Dissertation Research: Orangutan Cultures? Tool Use, Social Transmission and Population Differences

这个项目涉及对野生猩猩(Pongo Pigmaeus)种群之间行为差异的系统调查。在印度尼西亚苏门答腊岛的Suaq Balimping，猩猩中广泛使用的工具表明，猩猩在行为上的种群差异与黑猩猩的相似。在三个已建立的野外地点(Suaq Balimping、Ketambe和Cabang Panti)进行的重点动物观察将回答以下问题：1.是否有其他证据表明猩猩存在文化差异？2.允许文化行为的发明、表达和社会学习的最低水平是什么？社会学习机会是表达这些文化行为的关键因素的假设将得到检验。更好地了解猩猩的文化能力将提供对大猩猩最后共同祖先的文化能力的洞察，以及文化作为关键的人类适应能力的演变。

This project involves a systematic investigation of behavioral differences between populations of wild orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus). The widespread tool use among orangutans at Suaq Balimbing (Sumatra, Indonesia) suggests that orangutans have population differences in behavior similar to those found in chimpanzees. Focal animal observation at three established field sites (Suaq Balimbing, Ketambe, and Cabang Panti) will answer the following questions: 1. Is there additional evidence of cultural variation in orangutans? 2. What are the minimum levels of opportunity for invention, expression and social learning that permit cultural behavior? The hypothesis that the opportunities for social learning are the critical factor in the expression of these cultural behaviors will be tested. Improved understanding of the cultural capacity of the orangutan will provide insight into the cultural capacities of the last common ancestor of the great apes and the evolution of culture as a key human adaptation.