Chimpanzees' behavioral flexibility, social tolerance, and use of tool-composites in a progressively challenging foraging problem

Rachel A. Harrison, Edwin J.C. van Leeuwen, Andrew Whiten*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Behavioral flexibility is a critical ability allowing animals to respond to changes in their environment. Previous studies have found evidence of inflexibility when captive chimpanzees are faced with changing task parameters. We provided two groups of sanctuary-housed chimpanzees with a foraging task in which solutions were restricted over time. Initially, juice could be retrieved from within a tube by hand or by using tool materials, but effective solutions were then restricted by narrowing the tube, necessitating the abandonment of previous solutions and adoption of new ones. Chimpanzees responded flexibly, but one group increased their use of effective techniques to a greater extent than the other. Tool-composite techniques emerged in both groups, but primarily in the more flexible group. The more flexible group also showed higher rates of socio-positive behaviors at the task. In conjunction, these findings support the hypothesis that social tolerance may facilitate the emergence and spread of novel behaviors.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102033
Pages (from-to)1-52
JournaliScience
Volume24
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Feb 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Biological Sciences
  • Ethology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Chimpanzees' behavioral flexibility, social tolerance, and use of tool-composites in a progressively challenging foraging problem'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this