Social learning by orangutans (Pongo abelii and Pongo pygmaeus) in a simulated food-processing task.
Increasing evidence for behavioral differences between populations of primates has created a resurgence of interest in examining mechanisms of information transfer between individuals. The authors examined the social transmission of information in 15 captive orangutans (Pongo abelii and Pongo pygmaeus) using a simulated food-processing task. Experimental subjects were shown 1 of 2 methods for removing a suite of defenses on an "artificial fruit." Control subjects were given no prior exposure before interacting with the fruit. Observing a model provided a functional advantage in the task, as significantly more experimental than control subjects opened the fruit. Within the experimental groups, the authors found a trend toward differences in the actual behaviors used to remove 1 of the defenses. Results support observations from the wild implying horizontal transfer of information in orangutans and show that a number of social learning processes are likely to be involved in the transfer of knowledge in this species.
D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D008297:Male; D011148:Pongo pygmaeus / Q000523:psychology*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012931:Social Environment; D013045:Species Specificity; D014163:Transfer, Psychology