Thomas Breuer
Biographic Data
| ID | 186294 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Thomas Breuer |
| GIVEN NAMES | Thomas |
| FAMILY NAME | Breuer |
| SIGNATURE | BREUER T |
| AFFILIATIONS | Wildlife Conservation Society Congo |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-8387-5712 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 25 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 38 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 25 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1995 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
The Value of Sport: An Economic Perspective
The complex Y‐chromosomal history of gorillas
Studies of the evolutionary relationships among gorilla populations using autosomal and mitochondrial sequences suggest that male‐mediated gene flow may have been important in the past, but data on the Y‐chromosomal relationships among the gorilla subspecies are limited. Here, we genotyped blood and noninvasively collected fecal samples from 12 captives and 257 wild male gorillas of known origin representing all four subspecies ( Gorilla gorilla …
Primate and wildlife law outreach campaigns in the Republic of Congo: Assessing knowledge gain of school children in urban centers compared to rural villages
Primate populations are declining throughout tropical Africa. Great apes are threatened from extinction despite the existence of wildlife laws that fully protect them in their range states. But, due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of these laws, they remain largely ineffective. There is, therefore, a crucial need to improve awareness of wildlife laws in Congo. We conducted an education campaign and tested the effectiveness of two communi…
Factors Influencing Density and Distribution of Great Ape Nests in the Absence of Human Activities
Infant survival in western lowland gorillas after voluntary dispersal by pregnant females
In many social species, after the alpha male has been replaced or the group disintegrates, a female’s infant is at risk of infanticide by a male. Female gorillas have developed the rare strategy of secondary dispersal in which they transfer between reproductive groups during the limited time period between weaning an infant and conceiving the next one (voluntary dispersal). By doing so they leave a weaker silverback near the end of his tenure and…
Dialium seed coprophagy in wild western gorillas: Multiple nutritional benefits and toxicity reduction hypotheses
Unraveling the relationship between the unusual feeding behaviors and the nutritional intake of endangered species may provide crucial information for understanding species response to habitat unpredictable changes. Primates occasionally re-ingest fruit seeds alongside ingestion of feces, a behavior called coprophagy. The nutritional benefit is one of the several non-mutual exclusive hypotheses proposed to explain this behavior. We investigated t…
Handedness in gestural and manipulative actions in male hunter‐gatherer Aka pygmies from Central African Republic
Objectives All human populations display a right‐biased handedness. Nonetheless, if studies on western populations are plenty, investigations of traditional populations living at subsistence levels are rare. Yet, understanding the geographical variation of phenotypes of handedness is crucial for testing evolutionary hypotheses. We aimed to provide a preliminary investigation of factors affecting handedness in 25 Aka pygmies from Central African R…
Using video and theater to increase knowledge and change attitudes—Why are gorillas important to the world and to Congo
Applying environmental education in primate range countries is an important long-term activity to stimulate pro-conservation behavior. Within captive settings, mega-charismatic species, such as great apes are often used to increase knowledge and positively influence attitudes of visitors. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term video and theater program developed for a Western audience and adapted to rural people living in two village…
Attitudes Towards Forest Elephant Conservation Around a Protected Area in Northern Congo
An assessment of local attitudes towards conservation can guide wildlife managers in the effective application of measurements to improve these perceptions. Here we conducted a quantitative questionnaire survey around a protected area in northern Congo surveying 314 households living in four villages around the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. We investigated the impact of the benefits of a conservation project (led by an international non-governmen…
Sexual coercion and courtship by male western gorillas
Validation of two independent photogrammetric techniques for determining body measurements of gorillas
The ability to accurately measure morphological characteristics of wild primates in the field is challenging, yet critical for understanding fundamental aspects of their biology and behavior. Recent studies have shown that digital photogrammetry can be used to non‐invasively measure morphological traits of wild primates, as it allows for the determination of geometric properties of objects remotely from photographic images. We report here on a ra…
Indicators for wild animal offtake: Methods and case study for African mammals and birds
Ingram, D. J., L. Coad, B. Collen, N. F. Kümpel, T. Breuer, J. E. Fa, D. J. C. Gill, F. Maisels, J. Schleicher, E. J. Stokes, G. Taylor, and J. P. W. Scharlemann. 2015. Indicators for wild animal offtake: methods and case study for African mammals and birds. Ecology and Society 20(3):40. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-07823-200340
The genetic population structure of wild western lowland gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla ) living in continuous rain forest
To understand the evolutionary histories and conservation potential of wild animal species it is useful to assess whether taxa are genetically structured into different populations and identify the underlying factors responsible for any clustering. Landscape features such as rivers may influence genetic population structure, and analysis of structure by sex can further reveal effects of sex-specific dispersal. Using microsatellite genotypes obtai…
Variability in the developmental life history of the genus Gorilla
Life history is influenced by factors both intrinsic (e.g., body and relative brain size) and extrinsic (e.g., diet, environmental instability) to organisms. In this study, we examine the prediction that energetic risk influences the life history of gorillas. Recent comparisons suggest that the more frugivorous western lowland gorilla shows increased infant dependence, and thus a slower life history, than the primarily folivorous mountain gorilla…
Phenotypic correlates of male reproductive success in western gorillas
Education for the conservation of great apes and other wildlife in northern Congo—the importance of nature clubs
Physical maturation, life‐history classes and age estimates of free‐ranging western gorillas—insights from Mbeli Bai, Republic of Congo
Physical maturation and life‐history parameters are seen as evolutionary adaptations to different ecological and social conditions. Comparison of life‐history patterns of closely related species living in diverse environments helps to evaluate the validity of these assumptions but empirical data are lacking. The two gorilla species exhibit substantial differences in their environment, which allows investigation into the role of increased frugivor…
Potential cost-effectiveness of vaccination for rotavirus gastroenteritis in eight Latin American and Caribbean countries
Vaccination would effectively reduce the disease burden and health care costs of rotavirus gastroenteritis in the Latin American and Caribbean countries analyzed here. From the health care system perspective, universal vaccination of infants is predicted to be cost-effective, based on current standards
Economic and health burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis for the 2003 birth cohort in eight Latin American and Caribbean countries
Rotavirus gastroenteritis is likely to result in substantial disease and economic burden to health systems in Latin American and Caribbean countries, and the foreseeable burden should be an important consideration in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of vaccination
Using photogrammetry and color scoring to assess sexual dimorphism in wild western gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla )
Investigating sexual dimorphism is important for our understanding of its influence on reproductive strategies including male–male competition, mate choice, and sexual conflict. Measuring physical traits in wild animals can be logistically challenging and disruptive for the animals. Therefore body size and ornament variation in wild primates have rarely been quantified. Gorillas are amongst the most sexually dimorphic and dichromatic primates. Ad…
Another No-go Theorem for Hidden Variable Models of Inaccurate Spin 1 Measurements
Uncertainty about the actual orientation of the measurement device has been claimed to open a loophole for hidden variable models of quantum mechanics. In this paper I describe the statistics of inaccurate spin measurements by unsharp spin observables. A no-go theorem for hidden variable models of the inaccurate measurement statistics follows: There is a finite set of directions for which not all results of inaccurate spin measurements can be pre…
Martin Carrier: The Completeness of Scientific Theories (The University of Western Ontario Series in Philosophy of Science, Vol. 53) Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers 1993
What theories of everything don't tell
Subjective decoherence in quantum measurements
The Impossibility of Accurate State Self-Measurements
It is shown that it is impossible for an observer to distinguish all present states of a system in which he or she is contained, irrespective of whether this system is a classical or a quantum mechanical one and irrespective of whether the time evolution is deterministic or stochastic. As a corollary, this implies that it is impossible for an observer to measure the EPR-correlations between himself or herself and an outside system. Implications o…
Variability in the developmental life history of the genus Gorilla
Life history is influenced by factors both intrinsic (e.g., body and relative brain size) and extrinsic (e.g., diet, environmental instability) to organisms. In this study, we examine the prediction that energetic risk influences the life history of gorillas. Recent comparisons suggest that the more frugivorous western lowland gorilla shows increased infant dependence, and thus a slower life history, than the primarily folivorous mountain gorilla…
Using photogrammetry and color scoring to assess sexual dimorphism in wild western gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla )
Investigating sexual dimorphism is important for our understanding of its influence on reproductive strategies including male–male competition, mate choice, and sexual conflict. Measuring physical traits in wild animals can be logistically challenging and disruptive for the animals. Therefore body size and ornament variation in wild primates have rarely been quantified. Gorillas are amongst the most sexually dimorphic and dichromatic primates. Ad…
Phenotypic correlates of male reproductive success in western gorillas
The Impossibility of Accurate State Self-Measurements
It is shown that it is impossible for an observer to distinguish all present states of a system in which he or she is contained, irrespective of whether this system is a classical or a quantum mechanical one and irrespective of whether the time evolution is deterministic or stochastic. As a corollary, this implies that it is impossible for an observer to measure the EPR-correlations between himself or herself and an outside system. Implications o…
Indicators for wild animal offtake: Methods and case study for African mammals and birds
Ingram, D. J., L. Coad, B. Collen, N. F. Kümpel, T. Breuer, J. E. Fa, D. J. C. Gill, F. Maisels, J. Schleicher, E. J. Stokes, G. Taylor, and J. P. W. Scharlemann. 2015. Indicators for wild animal offtake: methods and case study for African mammals and birds. Ecology and Society 20(3):40. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-07823-200340
Factors Influencing Density and Distribution of Great Ape Nests in the Absence of Human Activities
The Impossibility of Accurate State Self-Measurements
It is shown that it is impossible for an observer to distinguish all present states of a system in which he or she is contained, irrespective of whether this system is a classical or a quantum mechanical one and irrespective of whether the time evolution is deterministic or stochastic. As a corollary, this implies that it is impossible for an observer to measure the EPR-correlations between himself or herself and an outside system. Implications o…
Subjective decoherence in quantum measurements
What theories of everything don't tell
Martin Carrier: The Completeness of Scientific Theories (The University of Western Ontario Series in Philosophy of Science, Vol. 53) Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers 1993
Another No-go Theorem for Hidden Variable Models of Inaccurate Spin 1 Measurements
Uncertainty about the actual orientation of the measurement device has been claimed to open a loophole for hidden variable models of quantum mechanics. In this paper I describe the statistics of inaccurate spin measurements by unsharp spin observables. A no-go theorem for hidden variable models of the inaccurate measurement statistics follows: There is a finite set of directions for which not all results of inaccurate spin measurements can be pre…
Potential cost-effectiveness of vaccination for rotavirus gastroenteritis in eight Latin American and Caribbean countries
Vaccination would effectively reduce the disease burden and health care costs of rotavirus gastroenteritis in the Latin American and Caribbean countries analyzed here. From the health care system perspective, universal vaccination of infants is predicted to be cost-effective, based on current standards
Economic and health burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis for the 2003 birth cohort in eight Latin American and Caribbean countries
Rotavirus gastroenteritis is likely to result in substantial disease and economic burden to health systems in Latin American and Caribbean countries, and the foreseeable burden should be an important consideration in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of vaccination
Using photogrammetry and color scoring to assess sexual dimorphism in wild western gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla )
Investigating sexual dimorphism is important for our understanding of its influence on reproductive strategies including male–male competition, mate choice, and sexual conflict. Measuring physical traits in wild animals can be logistically challenging and disruptive for the animals. Therefore body size and ornament variation in wild primates have rarely been quantified. Gorillas are amongst the most sexually dimorphic and dichromatic primates. Ad…
Physical maturation, life‐history classes and age estimates of free‐ranging western gorillas—insights from Mbeli Bai, Republic of Congo
Physical maturation and life‐history parameters are seen as evolutionary adaptations to different ecological and social conditions. Comparison of life‐history patterns of closely related species living in diverse environments helps to evaluate the validity of these assumptions but empirical data are lacking. The two gorilla species exhibit substantial differences in their environment, which allows investigation into the role of increased frugivor…
Education for the conservation of great apes and other wildlife in northern Congo—the importance of nature clubs
Phenotypic correlates of male reproductive success in western gorillas
Variability in the developmental life history of the genus Gorilla
Life history is influenced by factors both intrinsic (e.g., body and relative brain size) and extrinsic (e.g., diet, environmental instability) to organisms. In this study, we examine the prediction that energetic risk influences the life history of gorillas. Recent comparisons suggest that the more frugivorous western lowland gorilla shows increased infant dependence, and thus a slower life history, than the primarily folivorous mountain gorilla…
The genetic population structure of wild western lowland gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla ) living in continuous rain forest
To understand the evolutionary histories and conservation potential of wild animal species it is useful to assess whether taxa are genetically structured into different populations and identify the underlying factors responsible for any clustering. Landscape features such as rivers may influence genetic population structure, and analysis of structure by sex can further reveal effects of sex-specific dispersal. Using microsatellite genotypes obtai…
Indicators for wild animal offtake: Methods and case study for African mammals and birds
Ingram, D. J., L. Coad, B. Collen, N. F. Kümpel, T. Breuer, J. E. Fa, D. J. C. Gill, F. Maisels, J. Schleicher, E. J. Stokes, G. Taylor, and J. P. W. Scharlemann. 2015. Indicators for wild animal offtake: methods and case study for African mammals and birds. Ecology and Society 20(3):40. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-07823-200340
Sexual coercion and courtship by male western gorillas
Validation of two independent photogrammetric techniques for determining body measurements of gorillas
The ability to accurately measure morphological characteristics of wild primates in the field is challenging, yet critical for understanding fundamental aspects of their biology and behavior. Recent studies have shown that digital photogrammetry can be used to non‐invasively measure morphological traits of wild primates, as it allows for the determination of geometric properties of objects remotely from photographic images. We report here on a ra…
Using video and theater to increase knowledge and change attitudes—Why are gorillas important to the world and to Congo
Applying environmental education in primate range countries is an important long-term activity to stimulate pro-conservation behavior. Within captive settings, mega-charismatic species, such as great apes are often used to increase knowledge and positively influence attitudes of visitors. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term video and theater program developed for a Western audience and adapted to rural people living in two village…
Attitudes Towards Forest Elephant Conservation Around a Protected Area in Northern Congo
An assessment of local attitudes towards conservation can guide wildlife managers in the effective application of measurements to improve these perceptions. Here we conducted a quantitative questionnaire survey around a protected area in northern Congo surveying 314 households living in four villages around the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. We investigated the impact of the benefits of a conservation project (led by an international non-governmen…
Dialium seed coprophagy in wild western gorillas: Multiple nutritional benefits and toxicity reduction hypotheses
Unraveling the relationship between the unusual feeding behaviors and the nutritional intake of endangered species may provide crucial information for understanding species response to habitat unpredictable changes. Primates occasionally re-ingest fruit seeds alongside ingestion of feces, a behavior called coprophagy. The nutritional benefit is one of the several non-mutual exclusive hypotheses proposed to explain this behavior. We investigated t…
Handedness in gestural and manipulative actions in male hunter‐gatherer Aka pygmies from Central African Republic
Objectives All human populations display a right‐biased handedness. Nonetheless, if studies on western populations are plenty, investigations of traditional populations living at subsistence levels are rare. Yet, understanding the geographical variation of phenotypes of handedness is crucial for testing evolutionary hypotheses. We aimed to provide a preliminary investigation of factors affecting handedness in 25 Aka pygmies from Central African R…
Infant survival in western lowland gorillas after voluntary dispersal by pregnant females
In many social species, after the alpha male has been replaced or the group disintegrates, a female’s infant is at risk of infanticide by a male. Female gorillas have developed the rare strategy of secondary dispersal in which they transfer between reproductive groups during the limited time period between weaning an infant and conceiving the next one (voluntary dispersal). By doing so they leave a weaker silverback near the end of his tenure and…
Primate and wildlife law outreach campaigns in the Republic of Congo: Assessing knowledge gain of school children in urban centers compared to rural villages
Primate populations are declining throughout tropical Africa. Great apes are threatened from extinction despite the existence of wildlife laws that fully protect them in their range states. But, due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of these laws, they remain largely ineffective. There is, therefore, a crucial need to improve awareness of wildlife laws in Congo. We conducted an education campaign and tested the effectiveness of two communi…
Factors Influencing Density and Distribution of Great Ape Nests in the Absence of Human Activities
The complex Y‐chromosomal history of gorillas
Studies of the evolutionary relationships among gorilla populations using autosomal and mitochondrial sequences suggest that male‐mediated gene flow may have been important in the past, but data on the Y‐chromosomal relationships among the gorilla subspecies are limited. Here, we genotyped blood and noninvasively collected fecal samples from 12 captives and 257 wild male gorillas of known origin representing all four subspecies ( Gorilla gorilla …
The Value of Sport: An Economic Perspective
Primate Behavior and Ecology (16 works) · Biology (11 works) · Ecology (11 works) · Geography (11 works) · Gorilla (9 works) · Demography (8 works) · Zoology (8 works) · Computer Science (6 works) · Political science (6 works) · Population (6 works)