Liberal Arts and Sciences
Valenta Lab
Led by Kim Valenta · Anthropology
What we study
The Valenta Lab studies primate-plant interactions and conservation in Madagascar using spectroscopy, genetic analysis, and behavioral ecology. They also lead the Mad Dog Initiative and Lemur Freedom Project to protect lemurs and other wildlife.
What working here is like
- Fieldwork
- Wild animals
- Coding helps
- Projects
- 2
- Papers
- 5
Current projects
Mad Dog Initiative
A conservation program in Madagascar focused on veterinary care and wildlife protection.
Lemur Freedom Project
Is part of an international effort to stop the illegal trade of lemurs as pets in Madagascar.
Summaries are written by AI in plain language from public symposium abstracts and may be imperfect.
Recent papers, explained
- Unlocking fruit dimensions: Quantification of functional traits driving plant–frugivore interactions
2026 · Applications in Plant Sciences
Studies how fruit traits influence interactions between plants and seed-dispersing animals.
- The impact of free-roaming dogs on lemurs in Madagascar: a decade of research and intervention
2025 · Folia Primatologica
Finds free-roaming dogs in Madagascar harm lemurs and reduces their numbers in protected areas.
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- Sources of variation in plant chemical diversity: Lessons from Malagasy Ficus
2025 · American Journal of Botany
Studies why Malagasy Ficus plants have diverse chemicals, focusing on different plant parts.
- Sustaining Workers Who Sustain the World: Assets-Based Design for Conservation Technologies in Madagascar
2025 · Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
Uses assets-based design to center local workers' strengths in conservation tech programs.
- Red fruits exhibit lower colour diversity than red flowers as perceived by birds
2023 · Functional Ecology
Shows red flowers have more color variety for birds than red fruits.
Plain-language summaries are AI-written and reviewed by us; check the paper for details.
How to reach out
Kim Valenta hasn't set up this page yet. Their UF Scholars profile lists their publications.