Social diffusion of novel foraging methods in brown capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella).

ABSTRACT: It has been reported that wild capuchin monkeys exhibit several group-specific behavioural traditions. By contrast, experiments have found little evidence for the social learning assumed necessary to support such traditions. The present study used a diffusion chain paradigm to investigate whether a novel foraging task could be observationally learned by capuchins (Cebus apella) and then transmitted along a chain of individuals. We used a two-action paradigm to control for independent learning. Either of two methods (lift or slide) could be used to open the door of a foraging apparatus to retrieve food. Two chains were tested (N1=4; N2=5), each beginning with an experimenter-trained model who demonstrated to a partner its group-specific method for opening the foraging apparatus. After the d

SUBMITTER: Dindo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2596191 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature