Primate Culture & Tool Use

Front 1

What is the purpose of primate field studies?

Back 1

to observe wild primates in naturalhabitats to collect info on

• feeding
  
• social systems
  
• aggressive/passivebehavior
  
• & etc
  

Front 2

Jane Goodall

Back 2

• studied chimps in Africa
  
• discovered chimp use of tools
  

Front 3

Dian Fossey

Back 3

• studied gorillas in Rwands
• discovered that gorillas arent innately aggressive, only when defending their young

Front 4

What is behavioral evology?

Back 4

study in relation to environment

• similar idea to natural selection
• not just physical traits but evo of behavior through natural selection & adaptations to the environment
• behaviors (phenotypes) evolved through natural selection as adaptations

Front 5

Definition of "Culture"

Back 5

behavior resulting from innovation, teaching & learning (not genetic)

-- learn by observing others about:

• appropriate foods
  
• behaviors
  
• how to use & modify objects
  

~ in turn cultural tradition emerges

Front 6

Definition of "Tool use"

Back 6

"the use of an external object as a functional extension of mouth or beak, hand or claw, in the attainment of immediate goal" - Goodall

Front 7

Tool explanation

Back 7

1. tool use evolved independently in each group

2.common ancestors of all apes used tools & passed on this trait

Front 8

Tool use & culture in:

Chimps

Back 8

culture:

variation in grooming behavior

ex. some hold hands, some clasp a branch

Tool use:

• leaf sponge
• termite fishing
• hunting with spears

~use stone tools, but do not modify

• throw stones as weapons
• hammer & anvil to crack nuts
• use as shovel to dig for roots & tubers

Front 9

Tool use & culture in:

Gorilla

Front 10

tool use & culture in:

Orangutan

Back 10

Culture:

Tool use:

• leaves as napkins
• sticks for backscratchers
• branches to swat insects
• build shelter for rain/sun

Front 11

tool use & culture in:

Monkeys

Back 11

Culture:

ex. japanese researchers provided macaques with sweet potatoes;

-one monkey washed off dirt in water & others followed

-- (ie. learned behavior)

Tool Use:

NWM

• capuchin monkeys
• dig up roots & prey
• hammer/anvil stone tools