We are an interdisciplinary lab group, with shared interest in how human-caused environmental change is influencing animals, particularly nonhuman primates. Our primate-focussed research is mostly based on field research at the Awajishima Monkey Center on Awaji Island, Japan, where we collect field data on behavioural plasticity, movement patterns and decisions, social dynamics and parental behaviour in a free-ranging group of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Other work in our group is related to conservation, climate change impacts on primates and other animals, farmed animals, animal welfare, human-animal interactions, rainforests on the west coast of Canada, and urban ecology and biodiversity in Montreal.
Primatology & Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies (PIES) Lab


Sarah E. Turner (PhD University of Calgary, 2010)
Assistant Professor
Sarah Turner is interested in how the behavioural ecology of nonhuman primates is influenced by human-induced environmental change. She studies the behaviour of free-ranging Japanese macaques with physical disabilities to explore hypotheses related to behavioural phenotypic plasticity, maternal investment and mother-infant interactions, dominance rank, and the adaptive significance of social behaviours. Sarah obtained her PhD in Anthropology (Primatology) from the University of Calgary in 2010. After her PhD, she held a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Biology at McGill University. Sarah conducts research at the Awajishima Monkey Center in Japan.
Current Research Projects
Fonds de recherche du Québec - Nature et technologies (FRQNT) Nouveaux chercheurs grant (2018-2020), Optimal spatial movement strategies, foraging and disability among free-ranging Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)
Current students
Stephanie Eccles | PhD |
The Risks of Sustainable Industrial Animal Agriculture under Climate Change: A Case Study of North Carolina and its Vulnerable Human and Nonhuman Animal Residents | GPE, Concordia | |
Yisa Ginath | PhD | Monitoring forest cover and land use change in the Congo basin under IPCC climate change scenarios | Dr. Damon Matthews | GPE, Concordia |
Brogan Stewart | PhD | Movement complexity of physically impaired Japanese macaques | GPE, Concordia | |
Megan Joyce | MSc | Optimal foraging travel route choice and physical impairment in free-ranging Japanese macaques | GPE, Concordia | |
Siobhan Knowles (2020) | MEnv MITACs Internship | Human-Animal Conflict in Environmental Assessment: A Case Study of Bat Translocation Success on Vancouver Island, B.C. | GPE, Concordia | |
Caroline Lesage | BSc Honours | Behavioural correlates of alopecia in captive Japanese macaques | GPE, Concordia | |
Sophie Mortimer | BSc Honours | A case study of infant theft and co-mothering in free-ranging Japanese macaques | GPE, Concordia | |
Faye Sun | BSc Research | Animal and human migration | GPE, Concordia | |
Brittany Talarico | BSc Research and Volunteer | Disability in infant Japanese macaques | GPE, Concordia | |
Kesley Wilson | BSc Student and Volunteer | Disability in infant Japanese macaques | Wildlife Biology, McGill |
Former students
Name | Degree | Research Area | Co-supervisor | Unit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Eva-Maria Hanchar (2020) | BSc Honours | Calculating carbon footprints: Influences on individual climate-related behavioural choices | Dr. Damon Matthews | GPE, Concordia |
Siobhan Knowles (2020) | MEnv MITACs Internship | Human-Animal Conflict in Environmental Assessment: A Case Study of Bat Translocation Success on Vancouver Island, B.C. | GPE, Concordia | |
Juliette Penez (2020) | MSc Internship | How Do Animals Deal with Physical Disabilities? An Annotated Bibliography | GPE, Concordia | |
Anna-Karina Poronovich (2020) | BA Honours | Protest Signs at the September 27th Climate March: A Research Creation Ecofeminist Analysis and Online Archive | Dr. Nalini Mohabir | GPE, Concordia |
Xiaolan Sun (2020) | MEnv | Integrating Life Cycle Assessment in China’s Sustainable Development: A Case Study of the Cashmere Industry | GPE, Concordia | |
Hannah Brown (2019) | BA Research | Butterfly garden habitats and pollinator diversity in Montreal | GPE, Concordia | |
Jenny Paola Espitia Contreras (2019) | BSc Honours | Assessing the effects of congenital limb malformations on social grooming techniques and efficiency of free-ranging Japanese macaques | GPE, Concordia | |
Michael Cortese (2019) | MEnv | Safeguarding Biodiversity Hotspots through Protected Areas in Sub- Saharan Africa | GPE, Concordia | |
Audréanne Pelletier | BSc Honours | Effect of physical disability on feeding efficiency in Japanese macaques | GPE, Concordia | |
Zachary Masson | BA Honours | Smartphone Ecology: Measuring Plant Stress Using Smartphone Applications | Dr. Catherine Calogeropoulos | GPE, Concordia |
Brogan Stewart | BSc Honours | Emergence of novel climate regimes across primate species habitat ranges | Dr. Damon Matthews | GPE, Concordia |
Adrienne Kotler | BSc | Manual disability and provision feeding efficiency in Japanese macaques | Dr. Simon Reader | Dept. of Biology, McGill |
Tanya Graham | BSc Honours | Assessing the impacts of climate changes on non-human primates | Dr. Damon Matthews | GPE, Concordia |

Current Opportunities in the PIES Lab
I am looking for enthusiastic graduate and undergraduate students who are interested in ecology, conservation and primate behaviour. In particular, I am looking for graduate students who want to conduct field research in primate behavioural ecology. I will be accepting one or two graduate students a year to pursue field-based primatology research. Students with quantitative skills, fieldwork and animal behavior experience are encouraged to apply, and previous training in geography, biology, biological anthropology or environmental science are all appropriate undergraduate backgrounds for research in my lab group. Applicants for graduate studies go through a competitive application process through the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment at Concordia University. If you are interested in the MSc or PhD programs here, and are interested in working with me, please contact me prior to submitting your application to the university.
I will also be accepting at least one undergraduate honours student each year (GEOG 491). Honours student projects can either involve analysis of previously collected video data on Japanese macaques, research using existing primate datasets (e.g. IUCN data), research projects related to local urban ecology, animal behaviour or biodiversity, or collaborative interdisciplinary projects co-supervised with other GPE faculty. Undergraduate students interested in pursuing honours research should contact me directly for an appointment.
