Advanced Views in Primate Biology

The VIIIth International Congress of the International Primatological Society was held from 7 through 12 July 1980 in Florence, Italy, under the auspices of the host institution, the Istituto di Antropologia of the University of Florence. More than 300 papers and abstracts were pre­ sented either at the main Congress or in 14 pre-Congress symposia the week earlier (so scheduled to avoid conflicting with either the main invited lectures or the contributed paper sessions). The texts of these main lectures, plus reports from the organizers on results of the pre-Congress symposia, form this volume. The main lec­ turers were invited to provide comprehensive coverage of the latest devel­ opments in major subfie1ds of Primatology, by the leading researchers in those areas. In this way it was planned that the Congress would pro­ vide up-to-date reviews of recent progress, and prospects for future progress, that a biennial International Congress should include as one of its primary functions. The organizers of individual pre-Congress symposia interspersed their summaries among the main lectures, providing the basic details of exist­ ing theories, new data, and whatever consensus could be reached con­ cerning their particular topic. In keeping with what is probably the most urgent theme of these congresses, we included in this primary volume some extra material in the area-of primate conservation to augment the main lecturer's treatment. We acknowledge all the personnel of the Institute of Anthropology, Florence, and all other volunteers for their assistance.