The UCCS Department of Anthropology is proud to celebrate Taylor Castellon and Arden White, who represented our program with distinction at the 4th Annual Rocky Mountain Biological Anthropology Association (RMBAA) meeting, held at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Both students presented original research on primate behavior and ecology, earning enthusiastic recognition from faculty and professionals across the region.
Congratulations to Taylor Castellon, who received First Place in the RMBAA Undergraduate Student Poster Competition for her project “Protected Primates: The Spatial and Behavioral Patterns of Geoffroy’s Spider Monkeys in a Protected Area.”
Taylor’s research, conducted at La Selva Biological Research Station in Costa Rica, explored how well-protected areas function as a conservation method. By recording 81 observations of Geoffroy’s spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) across diverse forest types and ecological contexts, she found that the species prefers secondary forests including abandoned agroforestry zones, arboretums and ecological preserves; habitats demonstrating adaptability and thriving conditions for this endangered primate. Her findings underscore the conservation value of protected areas and the resilience of spider monkeys in human-modified landscapes.
Taylor’s and Arden’s accomplishments highlight the growing strength of student research in biological anthropology, primate ecology and conservation at UCCS. Their dedication in the field and the lab continues to make our department proud.
Congratulations to both Taylor and Arden for their outstanding work and for representing UCCS Anthropology with excellence!