Alison Jolly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alison Jolly
|
|
|---|---|
| Born |
Alison Bishop
May 9, 1937 Ithaca, New York, United States
|
| Died | February 6, 2014 (aged 76) Lewes, East Sussex, England
|
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Lemur biological studies |
| Spouse(s) |
Richard Jolly
(m. 1964–2014) |
| Children | 4 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | primatology |
Alison Jolly (May 9, 1937 – February 6, 2014) was a famous primatologist. She was known for her important studies of lemur biology. Lemurs are unique animals found only on the island of Madagascar.
Alison Jolly wrote many books for both scientists and general readers. She also spent a lot of time in Madagascar. There, she conducted extensive fieldwork on lemurs, mainly at the Berenty Reserve. This reserve is a special forest area in the southern part of Madagascar.
Contents
About Alison Jolly's Life and Work
Born Alison Bishop in Ithaca, New York, she loved learning. She earned her first degree from Cornell University. Later, she received her PhD from Yale University.
Her Research Journey
Alison Jolly worked as a researcher at several well-known universities. These included the University of Cambridge, University of Sussex, and Princeton University. In 1998, Madagascar honored her with a special award. It was called Officier de l'Ordre National, Madagascar.
Studying Lemurs in Madagascar
Alison Jolly began studying lemur behavior in 1963. She worked at the Berenty Reserve. She was the first scientist to suggest something very interesting. She proposed that female lemurs often lead their groups. This idea was quite new for primate societies.
She encouraged many other scientists to study Madagascar's wildlife. She even advised researchers before their first trip to the island. After 1990, Alison Jolly returned to Madagascar every year. She went during the lemur birthing season. She studied ring-tailed lemurs with the help of student volunteers. She focused on how many lemurs lived in an area. She also studied how they moved around and defended their territories.
Her Books and Writings
Alison Jolly wrote many books about her research. Her scientific books include Lemur Behavior: A Madagascar Field Study. She also wrote The Evolution of Primate Behavior.
She also wrote books for a wider audience. These included Madagascar: A World Out of Time. Another popular book was Lords & Lemurs. She also wrote many articles for magazines and scientific journals.
Alison Jolly also wrote two series of children's books. These were called The Ako Books and The Fiddle Stories.
A Lemur Named in Her Honor
In 2006, a brand new species of mouse lemur was discovered. It was named Microcebus jollyae in honor of Alison Jolly. This is a special way to recognize her important contributions to lemur studies. When a species is named after someone, it's called an eponym.
Her Family Life
Alison Jolly's mother was the artist Alison Mason Kingsbury. Her father was the scholar and poet Morris Bishop. In 1963, Alison married Richard Jolly. He was an economist who studied development.
Alison Jolly passed away at her home in Lewes, East Sussex, in February 2014. She was 76 years old. She is survived by her husband and their four children.
Children's books
- Ny aiay Ako (Ako the Aye-Aye), 2005
- Bitika the Mouselemur, (2012)
- Tik-Tik the Ringtailed Lemur, (2012)
- Bounce the White Sifaka, (2012)
- Furry and Fuzzy the Red Ruffed Lemur Twin, (2012)
- No-Song the Indri, (2012)
- Fiddle and the See-Throughs, (2013)
- Fiddle and the Flint-Boy, (2013)
- Fiddle and the Headless Horseman, (2013)
- Fiddle and the Falling Tower, (2013)
- Fiddle and the Smugglers, (2013)
- Fiddle and the Fires, (2013)
See also
In Spanish: Alison Jolly para niños
