Education
B.Sc. (Psychology)
M.Sc. (Psychobiology: Primatology)
Ph.D. (Animal Behaviour)
Research Interests
I am interested in the behavioural ecology of wild animals in the broadest sense. My research explores how animals perceive and navigate their landscapes, as well as how human activities influence their behaviour, health, and conservation. I am also interested in zoogeography, specifically, the ecological and evolutionary factors, including species interactions, that shape the geographical distributions of species. In this context, I study the ecology and interactions of closely related species in contact zones, which raise key questions about the mechanisms that mediate species coexistence and structure their geographical ranges.
Publications
Asensio, N., Zandonà, E., Dunn, J. C., & Cristóbal-Azkarate, J. (2025). The network structure of social play: Insights into group cohesion and dynamics from mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata). International Journal of Primatology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-025-00522-1
Saralamba, C., José-Domínguez, J. M., & Asensio, N. (2022). Movement dynamics of gibbons after the construction of canopy bridges over a park road. Folia Primatologica, 93(3–6), 347–359. https://doi.org/10.1163/14219980-20211211
Asensio, N., Zandonà, E., Dunn, J. C., & Cristóbal-Azkarate, J. (2022). Socioecological correlates of social play in adult mantled howler monkeys. Animal Behaviour, 186, 219–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.01.017
Round, D. R., Tantipisanuh, N., Eiamampai, K., & Asensio, N. (2022). The threatened Rufous Limestone Babbler Gypsophila calcicola—Not a quarry species, but a “quarried species”. Bird Conservation International, 32(3), 414–422. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959270921000277
Markviriya, D., Asensio, N., Brockelman, W. Y., Jeratthitikul, E., & Kongrit, C. (2021). Genetic analysis of hybridization between white-handed (Hylobates lar) and pileated (Hylobates pileatus) gibbons in a contact zone in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. Primates. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-021-00958-y
Asensio, N., Kachanan, J., Saralamba, C., & José-Domínguez, J. M. (2021). The impact of roads on the movement of arboreal fauna in protected areas: The case of lar and pileated gibbons in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. Journal of Tropical Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467421000390
Alcocer-Rodríguez, M., Arroyo-Rodríguez, V., Galán-Acedo, C., Cristóbal-Azkarate, J., Asensio, N., Rito, K. F., Jawes, J. E., Vea, J. J., & Dunn, J. C. (2020). Evaluating extinction debt in fragmented forests: The rapid recovery of a critically endangered primate. Animal Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12648
Melin, A. D., Hogan, J. D., Campos, F. A., Wikberg, E., King-Bailey, G., Webb, S., Kalbitzer, U., Asensio, N., Murillo-Chacón, E., Cheves Hernandez, S., Guadamuz Chavarria, A., Schaffner, C. M., Kawamura, S., Aureli, F., Fedigan, L., & Jack, K. M. (2020). Primate life history, social dynamics, ecology, and conservation: Contributions from long-term research in Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Biotropica, 52, 1041–1064. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12867
Syxaiyakhamthor, K., Ngoprasert, D., Asensio, N., & Savini, T. (2019). Identifying priority areas for the conservation of the critically endangered northern white-cheeked gibbon Nomascus leucogenys in northern Laos. Oryx. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605318001515
Asensio, N., José-Domínguez, J. M., & Dunn, J. C. (2018). Socioecological factors affecting range defensibility among howler monkeys. International Journal of Primatology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-018-0016-z
Asensio, N., José-Domínguez, J. M., Kongrit, C., & Brockelman, W. Y. (2017). The ecology of white-handed and pileated gibbons in a zone of overlap and hybridization in Thailand. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 163(4), 716–728.
Cristóbal-Azkarate, J., Dias, P. A., Vegas-Carrillo, S., Hervier, B., Dunn, J. C., Asensio, N., Rodríguez-Luna, E., & Vea, J. J. (2017). Los efectos de la fragmentación sobre las poblaciones de monos aulladores de manto en Los Tuxtlas: Una visión integrada. In V. H. Reynoso-Rosales & R. Coates (Eds.), Avances y perspectivas en la investigación de bosques tropicales y sus alrededores: Los Tuxtlas. UNAM.
Asensio, N., Murillo-Chacón, E., Schaffner, C. M., & Aureli, F. (2017). The effect of roads on spider monkeys’ home range and mobility in a heterogeneous regenerating forest. Biotropica, 49(4), 546–554.
José-Domínguez, J. M., Savini, T., & Asensio, N. (2015). Ranging and site fidelity in northern pigtailed macaques (Macaca leonina) over different temporal scales. American Journal of Primatology, 77(8), 841–853.
Asensio, N., Schaffner, C. M., & Aureli, F. (2015). Quality and overlap of individual core areas are related to group tenure in female spider monkeys. American Journal of Primatology, 77(7), 777–785.
José-Domínguez, J. M., Huynen, M. C., García, C. J., Albert, A., Savini, T., & Asensio, N. (2015). Exploring the multiple functions of sleeping sites in northern pigtailed macaques (Macaca leonina). International Journal of Primatology, 36(5), 931–949.
José-Domínguez, J. M., Huynen, M. C., García, C. J., Albert, A., Savini, T., & Asensio, N. (2015). Non-territorial macaques can range like territorial gibbons when partially provisioned with food. Biotropica, 47(6), 733–744.
Arroyo-Rodríguez, V., Asensio, N., Dunn, J. C., Cristóbal-Azkarate, J., & González-Zamora, A. (2015). Use of lianas by primates: More than a food source. In S. Schnitzer, F. Bongers, R. Burnham, & F. Putz (Eds.), Ecology of lianas (pp. 407–426). Wiley-Blackwell.
Cristóbal-Azkarate, J., Urbani, B., & Asensio, N. (2015). Interactions of howlers with other vertebrates: A review. In M. M. Kowalewski, P. A. Garber, L. Cortés-Ortiz, B. Urbani, & D. Youlatos (Eds.), Howler monkeys (pp. 141–144). Springer.
Suwanpakdee, S., Kaewkungwal, J., White, L., Asensio, N., Ratanakorn, P., Singhasivanon, R., & Panngum, W. (2015). Spatio-temporal patterns of leptospirosis in Thailand: Is flooding a risk factor? Epidemiology and Infection, 143(10), 2106–2115.
Asensio, N., Brockelman, W. Y., Malaivijitnond, S., & Reichard, U. (2014). White-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) core area use over a short time scale. Biotropica, 46(4), 461–469.
Asensio, N. (2014). Etología del juego. In S. Sánchez & D. Redolar (Eds.), Etología: La ciencia del comportamiento animal (pp. 419–443). Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.
Aureli, F., Schaffner, C. M., Asensio, N., & Lusseau, D. (2012). What is a subgroup? How socioecological factors influence interindividual distance. Behavioral Ecology, 23(6), 1308–1315.
Asensio, N., Lusseau, D., Schaffner, C. M., & Aureli, F. (2012). Spider monkeys use high-quality core areas in a tropical dry forest. Journal of Zoology, 287(8), 250–258.
Dunn, J. C., Asensio, N., Arroyo-Rodríguez, V., Schnitzer, S., & Cristóbal-Azkarate, J. (2012). The ranging costs of a fallback food: Liana consumption supplements diet but increases foraging effort in howler monkeys. Biotropica, 44(5), 705–714.
Asensio, N., Schaffner, C. M., & Aureli, F. (2012). Variability in core areas of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) in a tropical dry forest. Primates, 53(2), 147–156.
Asensio, N., Brockelman, W. Y., Malaivijitnond, S., & Reichard, U. (2011). Gibbon travel paths are goal oriented. Animal Cognition, 14(3), 395–405.
Asensio, N., Arroyo-Rodríguez, V., Dunn, J. C., & Cristóbal-Azkarate, J. (2009). Landscape supplementation provided by neighbouring small patches: A case study for howler monkeys in Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. Biotropica, 41(6), 768–773.
Asensio, N., Korstjens, A. H., & Aureli, F. (2009). Fissioning minimizes ranging costs in spider monkeys: A multiple-level approach. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 63(5), 649–651.
Arroyo-Rodríguez, V., Asensio, N., & Cristóbal-Azkarate, J. (2008). Long-term study on the evolution of a Mexican mantled howler group in a rainforest fragment: Demography, life history and migrations. American Journal of Primatology, 70, 114–118.
Asensio, N., Korstjens, A. H., Chaffner, C., & Aureli, F. (2008). Intragroup aggression, feeding competition and fission–fusion sociality in spider monkeys. Behaviour, 145(7), 883–1001.
Asensio, N., Cristóbal-Azkarate, J., Dias, P., Vea, J., & Rodríguez-Luna, E. (2007). Foraging habits of Mexican howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata mexicana) inhabiting three different forest fragments. Folia Primatologica, 78(3), 141–153.
Asensio, N., Arroyo-Rodríguez, V., & Cristóbal-Azkarate, J. (2007). Feeding encounters between a group of howler monkeys and white-nosed coatis in a small forest fragment in Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 23, 1–3.
Cristóbal-Azkarate, J., Vea, J., Asensio, N., & Rodríguez-Luna, E. (2005). Biogeographical and floristic predictors of the presence and abundance of mantled howlers (Alouatta palliata mexicana) in rainforest fragments at Los Tuxtlas, México. International Journal of Primatology, 67, 209–222.
Asensio, N. (2003). Análisis del juego social en el mono aullador Alouatta palliata bajo diferentes condiciones socioambientales (PhD thesis). Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Asensio, N., & Gómez-Marín, F. (2002). Interspecific interaction and predator avoidance behavior in response to tayra (Eira barbara) by mantled howler monkeys. Primates, 43(4), 339–342.
Gómez-Marín, F., Vea, J. J., Rodríguez-Luna, E., García-Orduna, F., Canales-Espinosa, D., Escobar, M., & Asensio, N. (2001). Food resources and the survival of a group of howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata mexicana) in disturbed and restricted habitat at Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico. Neotropical Primates, 9(2), 60–67.