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A comprehensive database focused on monkey behavior illustrates the progressive evolution of scientific research toward a more collaborative framework.
MacaqueNet features social behavioral data covering 14 out of the 24 recognized species of macaques worldwide.
Launched in 2017, MacaqueNet has quickly transformed into a platform fostering international collaboration, now boasting over 100 members from 58 institutions across five continents.
This initiative is now recognized as the largest publicly accessible and standardized database dedicated to animal social behavior.
The network’s development is detailed in a new study published in the Journal of Animal Ecology.
“Our focus is on transitioning to a more collaborative model where scientists from various laboratories, organizations, and even different parts of the world join forces to address significant questions in the field,” explained Dr. Delphine De Moor from the University of Exeter’s Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour.
“As a result of this community-driven approach, we’ve consolidated social data from 61 macaque populations belonging to 14 different species, encompassing the social behaviors of over 3,000 individual macaques.”
“Such extensive collaborations encourage a culture of data sharing among researchers, motivating them to contribute their findings.”
The newly published paper outlines the journey of MacaqueNet, from its initial concept to the formation of a large-scale collective, culminating in the development of a cross-species collaborative database.
With many elements freely accessible and all data available upon request, MacaqueNet serves as a replicable model for other potential databases aiming to promote similar collaborative efforts in scientific research.
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