Cultural differences in army ant predation by West African chimpanzees? A comparative study of microecological variables

Moebius, Yasmin, Boesch, Christophe, Koops, Kathelijne, Matsuzawa, Tetsuro, Humle, Tatyana (2008) Cultural differences in army ant predation by West African chimpanzees? A comparative study of microecological variables. Animal Behaviour, 76 (1). pp. 37-45. ISSN 0003-3472. (doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.01.008) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided)

Abstract

Behavioural diversity in the predation pattern of army ants (Dorylus spp.) by different populations of wild chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes, has been proposed to reflect different cultural traditions. Chimpanzees use either stick tools (known as ant dipping) or simply their hands to prey on two groups of army ants (epigaeic and intermediate species). A recent analysis has shown that, contrary to the cultural hypothesis, the tool length and associated harvesting technique used by chimpanzees in different populations is to a large extent influenced by characteristics of the ants themselves. However, in line with the cultural hypothesis, chimpanzees at two long-term study sites in West Africa (Bossou, Guinea, and Tai National Park, Cote d'Ivoire) prey on the same five army ant species but adopt different strategies to do so. We conducted controlled human simulations of ant dipping and an ant survey at these two sites to evaluate alternative ecological explanations related to ant behaviour and ecology that could account for the observed differences in chimpanzee predation behaviour. Ant speed explained differences in tool length within Bossou but not between Bossou and Taï. Our results do not support an ecological basis underlying the lack of dipping at ant trails in Taï chimpanzees. Finally, neither ant aggressiveness (measured as speed and persistence) nor yield when using tools could explain why, unlike Bossou chimpanzees, Taï chimpanzees do not use tools to harvest epigaeic species. We conclude that an interaction of cultural and ecological factors shapes the differences in army ant predation between Tai and Bossou chimpanzees.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.01.008
Uncontrolled keywords:	ant dipping, army ants, chimpanzee, culture, Dorylus spp., insectivory, Pan troglodytes verus, tool use, aggression, ant, behavioral ecology, comparative study, hominid, insectivory, predation, Africa, Bossou, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Sub-Saharan Africa, Tai National Park, West Africa, Formicidae, Pan, Pan troglodytes, Pan troglodytes verus
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology Q Science > QH Natural history > QH541 Ecology Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions:	Faculties > Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation Faculties > Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > Biological Anthropology Faculties > Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User:	Tatyana Humle
Date Deposited:	04 Apr 2014 14:25 UTC
Last Modified:	29 May 2019 11:47 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/38033 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)