Primate Behavior

Primate Behavior Do primates really have a culture?

Observation Note-Taking • In each row, you will take notes on this PPT as well as your observations of ape behavior related to the following 5 categories: • Community • Reproduction/Care of Young • Communication • Use of Tools • Culture

Community • Social animals—live and travel in groups • As they age, primates migrate away from the group they know and form new social groups • Learn behaviors of their social groups transforming into adulthood • Specific behaviors learned during childhood are mostly derived from the traditions of their social groups.

Community • Community of chimps- largest social organizational unit; usually 50+ who collectively inhabit the same area • Exist in smaller social groups- usually males, females with young, or males and females together with their young • Subgroups may join forces and forage together, but will eventually go back into their smaller groups.

Community • Dominance Hierarchies- • Some animals will outrank and can dominate others • Physical strength and size • Males generally outrank females • In bonobos, however, female rank determines the social order of the group far more than the male rank. • Alpha females vs. alpha males • Basis of primate social structures

Community • Grooming- • Ritual cleaning to remove parasites from another • Hygienic • Gesture of friendliness, closeness, reconciliation, submission, etc. • Physical affection- • Group sociability • Touching, hugging, joy in welcome • Protection- • Warning signs to protect others • Visual and vocal communication for threats • Bonobos use large leaves as trail signs to indicate their whereabouts to others not immediately present; they know where to meet at the end of the day.

Reproduction • Primates are able to breed at any time of the year • The average adult ape spends most of her adult life either pregnant or nursing • Need for mother • The lemur is dependent on its mother for only a few months after birth • An ape is dependent for 4-5 years (A chimp can not survive if its mother dies before it reaches age 4)

Reproduction • During the juvenile period, young primates are still dependent on the larger social group to learn and refine behaviors • Trial and error, observation, imitation, practice • Will learn along the way based on group’s reactions • If a juvenile primate dies, they may be adopted by another member of the group.

Communication • Have a great range of calls that are used with nonverbal body movements as well. • EMOTIONAL • Facial expressions • Lip smacking- shows happiness with physical contact • Humans can now distinguish between the calls: warning, threat, defense, gathering, etc. • Experiments: • Sign language • Computer Keyboard • Can develop language skills of a 2-3 year old human child.

Use of Tools • Have been found modifying objects for use as tools • Rod for “fishing” for termites • Leaves as wipes or sponges • Leaves as cups for drinking water • Stones used as hammers • Twigs used as toothpicks

Tools in the Wild http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcqNzl49csA

So….Do Primates Really Have a Culture? • Importance of chimps’ learned, socially shared practices and knowledge • Variation among groups in use of tools, patterns of social engagement, and traditions rather than biologically determined “script.”

Primate Behavior