, A Tickle, E Ton, J van Schijndel, H Vanleeuwe, V Vergnes, E. G. Wessling, RM Wittig, K Zuberbuehler, H Kuehl, C Boesch. Nocturnal activity in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): evidence for flexible sleeping patterns and insights into human evolution. XXVII Congress of the International Primatological Society (Nairobi, Kenya; Oral presentation) |
| 2016 | Arandjelovic M, Boesch C, Dieguez P, McCarthy M, Estienne V, Wessling E, Maldonado N, Kühl H. 2016. The Pan African Programme: The Cultured Chimpanzee - Video, Organic and Ecological Sampling at 40 Temporary Research Sites Across Africa. GEO BON Open Science Conference & All Hands Meeting (Leipzig, Germany; symposium talk) |
| 2010 | M. Gaspersic, S. Lindshield, C. Tourkakis, E. Wessling, J. Pruetz. Tool use by Fongoli chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus): Navigating a savanna mosaic environment. XXIII Congress of the International Primatological Society. (Kyoto, Japan; Symposium presentation) |
Professional service and outreach
Active contributor to chimpanzee conservation activities in the West African Region:
| 2016 – Present | Independent consultant and scientific advisor for land use planning and industrial activity in West Africa. |
| 2017 | International Expert/Participant. IUCN/SSC West African Chimpanzee Action Plan Workshop. Monrovia. Liberia. |
| 2016 - Present | Scientific Task Force. IUCN/SSC West African Chimpanzee Action Plan Workshop. |
| 2016 | International Expert/Participant. UNEP Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP) West African Regional Meeting. Monrovia, Liberia. |
| 2015 | Scientist/Participant. UNEP Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP) National Meeting: Senegal. Kédougou, Senegal. |
Contributor / Expert Assessment:
| 2017 | For: Junker, J., Kühl, H.S., Orth, L., Smith, R.K., Petrovan, S.O. and Sutherland, W.J. Primate conservation: Global evidence for the effects of interventions. University of Cambridge, UK https://www.conservationevidence.com/synopsis/ |
Citizen science:
| 2015-Present | Chimp & See, (http://www.chimpandsee.org) Scientist/Moderator. |
Science communication, documentary assistance:
| 2017 | Footage of tool-assisted hunting by a chimpanzee at Fongoli, Senegal included as a contribution to “Premier Homme”, Full-length documentary featured on Arte |
| 2009 | Footage of tool-assisted hunting by a chimpanzee at Fongoli, Senegal included as a contribution to “Chimps: Next of Kin”, Full-length documentary by National Geographic |
Selected press (* denotes interview provided)
| [2018. Wessling et al., “Costs of living at the edge: Seasonal stress in savanna-dwelling chimpanzees”] | ||
| Rezepte gegen der Affenhitze (Forthcoming) | (Berliner Zeitung*) | |
| Hints of Human Evolution in Chimpanzees That Endure a Savanna's Heat Reprinted in Haaretz, Ynet, profiled in numerous scientific blogs | (New York Times*; Profile and Interview) | |
| [2017. Pruetz et al., “Intragroup lethal aggression in West African chimpanzees …”] | ||
| In Rare Killing Chimpanzees Cannibalize Former Leader | (National Geographic) | |
| Chimpanzees Overthrow Tyrannical Leader | (Independent) | |
| In rare display of brutality, chimpanzees beat and cannibalize their former leader | (Washington Post) | |
| [2015. Pruetz et al., “New evidence on the tool-assisted hunting exhibited by chimpanzees…”] | ||
| Female Chimps More Likely Than Males to Hunt With Tools | (Smithsonian) | |
| Chimps That Hunt Offer a New View on Evolution | (New York Times) | |
| Primate Females may have pioneered hunting with weapons | (New Scientist) | |
| Wenn Schimpansen-Weibchen zum Speer greifen | (Die Welt) | |
| Nuevos datos sobre los chimpancés que han aprendido a cazar con lanzas | (La Vanguardia) | |
| Les femmes pourraient avoir été les premières à chasser à l'aide d'armes | (Slate France) | |
