Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Ph.D. 2005 New York University
M.A. 1999 New York University
B.A. 1989 Duke University

Office Address: 416 Sanford Hall
Email: lappansm@appstate.edu
Phone: 828-262-8909
Fax: 828-262-2982

Areas of Research/Interest
Primate behavioral ecology and conservation, reproductive strategies, gibbons; Indonesia.
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Background
Susan’s major research has been in Sumatra where she has focused on issues of ecology and evolution among Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) populations. Susan has recently published an edited volume entitled The Gibbons: new Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology. Since 2007, she has also published several articles on a range of topics from methodological issues in primatology to dispersal patterns, feeding ecology, social relationships, paternal investment and energetic budgets in Siamangs. Susan is the editor of the Journal of Ecology and Field Biology and a fluent speaker of Indonesian.  

Representative Publications

Peer-reviewed Journals Kim, S, Lappan, S, Choe, J.C. (in press). Diet and ranging behavior of the endangered Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch) in a submontane tropical rainforest. American Journal of Primatology   Lappan, S. (2009). Flowers are an important food for small apes in southern Sumatra. American Journal of Primatology 71:624-635.

Lappan, S. (2009).The effects of lactation and infant care on adult energy budgets in wild siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus). American Journal of Physical Anthropology.

Lappan, S. (2008). Male care of infants in a siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) population including socially monogamous and polyandrous groups. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.

Lappan, S. (2007). Patterns of dispersal in Sumatran siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus): preliminary mtDNA evidence suggests more frequent male than female dispersal to adjacent groups. American Journal of Primatology.69: 692-698.
  Lappan, S. (2007). Social relationships among males in multi-male siamang groups. International Journal of Primatology. 28: 368-387.

Lappan, S. (2007). Comparison of two methods for measuring daily path lengths in arboreal primates. Journal of Ecology and Field Biology. 30: 201-207.

Lappan, S. and Choe, J. C. (2007). Evolution in the symbolic dimension: the devil is in the details. Commentary on Evolution in Four Dimensions: Genetic, Epigenetic, Behavioral, and Symbolic Variation in the History of Life by M. J. Lamb and E. Jablonska. Brain and Behavioral Sciences. 30(4): 373-374.   Books and Book Chapters Lappan, S. (in review) Siamang Socioecology in Spatiotemporally Heterogenous Landscapes: Do ‘Typical’ Groups Exist? In S. Gursky & J Supriatna (eds.) Indonesian Primates. New York: Springer.

Lappan, S. and Whittaker, D., editors. (in press) The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology. New York: Springer.

Lappan, S. (in press) Infant care and multi-male grouping in siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus). Do extra males help? In S Lappan & D Whittaker (eds.) The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology. New York: Springer.

Whittaker, D., Lappan, S. (in press). Gibbon diversity and the importance of population-level studies. In S Lappan & D Whittaker (eds.) The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology. New York: Springer.