Infectious disease, behavioural flexibility and the evolution of culture in primates.

ABSTRACT: Culturally transmitted traits are observed in a wide array of animal species, yet we understand little about the costs of the behavioural patterns that underlie culture, such as innovation and social learning. We propose that infectious diseases are a significant cost associated with cultural transmission. We investigated two hypotheses that may explain such a connection: that social learning and exploratory behaviours (specifically, innovation and extractive foraging) either compensate for existing infection or increase exposure to infectious agents. We used Bayesian comparative methods, controlling for sampling effort, body mass, group size, geographical range size, terrestriality, latitude and phylogenetic uncertainty. Across 127 primate species, we found a positive association between

SUBMITTER: McCabe CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4286060 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature