Skylar Brodnan
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Alexandra Rosati, Assistant Professor
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Psychology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Presentation Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
Session: Session 2 (11am – 11:50am)
Breakout Room: Room 5
Presenter: 5
Abstract
Over the last 50 years, there has been extensive research on the wide range of complex tool use behaviors exhibited by chimpanzees (Pan troglodyte) living in different locations across Africa. At some sites, like Gombe in Tanzania and Goualougo in Republic of Congo, chimpanzees exhibit elaborate tool sets. At other locations, chimpanzees exhibit fewer tool-related behaviors. This variation constitutes key evidence for potentially cultural behavior in nonhumans. To understand cultural differences in chimpanzees and the roots of individual variation in tool use, this study will examine multiple years of observational data of wild chimpanzees from the Kanyawara community at Kibale National Park, Uganda. Prior records of this community indicate that they have relatively simple tool use behaviors, but there has been little recent work on examining tool sets or more detailed information about individual variation. We will look for the types of tool use behaviors that exist in this population, and at what frequency these behaviors are exhibited. We will also investigate possible individual differences within this population, such as whether some chimpanzees tend to use certain tools more than others. Our findings will produce information on tool use in Ugandan chimpanzees, and the distribution of these behaviors across this community, to understand the roots of behavioral flexibility and human-like culture.
Authors: Skylar Brodnan, Elisa Felsche, Alexandra Rosati
Research Method: Library/Archival/Internet Research
https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/cognitive-evolution/
