The zone of latent solutions and its relevance to understanding ape cultures

Biology & Philosophy, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 35(5)

Published: Oct. 1, 2020

Abstract The zone of latent solutions (ZLS) hypothesis provides an alternative approach to explaining cultural patterns in primates and many other animals. According the ZLS hypothesis, non-human great ape (henceforth: ape) cultures consist largely or solely solutions. current competing (and predominant) for culture argues instead that at least some their behavioural artefact forms are copied through specific social learning mechanisms (“copying hypothesis”) may depend on copying (copying-dependent forms). In contrast, does not require these be copied. Instead, it suggests several (non-form-copying) help determine frequency (but typically form) behaviours artefacts within connected individuals. thus increases stabilisations a particular behaviour’s artefact’s can derive from socially-mediated (cued) form reinnovations. Therefore, while genes ecology play important roles as well, according apes acquire individually, but usually socially induced do so (provided sufficient opportunity, necessity, motivation timing). is often criticized—perhaps also because challenges null which assumes requirement form-copying explain (and/or artefact) forms. However, new approach, with less accumulated literature compared confusion expected. Here, we clarify approach—also relation hypotheses—and address misconceptions objections. We believe clarifications will provide researchers coherent theoretical experimental methodology examine necessity variants apes, humans species.

Language: Английский

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Substantial losses in ecoregion intactness highlight urgency of globally coordinated action

Conservation Letters, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 13(2)

Published: Nov. 25, 2019

Abstract Human activities are altering natural areas worldwide. While our ability to map these at fine scales is improving, a simplistic binary characterization of habitat and non‐habitat with focus on change in extent has dominated conservation assessments across different spatial scales. Here, we provide metric that captures both loss, quality fragmentation effects which, when combined, call intactness. We identify nine categories intactness the world's terrestrial ecoregions based changes 16‐year period. found highly impacted degraded predominant (74%) just 6% improving trajectories. It essential management degrading processes be targeted international agendas order ensure Earth's remaining intact ecosystems effectively conserved restored achieve effective outcomes.

Language: Английский

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Bioacoustic monitoring of animal vocal behavior for conservation

Conservation Science and Practice, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 1(8)

Published: June 11, 2019

Abstract The popularity of bioacoustics for threatened species monitoring has surged. Large volumes acoustic data can be collected autonomously and remotely with minimal human effort. approach is commonly used to detect cryptic and, more recently, estimate abundance or density. However, the potential conservation‐relevant information derived from signatures associated particular behavior less well‐exploited. Animal vocal reveal important about critical life history events. In this study, we argue that overlap disciplines bioacoustics, communication, conservation behavior—thus, “acoustic behavior”—has much offer monitoring. particular, vocalizations serve as indicators behavioral states contexts provide insight into populations it relates their conservation. We explore available species' relate reproduction recruitment, alarm defense, social behavior, how could translate benefits. While there are still challenges processing data, conclude may improve where behaviors informative management decision‐making.

Language: Английский

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Blind alleys and fruitful pathways in the comparative study of cultural cognition

Physics of Life Reviews, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 43, P. 211 - 238

Published: Oct. 21, 2022

A mere few decades ago, culture was thought a unique human attribute. Evidence to the contrary accumulated through latter part of twentieth century and has exploded in present one, demonstrating transmission traditions social learning across all principal vertebrate taxa even invertebrates, notably insects. The scope is nevertheless highly distinctive. What makes our cultural capacities their cognitive underpinnings so different? In this article I argue that behavioural scientists' endeavours answer question, fruitful research pathways ensuing discoveries have come exist alongside popular, yet light current empirical evidence, questionable scenarios scientific blind alleys. particularly re-evaluate theories rely on centrality supposed uniquely capacity for imitative copying explaining distinctive massive cumulative evolution (CCE) species. most extreme versions perspective suffer logical incoherence severe limits testability. By contrast field generated range rigorous observational experimental methodologies revealed both long-term fidelity limited forms CCE non-human Attention now turns directly investigating scope, underlying cognition versus CCE, with broader approach factors additional transmission, role invention, innovation evolved motivational biases species studied.

Language: Английский

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Automated audiovisual behavior recognition in wild primates

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 7(46)

Published: Nov. 12, 2021

Large video datasets of wild animal behavior are crucial to produce longitudinal research and accelerate conservation efforts; however, large-scale analyses continue be severely constrained by time resources. We present a deep convolutional neural network approach fully automated pipeline detect track two audiovisually distinctive actions in chimpanzees: buttress drumming nut cracking. Using camera trap direct recordings, we train action recognition models using audio visual signatures both behaviors, attaining high average precision (buttress drumming: 0.87 cracking: 0.85), demonstrate the potential for behavioral analysis automatically parsed video. Our produces first audiovisual primate behavior, setting milestone exploiting large ethology conservation.

Language: Английский

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Signal traditions and cultural loss in chimpanzees

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 35(3), P. R87 - R88

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

SummaryThe horizontal transmission of cultural knowledge is a powerful mechanism evolutionary change1. Across taxa, group-specific traditions are expressed in diverse contexts, such as foraging, tool use, self-care and socialization2. These arise when group members converge on specific behavioral phenotypes. When these phenotypes involve communicative signals, gestures, they termed dialects3. However, gestural dialects rare non-humans3. Behavioral can also be lost, well-documented phenomenon humans4, but rarely documented non-human animals5. Here, we find that chimpanzee gestures produced copulation solicitations show culturally established undergo loss due to human-induced population decline.

Language: Английский

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Cultural change in animals: a flexible behavioural adaptation to human disturbance

Palgrave Communications, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: June 18, 2019

Abstract In recent decades, researchers have increasingly documented the impact of anthropogenic activities on wild animals, particularly in relation to changes behaviour. However, whether human-induced behavioural wildlife may be considered evidence cultural evolution remains an open question. We explored responses different types human species already known display behaviour transmitted through social learning, non-human primates (NHPs), are suggestive wild. Results indicate that influence NHP repertoires includes modification and disappearance existing traits, as well invention novel traditions with potential become cultural. These examples found mostly domain food acquisition, where animals modify their diet include new resources, adopt foraging strategies avoid humans. summary, this paper suggests can act a catalyst for change both terms threatening fostering ones. The current situation echo environmental thought triggered major adaptations our own evolutionary history thus useful research evolution. As is exposed humans activities, understanding how animal patterns cultures impacted response factors growing conservation importance.

Language: Английский

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Innovation in chimpanzees

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 95(5), P. 1167 - 1197

Published: April 19, 2020

ABSTRACT The study of innovation in non‐human animals (henceforth: animals) has recently gained momentum across fields including primatology, animal behaviour and cultural evolution. Examining the rate innovations, cognitive mechanisms driving these innovations species, can provide insights into evolution human culture. Especially relevant to culture is one our closest living relatives, chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes ). Both wild captive chimpanzees demonstrate an impressive ability innovate solutions novel problems, but also a striking level conservatism some contexts, creating unique at times puzzling, picture innovation. Whilst field rife with potential for expanding knowledge cognition problem‐solving, it undermined by lack consistency studies. yet settle on definition term ‘innovation’, leading studies being incomparable even within same species. Here, we fill two gaps literature. First, discuss most prevalent definitions ‘innovation’ from different fields, highlighting similarities differences between them. Secondly, up‐to‐date review accounts both chimpanzees. We hope this will resource researchers interested other animals, as well emphasising need way which are reported.

Language: Английский

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Field experiments find no evidence that chimpanzee nut cracking can be independently innovated

Nature Human Behaviour, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 6(4), P. 487 - 494

Published: Jan. 24, 2022

Language: Английский

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Sociality predicts orangutan vocal phenotype

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 6(5), P. 644 - 652

Published: March 21, 2022

In humans, individuals' social setting determines which and how language is acquired. Social seclusion experiments show that sociality also guides vocal development in songbirds marmoset monkeys, but absence of similar great ape data has been interpreted as support to saltational notions for origin, even if such laboratorial protocols are unethical with apes. Here we characterize the repertoire entropy orangutan individuals wild, different degrees across populations associated 'vocal personalities' form distinct regimes alarm call variants. high-density populations, vocally more original acoustically unpredictable new variants short lived, whereas low-density conformative consistent exhibit complex repertoires. Findings provide non-invasive evidence predicts phenotype a wild ape. They prove false hypotheses discredit apes having hardwired programmes non-plastic behaviour. settings mould output hominids besides humans.

Language: Английский

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