Active sharing of a novel, arbitrary innovation in captive cotton-top tamarins?
Saved in:
| Title: | Active sharing of a novel, arbitrary innovation in captive cotton-top tamarins? |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Gokcekus, Samin (AUTHOR), Brügger, Rahel K. (AUTHOR), Burkart, Judith M. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Behaviour. 2021, Vol. 158 Issue 1, p51-67. 17p. |
| Subjects: | Wood chips, Social groups, Comfort food, Sharing, Object manipulation, Cotton |
| Abstract: | Most cultural behaviours in primates stem from innovations that are beneficial since they provide access to food or comfort. Innovations that are seemingly purposeless and arbitrary, and nevertheless spread through a social group, are rarer but particularly relevant to understanding the evolutionary origin of culture. Here, we provide an anecdotal report of a series of non-instrumental woodchip manipulation and modification events in captive cotton-top tamarins. Intriguingly, woodchips were preferentially manipulated in a position that was readily visible to a partner in a different enclosure, and the innovation apparently spread to other individuals. Together, this suggests that the arbitrary innovation was actively shared with a conspecific, which is consistent with the pattern of transmission of another arbitrary innovation in cotton-top tamarins, namely stick-weaving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Behaviour is the property of Brill Academic Publishers and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | Most cultural behaviours in primates stem from innovations that are beneficial since they provide access to food or comfort. Innovations that are seemingly purposeless and arbitrary, and nevertheless spread through a social group, are rarer but particularly relevant to understanding the evolutionary origin of culture. Here, we provide an anecdotal report of a series of non-instrumental woodchip manipulation and modification events in captive cotton-top tamarins. Intriguingly, woodchips were preferentially manipulated in a position that was readily visible to a partner in a different enclosure, and the innovation apparently spread to other individuals. Together, this suggests that the arbitrary innovation was actively shared with a conspecific, which is consistent with the pattern of transmission of another arbitrary innovation in cotton-top tamarins, namely stick-weaving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 00057959 |
| DOI: | 10.1163/1568539X-bja10049 |
