Marina Blanco

Marina releasing a mouse lemur back into Ranamofana Park. Mouse lemur is in the upper right on a branch.

Education

PhD candidate in Biological Anthropology (2004-present). University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA.
M.A. in Biological Anthropology (2004). University of Massachusetts. Amherst, MA.
Bachelor degree (1998) in Anthropology (five-year program). “Licenciatura”, School of Natural Sciences and Museum. National University of La Plata (U.N.L.P.), Argentina.

Research

My research interests are focused within the field of primate evolutionary biology. I studied craniofacial variation in howler monkeys and tested a model for Heterochrony (developed by Laurie Godfrey and Mike Sutherland) to explain morphological variation within and between species in the genus Alouatta. I am also interested in applying GIS-based techniques to dental morphology to compare species occlusal characteristics and patterns of dental wear. I am currently doing research in eastern Madagascar, on the reproductive biology of cheirogaleids (Microcebus rufus and Cheirogaleus major). Some of my research questions include the effect of body mass and activity levels on the reproductive status of male and female mouse and dwarf lemurs, variation within synchronous estrous cycles, and, more generally, the effects of fragmentation and other forms of habitat disturbance in the population dynamics and reproductive status of cheirogaleids.

mbblanco@anthro.umass.edu

This is the website for the UMASS Morphometrics Lab and an official site of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Produced by Anh Bao Nguyen and maintained by Stacey Matarazzo smataraz@anthro.umass.edu. Last updated Oct 18, 2007