Behavioural ecology of wild primates (mainly gorillas and Japanese macaques).
Overview of the research
I conduct behavioral ecology research on primates living in wild environments, using direct behavioral observation as the primary research methodology. I focus on the western gorilla and the Japanese macaque as my main subject species. In my field research, I examine paternal behavior, feeding techniques, handedness, and the use of savanna habitats. Through these investigations, I aim to explore the process of hominization and the evolution of human traits.
Research Interests
利き手
霊長類学
ゴリラ
ニホンザル
父性
採食技術
行動観察
ガボン共和国
人類進化
Research Areas
Life sciences, Physical anthropology
Papers
Does kinship with the silverback matter? Intragroup social relationships of immature wild western lowland gorillas after social upheaval
Masaya Tamura; Etienne François Akomo-Okoue; Lilian Brice Mangama-Koumba; Ebang Ella Ghislain Wilfried; Fred Loïc Mindonga-Nguelet
Primates, 10 Aug. 2024, Peer-reviewed, Lead author, Corresponding author
Death of a one-armed blackback male due to severe injuries in a group of wild western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon
Masaya Tamura; Ebang Ella Ghislain Wilfried; Etienne François Akomo-Okoue
Primates, 29 May 2024, Peer-reviewed, Lead author, Corresponding author
Hand preference in unimanual and bimanual coordinated tasks in wild western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) feeding on African ginger (Zingiberaceae)
Masaya Tamura; Etienne François Akomo‐Okoue
American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Jan. 2021, Peer-reviewed, Lead author, Corresponding author
A Case Study of Long-Term Separation and the Rejoining of an Adult Female in a Wild Troop of Japanese Macaques (<i>Macaca fuscata</i>) on Kinkazan Island
Masaya TAMURA
Primate Research, Dec. 2016, Peer-reviewed, Lead author, Corresponding author
New Record of the Caddisfly Genus Anisocentropus (Tricoptera : Calamoceratidae) on Yaku-shima Island
Masaya Tamura; Masaki Takenaka; Koji Tojo
New Entomologist, Oct. 2016, Peer-reviewed, Lead author
Misc.
信州ツキノワグマ個体群における集団遺伝学的研究
田村大也
信州ツキノワグマ通信, 2015, Invited, Lead author
Presentations
野生ゴリラの森に辿り着くまで
田村大也
第12回哺乳類研究交流会, 11 Sep. 2025, 哺乳類研究交流会, Invited
Feeding techniques of African gingers in wild western lowland gorillas investigated through food trace measurements
Masaya TAMURA; Etienne François; AKOMO-OKOUE
第41回日本霊長類学会大会, 13 Jul. 2025
A Preliminary Report on the Degree of Activity Synchrony among Individuals within a Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) Group in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon
Extractive foraging of hard-shelled walnuts and variation of feeding techniques in wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)
Masaya Tamura
The 27th Congress of the International Primatological Society, 23 Aug. 2018
Loss of a leading silverback male and resulting group dispersion of western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon