Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

Summer 7-24-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

August 2026

Department

Anthropology

College Granting Degree

Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters

Department Granting Degree

Anthropology

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Kate Detwiler

Abstract

South Florida hosts a number of non-native wildlife species, including African monkeys. This study examined wild vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) in Dania Beach, Florida, to determine whether aircraft-related atmospheric noise affected their threat detection capabilities and behavioral responses. Using predator-call playbacks and focal scan samples, behavioral data was recorded across pre-, during-, and post-playback phases. Behaviors were labeled as nonvigilant or vigilant. The study also assessed whether responses differed between the local and novel predator calls as well as whether repeated trials suggested habituation over the course of the experiment. Results showed that the monkeys’ abilities to successfully detect the presence of a predator were diminished when aircraft noise was present. Behavioral responses also differed between local and novel predator calls, and a lack of increased boldness throughout the trials does not imply habituation. Overall, these findings support the notion that increased environmental noise can have negative impacts on species.

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