Nest-building orangutans demonstrate engineering know-how to produce safe, comfortable beds
Nest-building orangutans demonstrate engineering know-how to produce safe, comfortable beds
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DOI：
10.1073/pnas.1200902109
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发表时间：
2012-05-01
影响因子：
11.1
通讯作者：
Ennos, A. Roland
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
van Casteren, Adam;Sellers, William I.;Ennos, A. Roland
筑巢的猩猩必须每天在森林的树冠上建造安全舒适的巢穴结构，并利用周围的树枝快速有效地做到这一点。本研究旨在调查猩猩巢穴的机械设计和结构，并确定其建造中使用的技术复杂程度。我们测量了整个巢的顺应性和所用树枝的厚度，并记录了树枝断裂的方式。还从巢中收集了分支样品，并进行了三点弯曲试验，以确定其机械性能。我们证明了巢的中心比边缘更柔顺;这可能会为结构增加额外的舒适性和安全性。在建造过程中，猩猩利用树枝只在“绿枝”断裂的一半时断裂的事实来编织主要的巢穴结构。他们选择更粗的树枝，具有更大的刚度和强度，以这种方式构建主体结构。然后，他们分离较薄的分支以下绿枝骨折与扭曲的行动，使衬里。这些结果表明，红毛猩猩在筑巢方面表现出一定程度的技术知识和选择。
Nest-building orangutans must daily build safe and comfortable nest structures in the forest canopy and do this quickly and effectively using the branches that surround them. This study aimed to investigate the mechanical design and architecture of orangutan nests and determine the degree of technical sophistication used in their construction. We measured the whole nest compliance and the thickness of the branches used and recorded the ways in which the branches were fractured. Branch samples were also collected from the nests and subjected to three-point bending tests to determine their mechanical properties. We demonstrated that the center of the nest is more compliant than the edges; this may add extra comfort and safety to the structure. During construction orangutans use the fact that branches only break half-way across in "greenstick" fracture to weave the main nest structure. They choose thicker branches with greater rigidity and strength to build the main structure in this way. They then detach thinner branches by following greenstick fracture with a twisting action to make the lining. These results suggest that orangutans exhibit a degree of technical knowledge and choice in the construction of nests.