Use Among Chimpanzees
Tool Use Among Chimpanzees Jane Goodall was the first person to ever document seeing a non-human animal create and use tools. (Atkinson) We now see that tool use among chimpanzees is not uncommon. Upon this discovery we have figured out they have many ways to use and craft tools. There is a bit of a difference between tool uses and acquisition among wild and captive Pan troglodytes. The wild chimpanzees have all types of materials to choose and work from in the wild and rely more on tool use for survival whereas the captive chimps don not have to worry about that as they are taken well care of. Primatologists believe that the behavior with tool use and development was originated long ago and spread through observation. Chimpanzees learn
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through their culture. (Stanford 182) They learn by tradition, passing on what they learn generation to generation. They aren’t born with tool building in their genetics, though the intellectual capacity to understand how the tools are used is. (Stanford 164) They developed their tool use mostly for survival and reproductive purposes. There are many ways in which wild chimpanzees create and use their tools. Chimpanzees use tools during extractive foraging, mating, play, aggression, and buttress-drumming displays, and also for hygiene and personal comfort. (Watts 87) When captive chimpanzees demonstrate their abilities to make tools, it isn’t crucial to their survival as it is for wild chimpanzees. It’s really just to test their cognitive and thinking abilities or for their entertainment.
Chimpanzees often use leafs as tools. They use them as wipes for hygienic purposes. You will often see them using a leaf as a napkin to wipe away feces and dirt off of their hair. Another interesting way they use them is to dab them on wounds, like a gauze pad or sponge. They also use leaves as sponges. You can often see them munching down on a leaf and then wadding it up, then inserting it into a hole in a tree to get water they can’t reach, the mulched leaf acts as a sort of sponge and soaks up all the water.
Chimpanzees also incorporate twigs in a lot of their tool manufacturing. One example is when they strip the leaves off of twigs and the twig is used to open the exit tunnels of termite mounds. This provides access for the chimps to forage and fish from the inner chambers of the nest. (Sanz 423) Once the twig is inside, the chimpanzees agitate the termites, this causes them to latch on to the stick and once the chimps feel like there are enough termites attached, they carefully remove the twig, making sure not to bump into the walls of the termite mound and once it is out, the chimps have a smorgasbord of termite food. According to D.P Watts, the most common form of tool use in feeding is honey dipping.
He reported that most hives that chimpanzees’ raid are off the ground, in hollows in tree trunks. During raids, the chimpanzees usually stick their arms into the hollows to try and grab handfuls of honeycomb quickly, and then run away. Though they sometimes repeat this and may stay next to the opening if they are not attacked by large swarms.Watts has not seen tool use during arboreal raids, but has seen chimpanzees use tools to remove honey from hives in fallen tree trunks. They use narrow sticks as tools. The chimps scrape them against the inner walls of the hollows to get the honey that they can’t reach with their hands and then eat the honey that adheres to the stick. (Watts …show more content…
88)
While the captive chimps’ survival is not at risk if they fish for termites or honey, because they are fed well in captivity, they have conducted studies where they examine a colony of captive chimpanzees at an artificial termite mound. They mostly conduct this study to see if it is inherited or a learned ability. In the study the mound is constructed of concrete to simulate real termite mounds. Tool accessibility is manipulated, as well as the distance of the tool from the mound. The tool making and tool using behavior is examined in relation to individual, age, and gender. (Nash) It was seen that most chimps would use “off the peg” tools or tools nearest to the mound. Also, the younger chimpanzees spent more time at the mound using tools the previous chimps had used to manipulate the mound. The mound gives the chimps a stimulating and rewarding activity and also the researches a chance to study under better conditions. (Nash)
They also study the tool use of termite fishing to report the handedness preference of the chimpanzee. The main purpose of the study was to evaluate Coraballis’s hypothesis that the hemisphere in the brain that specializes for language functions in humans evolved from a common ancestor of humans and chimps. This evolutionary model differs from others in that the focus is on a direct link between lateralization in communicative behaviors of chimpanzees and left-hemisphere specialization in language for humans. We evaluate Coraballi’s hypothesis by comparing handedness for gestures in captive chimps with handedness for three other measures of hand use: reaching, coordinated bimanual actions, and tool use. (W. D. Hopkins 488) W.D. Hopkins had this to report: “There are several studies on hand use for simulated termite fishing in captive chimpanzees and these data seem to support the results seen in the wild. However, these reports did not have an adequate means of comparing results from the two settings. Here we examined hand preferences for a task requiring the chimpanzees to insert a stick into a small hole in order to gain access to a favored food substance. If handedness for tool use is influenced by human rearing and modeling, then it was hypothesized that captive chimpanzees should be right-handed for this task. In contrast, if handedness is not influenced by rearing and is consistent across behavioral settings, then it was hypothesized that, like wild chimpanzees, captive chimpanzees would show a significant left-hand preference for this task.” (W. Hopkins 1465-1466)
Tool use in the wild is seasonal; some resources available during one season will be gone the next.
Long-term research revealed that communities of wild chimpanzees have developed unique sets of cultural traditions in their habitats. The traditions are transmitted non-genetically across generations therefore an individual’s knowledge may affect the behavior of others. (Celli 1268) There have been studies conducted by Celli to see if tool use among captive chimpanzees, where the environment is controlled, changes the occurrence of tool use. In Maura’s experiment, they set out tools and restricted the availability of raw materials so the subjects were to choose for their own. (Celli 1268) She experimented on two groups. To conduct the experiment, she put honey in a polyethylene bottle inside polycarbonate boxes attached to the walls of a booth outside. The tools used were all natural, they had access to twigs, branches, leaves and vines. They experimented all four seasons, early in the mornings in summer and autumn, and around midday during winter and spring to avoid low levels of activity during the cold. (Celli 1271) It was seen that the chimps would select tools near the fishing site, anywhere from a 2 meter range around the booth. The results are that Group A preferred twigs over grass throughout all four seasons and was more successful with twigs than grass, they also had less insertion attempts. Group B preferred to use grass throughout summer, fall and winter, but then
in spring started using twigs with more success. Throughout their time using the grass insertions, they had a high number of insertion attempts, but were more successful at it. The null hypothesis is that the number of attempts with each type of tool is independent to the tool materials. It was also seen in group B that the number of attempts with twigs grew as the availability of grass decreased. I believe that wild chimpanzee use tools more often than captive chimps due to the fact that it is critical to their lives. It somewhat depends on whether or not they use their tools that they are successful in living. It is helpful towards them because of the competition for food and not to mention their communication with each other. They also pass down their knowledge of how to use tools between each other, so while once chimp is doing, the others are learning through observation. While captive chimps do use tools, their knowledge isn’t as great as a wild ones is on how to use them, so they don’t bother with it as much as wild chimpanzees. Plus, they get their food and water handed to them so they don’t have to worry about the competition for food.
Works Cited
Atkinson, Nick. "Mommy Training." Natrual History Vol. 114 Issue 9 2005: 25-25.
Celli, Maura L. "Socioecological Influences on Tool Use in Captive Chimpanzees." International Journal of Primatology, vol. 25, no. 6 (2001).
Hopkins, W.D. "Handedness for Tool use in Captive Chimpanzees: Sex Differences, Performance, Heritability And Comparison To The Wild." Behavior (2009).
Hopkins, William D. "The Distribution and Development of Handedness for Manual Gestures in Captive Chimpanzees." Psychological Science Vol 16. Issue 6 (n.d.): 488-492.
Nash, Victoria J. "Tool Use by Captive Chimpanzees at and Artificial Termite Mound." Zoo Biology Vol. 1, Issue 3 (1982): 211-221.
Sanz, Crickette M. "Flexible and Presistent Tool-using Strategies in Honey-gathering by Wild Chimpanzees." International Journal of Primatology (2009): 423.
Stanford, Craig. "Chimpanzees." Stanford, Craig. Exploring Biological Anthropology: The Essentials. Boston, MA: Pearson, 2013. 163-164.
Stanford, Craig. "Innovations: Culture in Nonhuman Primates." Stanford, Craig. Exploring Biological Anthropology: The Essentials. Boston, MA: Pearson, 2013. 182-183.
Watts, David P. "Tool Use by Chimpanzees at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda." International Journal of Primatology (2006).
(MLA, 1467)
through their culture. (Stanford 182) They learn by tradition, passing on what they learn generation to generation. They aren’t born with tool building in their genetics, though the intellectual capacity to understand how the tools are used is. (Stanford 164) They developed their tool use mostly for survival and reproductive purposes. There are many ways in which wild chimpanzees create and use their tools. Chimpanzees use tools during extractive foraging, mating, play, aggression, and buttress-drumming displays, and also for hygiene and personal comfort. (Watts 87) When captive chimpanzees demonstrate their abilities to make tools, it isn’t crucial to their survival as it is for wild chimpanzees. It’s really just to test their cognitive and thinking abilities or for their entertainment.
Chimpanzees often use leafs as tools. They use them as wipes for hygienic purposes. You will often see them using a leaf as a napkin to wipe away feces and dirt off of their hair. Another interesting way they use them is to dab them on wounds, like a gauze pad or sponge. They also use leaves as sponges. You can often see them munching down on a leaf and then wadding it up, then inserting it into a hole in a tree to get water they can’t reach, the mulched leaf acts as a sort of sponge and soaks up all the water.
Chimpanzees also incorporate twigs in a lot of their tool manufacturing. One example is when they strip the leaves off of twigs and the twig is used to open the exit tunnels of termite mounds. This provides access for the chimps to forage and fish from the inner chambers of the nest. (Sanz 423) Once the twig is inside, the chimpanzees agitate the termites, this causes them to latch on to the stick and once the chimps feel like there are enough termites attached, they carefully remove the twig, making sure not to bump into the walls of the termite mound and once it is out, the chimps have a smorgasbord of termite food. According to D.P Watts, the most common form of tool use in feeding is honey dipping.
He reported that most hives that chimpanzees’ raid are off the ground, in hollows in tree trunks. During raids, the chimpanzees usually stick their arms into the hollows to try and grab handfuls of honeycomb quickly, and then run away. Though they sometimes repeat this and may stay next to the opening if they are not attacked by large swarms.Watts has not seen tool use during arboreal raids, but has seen chimpanzees use tools to remove honey from hives in fallen tree trunks. They use narrow sticks as tools. The chimps scrape them against the inner walls of the hollows to get the honey that they can’t reach with their hands and then eat the honey that adheres to the stick. (Watts …show more content…
88)
While the captive chimps’ survival is not at risk if they fish for termites or honey, because they are fed well in captivity, they have conducted studies where they examine a colony of captive chimpanzees at an artificial termite mound. They mostly conduct this study to see if it is inherited or a learned ability. In the study the mound is constructed of concrete to simulate real termite mounds. Tool accessibility is manipulated, as well as the distance of the tool from the mound. The tool making and tool using behavior is examined in relation to individual, age, and gender. (Nash) It was seen that most chimps would use “off the peg” tools or tools nearest to the mound. Also, the younger chimpanzees spent more time at the mound using tools the previous chimps had used to manipulate the mound. The mound gives the chimps a stimulating and rewarding activity and also the researches a chance to study under better conditions. (Nash)
They also study the tool use of termite fishing to report the handedness preference of the chimpanzee. The main purpose of the study was to evaluate Coraballis’s hypothesis that the hemisphere in the brain that specializes for language functions in humans evolved from a common ancestor of humans and chimps. This evolutionary model differs from others in that the focus is on a direct link between lateralization in communicative behaviors of chimpanzees and left-hemisphere specialization in language for humans. We evaluate Coraballi’s hypothesis by comparing handedness for gestures in captive chimps with handedness for three other measures of hand use: reaching, coordinated bimanual actions, and tool use. (W. D. Hopkins 488) W.D. Hopkins had this to report: “There are several studies on hand use for simulated termite fishing in captive chimpanzees and these data seem to support the results seen in the wild. However, these reports did not have an adequate means of comparing results from the two settings. Here we examined hand preferences for a task requiring the chimpanzees to insert a stick into a small hole in order to gain access to a favored food substance. If handedness for tool use is influenced by human rearing and modeling, then it was hypothesized that captive chimpanzees should be right-handed for this task. In contrast, if handedness is not influenced by rearing and is consistent across behavioral settings, then it was hypothesized that, like wild chimpanzees, captive chimpanzees would show a significant left-hand preference for this task.” (W. Hopkins 1465-1466)
Tool use in the wild is seasonal; some resources available during one season will be gone the next.
Long-term research revealed that communities of wild chimpanzees have developed unique sets of cultural traditions in their habitats. The traditions are transmitted non-genetically across generations therefore an individual’s knowledge may affect the behavior of others. (Celli 1268) There have been studies conducted by Celli to see if tool use among captive chimpanzees, where the environment is controlled, changes the occurrence of tool use. In Maura’s experiment, they set out tools and restricted the availability of raw materials so the subjects were to choose for their own. (Celli 1268) She experimented on two groups. To conduct the experiment, she put honey in a polyethylene bottle inside polycarbonate boxes attached to the walls of a booth outside. The tools used were all natural, they had access to twigs, branches, leaves and vines. They experimented all four seasons, early in the mornings in summer and autumn, and around midday during winter and spring to avoid low levels of activity during the cold. (Celli 1271) It was seen that the chimps would select tools near the fishing site, anywhere from a 2 meter range around the booth. The results are that Group A preferred twigs over grass throughout all four seasons and was more successful with twigs than grass, they also had less insertion attempts. Group B preferred to use grass throughout summer, fall and winter, but then
in spring started using twigs with more success. Throughout their time using the grass insertions, they had a high number of insertion attempts, but were more successful at it. The null hypothesis is that the number of attempts with each type of tool is independent to the tool materials. It was also seen in group B that the number of attempts with twigs grew as the availability of grass decreased. I believe that wild chimpanzee use tools more often than captive chimps due to the fact that it is critical to their lives. It somewhat depends on whether or not they use their tools that they are successful in living. It is helpful towards them because of the competition for food and not to mention their communication with each other. They also pass down their knowledge of how to use tools between each other, so while once chimp is doing, the others are learning through observation. While captive chimps do use tools, their knowledge isn’t as great as a wild ones is on how to use them, so they don’t bother with it as much as wild chimpanzees. Plus, they get their food and water handed to them so they don’t have to worry about the competition for food.
Works Cited
Atkinson, Nick. "Mommy Training." Natrual History Vol. 114 Issue 9 2005: 25-25.
Celli, Maura L. "Socioecological Influences on Tool Use in Captive Chimpanzees." International Journal of Primatology, vol. 25, no. 6 (2001).
Hopkins, W.D. "Handedness for Tool use in Captive Chimpanzees: Sex Differences, Performance, Heritability And Comparison To The Wild." Behavior (2009).
Hopkins, William D. "The Distribution and Development of Handedness for Manual Gestures in Captive Chimpanzees." Psychological Science Vol 16. Issue 6 (n.d.): 488-492.
Nash, Victoria J. "Tool Use by Captive Chimpanzees at and Artificial Termite Mound." Zoo Biology Vol. 1, Issue 3 (1982): 211-221.
Sanz, Crickette M. "Flexible and Presistent Tool-using Strategies in Honey-gathering by Wild Chimpanzees." International Journal of Primatology (2009): 423.
Stanford, Craig. "Chimpanzees." Stanford, Craig. Exploring Biological Anthropology: The Essentials. Boston, MA: Pearson, 2013. 163-164.
Stanford, Craig. "Innovations: Culture in Nonhuman Primates." Stanford, Craig. Exploring Biological Anthropology: The Essentials. Boston, MA: Pearson, 2013. 182-183.
Watts, David P. "Tool Use by Chimpanzees at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda." International Journal of Primatology (2006).
(MLA, 1467)