Primate Behavior and Ecology

Movements for Grooming in Rhesus Macaques Co-opted from Feeding Movements

This study shows that grooming movements in rhesus macaques are adapted from feeding movements, with similar hand motions used for both tasks.

Assessing larger-than rule learning in African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus).

This study assesses whether African grey parrots can learn and apply a 'larger-than' rule in size or quantity discrimination, finding limited transfer but individual variation in rule acquisition.

JOINT ACTION AWARENESS IN MACAQUES DURING A MULTIPLAYER VIDEO-GAME CONTEXT

This study shows macaques monitor their partner during cooperative tasks, with increased head turns when the partner makes errors.

Spatial segregation and multi-scale space-use adjustments to socio-ecological variables in western gorillas

This study examines spatial segregation and multi-scale space-use adjustments in western gorillas, finding that home range shifts and daily movements are influenced by socio-ecological factors rather than territorial behavior.

Oro-manual assessment of food preservability in a wild rodent

This study shows wild agoutis assess food preservability through oro-manual behavior, preferring to cache nuts over fresh fruits based on sensory information.

Zero-Shot Generalization of Prospective Planning in Macaques

This study shows macaques can plan ahead in new maze tasks without prior experience, avoiding deceptive paths based on future consequences.

The effect of dominance rank on behavioural response to playback calls in ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta)

This study examines how dominance rank affects behavioral responses to contact calls in ring-tailed lemurs, finding sex-specific effects where high-ranking females influence group movement.

Percussive manipulations distinguish object play in capuchin and patas monkeys

The paper tests object play in capuchin and patas monkeys, finding capuchins more likely to smash objects, suggesting differences in percussive behavior related to tool use.

Risk management strategies in social grooming among Tonkean and rhesus macaques

This study examines risk management strategies in social grooming between Tonkean and rhesus macaques, finding species-specific differences in grooming patterns and body site preferences.

Social and reproductive benefits of group fission in wild geladas

The paper examines group fission in geladas, finding that females join new groups with kin and allies, and that fission reduces infanticide risk.

Expecting the unexpected: Great apes anticipate surprise in others

This study shows great apes can detect when an agent's belief mismatches reality, indicating a cognitive understanding of surprise.

Long-term Population Dynamics and Conservation of Proboscis Monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) in the Lower Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysia

The paper evaluates the long-term population and habitat dynamics of proboscis monkeys in the Lower Kinabatangan, showing a population increase and habitat stability despite habitat conversion outside protected areas.

Non-trivial compositionality in chimpanzees: an experimental demonstration

This study demonstrates that chimpanzees exhibit non-trivial compositionality by responding faster to call sequences from a single source, suggesting integrated meaning rather than independent utterances.

"Mine" or "yours"? Acoustic structure of food calls predicts sharing decisions in marmosets

This study shows that food calls in marmosets predict sharing decisions, with acoustic features influencing whether food is transferred or not.

Temporal dynamics of grooming reciprocity in crested macaques: Strongly bonded individuals reciprocate grooming more quickly

This study uses survival analysis and Bayesian models to show that crested macaques reciprocate grooming more quickly when bonds are stronger, challenging assumptions about short reciprocity windows.

Translating functional brain activity between humans and monkeys

This paper develops a method to align brain activity between humans and monkeys, revealing conserved visual areas and species-specific differences in higher-order processing.

Between-group conflict participation is associated with lower long-term cortisol in wild vervet monkeys

The paper finds that participation in between-group conflicts in wild vervet monkeys is linked to lower long-term cortisol levels, suggesting physiological benefits of cooperative behavior.

Silver spoon effect: early-life environment and adult survival in a primate.

This study examines how early-life environment affects adult survival in captive mouse lemurs, finding that post-weaning body mass is a key determinant of survival, though social factors also play a significant role.

The building blocks of social structure: simulating constraints of social network analysis for inference about group-level properties

This paper builds a model to simulate social network data and shows how changes in underlying behavioural processes affect global network metrics in animal social systems.

Wild chimpanzee groups increase social connectivity prior to risky collective action

The paper shows wild chimpanzees increase social connectivity before risky group actions, forming broader but less dense affiliative networks.

Can't win, don't try: handling time costs affect foraging choices and vigilance in wild vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)

This study shows that wild vervet monkeys adjust foraging choices and vigilance based on handling time costs and social competition, with dominant individuals more likely to attempt high-cost resources.

Social inequity aversion and fairness preference in polar bears

This study tests inequity aversion in solitary polar bears using non-invasive cognition tests, finding they avoid unequal reward distributions in social contexts.

Dynamic tracking of social variables in simultaneous brain recordings from socially interacting monkeys

This study tracks neural activity in socially interacting macaques to identify how social variables like grooming reciprocity are encoded in the brain.

Beyond the harem: vocal complexity in a captive gelada (Theropithecus gelada) bachelor group

This study examines derived vocal calls in a captive gelada bachelor group, finding they signal dominance and support social bonding among males, beyond their known role in male-female communication.

Copulation calls indicate fertility but do not reflect female mate competition in wild Guinea baboons

The paper examines copulation calls in Guinea baboons, finding they signal fertility but do not reflect mate competition.

Predation of small nocturnal primates (Microcebus) on Madagascar; insights into predator preferences in Andohahela National Park

The paper documents predation on mouse lemurs in Madagascar using radio-telemetry and owl pellet analysis, revealing new predator species and highlighting the underestimation of snake predation on these primates.

Diet and feeding strategies of two sympatric mouse lemurs (Microcebus) in the xeric forests of Andohahela, southeastern Madagascar

The paper examines dietary strategies of two sympatric mouse lemur species in Madagascar, finding seasonal shifts and niche differentiation despite dietary overlap.

Temperature modulates resting posture, microhabitat use, and day nesting in chimpanzees in a cool montane forest

This study shows how chimpanzees adjust their resting behavior in response to temperature changes in a cool montane forest.

Mice in the Robbers Cave: Induction of intergroup conflict in mice using the competitive Tsunahiki task

This study induces intergroup conflict in mice through a competitive Tsunahiki task, showing selective aggression toward out-group members.

Kinship, acoustic signaling, and socio-spatial structure shape shared decisions and social influence in white-nosed coatis

The paper examines how kinship, acoustic signaling, and socio-spatial structure affect decision-making and social influence in white-nosed coatis, finding that majority support and proximity to leaders shape group decisions.