Title
Preliminary report on the acquisition of tool-using elements during termite gathering among chimpanzees of the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo (Meeting Abstract, The 84th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists)
Author(s)
Musgrave, S.;Bell, E.;Morgan, D.;Lonsdorf, E.;Sanz, C.
Published
2015
Publisher
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Abstract
The prevalence of tool-assisted foraging among chimpanzees suggests that acquiring these skills may improve dietary quality and potentially enhance reproductive success. Young chimpanzees develop tool-using proficiency over several years, and with various forms of social input. The aim of this study was to document the acquisition of complex tool-using skills among chimpanzees of the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo. In addition to the termite fishing behavior observed in Western and Eastern African chimpanzee populations, central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) use multiple types of tools to access termites in subterranean and epigeal nests. We hypothesized that the manufacture and use of tool sets would occur later than termite fishing. We also predicted sex differences in the acquisition of termite fishing skills, as has been documented in Gombe, Tanzania. Using a longitudinal approach, we scored 144 hours of remote video footage recorded during chimpanzee visitation to termite nests for critical elements in tool use. The minimum ages of acquisition of critical elements associated with termite fishing occurred within the range of those reported from Gombe chimpanzees, but elements associated with the use of tool sets occurred later. This may be due to the strength requirements, greater material selectivity, or more extensive tool modifications associated with these tool sets. Females displayed a higher frequency and greater diversity of critical elements than males. Our next step is to examine social influences on the maintenance of these complex tool traditions, which will aid in modeling the evolution of technology in early hominins.

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PUB15626