Professor Covert's research is focused on the behavioral ecology and conservation of Southeast Asian primates. He works closely with Vietnamese colleagues to study the feeding ecology, positional behavior, and habitat utilization of endangered monkeys with the aim of gaining a better understanding of their ecology so that long-term and sustainable conservation efforts can be developed. Noteworthy examples of this research is his collaborations with Dr. Le Khac Quyet in Ha Giang Province where they are conducting long-term study of the ecology of the critically endangered Tonkin snub-nosed monkey and with Drs. Hoang Minh Duc and Luu Hong Truong of the Southern Institute of Ecology working on a variety of biodiversity conservation projects. He also works in capacity building for the protected area system of Vietnam.
