Behavior Systems Approach to Object Play: Stone Handling Repertoire as a Measure of Propensity for Complex Foraging and Percussive Tool Use in the Genus Macaca

Autor: Amanda N. Pelletier, Tatjana Kaufmann, Sidhesh Mohak, Riane Milan, Charmalie A. D. Nahallage, Michael A. Huffman, Noëlle Gunst, Aida Rompis, I Nengah Wandia, I Gusti Agung Arta Putra, Sergio M. Pellis, Jean-Baptiste Leca
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2017
Předmět:
Zdroj: Animal Behavior and Cognition, Vol 4, Iss 4, Pp 455-473 (2017)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2372-5052
2372-4323
DOI: 10.26451/abc.04.04.05.201
Popis: Stone handling (SH), has been identified in four closely related primate species of the Macaca genus. We provide the first ethogram of SH in long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), a primate species known to use stones for extractive foraging. A total of 62.7 hrs of video recorded data were scored from a population of Balinese long-tailed macaques living in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, and a total of 36 stone handling patterns were identified. Behavior discovery curves were generated and showed that the minimum threshold of completeness was exceeded for the SH repertoire in this group. A “foraging substitute” hypothesis for the expression of SH was proposed, suggesting that SH consists of performing foraging-like actions on non-edible objects. We used a “behavior systems” framework to test this prediction, finding that all 36 stone handling patterns could be reliably categorized in a foraging behavior system, supporting the hypothesis that stone handling can be considered pseudo-foraging behavior. Our “behavior systems” approach will serve as a foundation for the future testing of the motivational basis of stone handling. Additionally, a comparison of 39 stone handling patterns performed by three macaque species (M. fascicularis, M. fuscata and M. mulatta) showed overlapping behavioral propensities to manipulate stones; however, the differences suggest that long-tailed macaques might be more prone to use stones as percussive tools in a foraging context. This work could offer insights into the development and evolution of complex activities such as percussive stone tool use in early humans.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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