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| Author(s): |
Tiago Falotico
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Psicologia (IP/SBD) |
| Defense date: | 2011-08-17 |
| Examining board members: |
Eduardo Benedicto Ottoni;
Renata Goncalves Ferreira;
Patricia Izar Mauro;
Francisco Dyonisio Cardoso Mendes;
Briseida Dogo de Resende
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| Advisor: | Eduardo Benedicto Ottoni |
| Abstract | |
Tool use by capuchin monkeys (Sapajus sp) is currently known in many wild populations in Caatinga and Cerrado biomes. Previous studies in Serra da Capivara National Park Piauí State (SCNP), showed that the \"tool kit\" of S. libidinosus in that area was much more diverse than in other populations. One possible explanation for these differences is the occurrence of traditional variations between these populations. The aim of this study was (1) to describe the tools used by two groups of capuchin monkeys in SCNP, their physical characteristics, frequencies of use and demographics within the groups, and to find correlations with physical factors of the environment, (2) search for evidence of socially mediated learning in these behaviors, and (3) determine the possible behavioral traditions of these groups. The tools used by groups Pedra Furada (PF) and Bocão (BC) were made from two materials, stones and sticks. The stones were used as \"hammer\" to break encapsulated fruits and seeds, \"hammer\" to loosen soil and dig, \"hoe\" to dig, \"hammer\" to pulverize pebbles and stone throwing during female sexual display. The sticks were used as probes to expel invertebrates and small vertebrates from their hiding places and also to extract honey from inside trunks hollows. The other use of sticks was as spears in threaten episodes to other animals. The two groups used all of these tools (except for the throwing stones, only recorded in the PF group), but their frequencies were different in some cases. The use of sticks was the only type of tool to be used almost exclusive by males. These results support previous studies and confirm the diversity of tools used by this population of SCNP. In addition, it was described a novel behavior in wild capuchin monkeys, the throwing stones, which is quite interesting because they are used in a communicative context. The total frequency of tool use was positively correlated with the dry period, however, for the cracking stone tools, there was a positive correlation with vegetal food availability, showing that these tools were more used when there was more food available. The evidence for socially mediated learning suggests that tool use learning has a social bias that occurs by stimulus enhancement. Six possible tool use traditions were identified in these groups. Using the comparative method the data was compared to other populations that do not exhibit the behavior, and ecological and genetic explanations do not seem to explain the differences (although they cannot be completely discarded). The traditional space method indicates that some behaviors are traditions, but cannot firmly confirm, because social learning cannot be corroborated with the used methodology. Despite these limitations, the analysis suggests that the studied tool--using behaviors are likely to be traditions of the PNSC groups (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 06/07187-5 - Tools used by capuchin monkeys (Cebus libidinosus) of Serra da Capivara National Park - PI |
| Grantee: | Tiago Falótico |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |