Kelly J. STEWART

My general interests are primate socio-ecology and conservation, with a focus on apes. My research is based on data on wild mountain gorillas, which I studied in Rwanda and the country formerly known as Zaire during the 1970's and 1980's. Topics on which I have published include reproductive behavior, agonistic behavior and alliance formation, dispersal patterns, vocal communication, conservation and social development of immature animals. The latter subject was the focus of my Ph.D in Zoology obtained from Cambridge University. I have also done fieldwork in southeastern Nigeria, aimed at conserving the dwindling gorilla population in that region.

Since joining the Department of Anthropology at UCD in 1989 as a Research Associate, I have developed an interest in popular science writing and science education for the general public. In an attempt to inform and interest the local population in science, I wrote for a couple of years a twice-monthly column, Science to the People, for the Davis Enterprise, describing research being conducted at the university. I have also written a popular book on gorillas for the WorldLife Library, and am now writing with Sandy Harcourt a scientific book on gorilla society for publication with University of Chicago Press. The describes the society and argues why it has the form it does, which turns out to be a story of conflict, compromise and sometimes cooperation between the sexes.

Recent scientific publications:
In prep. - A.H. Harcourt & Kelly J. Stewart. Gorilla Society. Conflict and compromise between the sexes. University of Chicago Press.
2003 - Kelly J. Stewart. Gorillas. Natural history and conservation. Voyageur Press, Stillwater, MN, USA.
2001 - Robbins, M.M., Sicotte, P. & Stewart, K. (eds). Mountain Gorillas: Three decades of research at Karisoke. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
2001 - Stewart, K., Sicotte, P. & Robbins, M.M. Mountain gorillas of the Virungas: a short history. In: Mountain Gorillas: Three decades of research at Karisoke, Robbins, M.M., Sicotte, P. & Stewart, K. (eds). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 1-26.
2001 - Stewart, K. . Social relationships of immature gorillas and silverbacks. In: Mountain Gorillas: Three decades of research at Karisoke, Robbins, M.M., Sicotte, P. & Stewart, K. (eds). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 183-213.
2001 - Harcourt, A.H. & Stewart, K. J. Vocal relationships of wild mountain gorillas. In: Mountain Gorillas: Three decades of research at Karisoke, Robbins, M.M., Sicotte, P. & Stewart, K. (eds). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 241- 262.