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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Foraging and inter-individual distances of bearded capuchin monkeys

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Author(s):
Howard, Allison [1, 2] ; Mainali, Kumar [1] ; Fagan, William F. [1] ; Visalberghi, Elisabetta [3] ; Izar, Patricia [4] ; Jones, Caroline [2] ; Fragaszy, Dorothy [2]
Total Authors: 7
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Maryland, Dept Biol, College Pk, MD 20742 - USA
[2] Univ Georgia, Dept Psychol, Psychol Bldg, Athens, GA 30602 - USA
[3] CNR, Natl Res Council, ISTC, Rome - Italy
[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Expt Psychol, Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY; v. 80, n. 8 AUG 2018.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

Extractive foraging is a skill young capuchin monkeys learn over time. A key unknown is whether unskilled individuals occupy spatial positions that increase their opportunities to learn. We observed the spatial positions of individuals in a group of capuchin monkeys in Northeastern Brazil. To improve our understanding of the relationship between learning by young capuchin monkeys and inter-individual distance, we investigated the associations between the proximity of individuals and their age, activity, and proficiency at extractive foraging. To do this, we used one form of extractive foraging, opening palm nuts, as an index of proficiency at all types of extractive foraging. Our results indicate that, in the subset of the data where dyads consisted of one proficient individual and a partner with any level of proficiency, the distance between individuals was predicted by their foraging activity (i.e., extractive foraging, other foraging, or not foraging). In those dyads, the proficiency of the partner did not significantly improve prediction of inter-individual distances, indicating that spatial proximity of proficient individuals to others does not function primarily to increase opportunities for unskilled individuals to observe extractive foraging. Dyads in which both individuals were engaged in similar foraging activities (e.g., both extractive foraging) exhibited the shortest inter-individual distances. Proximity between individuals engaged in similar foraging activities may result from the spatial distribution of resources or from social learning mechanisms, such as local or stimulus enhancement. We studied links between proximity, age, activity, and foraging proficiency. In dyads of a proficient individual and partner, activity was related to proximity. When dyads were foraging similarly, individuals were closest to one another. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 11/21032-2 - Nutritional parameters of the diet of two populations of capuchin monkeys: comparison between the Atlantic Forest (Cebus nigritus) and Cerrado /Caatinga ecotone (Cebus libidinosus)
Grantee:Patrícia Izar Mauro
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants