title: Tufted capuchin monkeys (Sapajus sp) learning how to crack nuts: does variability decline throughout development?
abstract: We investigated the process of nut-cracking acquisition in a semi-free population of tufted capuchin monkeys (Sapajus sp) in São Paulo, Brazil. We analyzed the cracking episodes from monkeys of different ages and found that variability of actions related to cracking declined. Inept movements were more frequent in juveniles, which also showed an improvement on efficient striking. The most effective behavioral sequence for cracking was more frequently used by the most experienced monkeys, which also used non-optimal sequences. Variability in behavior sequences and actions may allow adaptive changes to behavior under changing environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Institute of Psychology, Av Prof Mello Moraes, 1721 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: briseida@usp.br.
authors.forename: Briseida Dogo
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Baldy
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Nagy-Reis
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Institute of Psychology, Av Prof Mello Moraes, 1721 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Neves
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.affiliation: University of St. Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland.
authors.forename: Murillo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pagnotta
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Savalli
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D002428:Cebus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000523:psychology*; D007858:Learning; D009754:Nuts; D053001:Tool Use Behavior
keywords: Ontogenesis; Primates; Tool use