Orangutans (Pongo spp.) do not spontaneously share benefits with familiar conspecifics in a choice paradigm

Primates; Journal of Primatology
Yena KimMasaki Tomonaga

Abstract

Humans are thought to be unique in their ability to help others voluntarily even though it may sometimes incur substantial costs. However, there are a growing number of studies showing that prosocial behaviors can be observed, not only in humans, but also among nonhuman primates that live in complex social groups. Prosociality has often been described as a major factor that facilitates group living. Nonetheless, it has seldom been explored whether solitary living primates, such as orangutans, share this propensity. In the present study, we tested four captive orangutans (Pongo abelii × pigmaeus, Pongo pigmaeus) in a simple food-delivering task. They had a choice, incurring the same cost, between getting a food reward for themselves and providing an additional food reward to a conspecific recipient passively sitting in an adjacent booth. Two orangutans played the actor's role, and two orangutans participated as recipients. The results showed that the actors did not choose to deliver food to the recipients more often than expected by chance (51.3 % on average). The control condition demonstrated that this tendency was independent of the actor's understanding of the task. These findings suggest that orangutans do not spontaneously...Continue Reading

References

Jul 1, 1986·Developmental Psychobiology·E L ZuckerT L Maple
Jan 1, 1974·Behaviour·J Altmann
Mar 27, 1981·Science·R Axelrod, W D Hamilton
Jan 4, 2003·Science·Carel P van SchaikMichelle Merrill
Mar 11, 2003·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Stephanie D Preston, Frans B M de Waal
Sep 23, 2003·Journal of Comparative Psychology·Tara S Stoinski, Andrew Whiten
Oct 28, 2005·Nature·Joan B SilkSteven J Schapiro
Mar 4, 2006·Science·Felix Warneken, Michael Tomasello
Dec 14, 2007·Biology Letters·Marina Davila RossElke Zimmermann
Dec 14, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Judith M BurkartCarel P van Schaik
Jan 11, 2008·American Journal of Primatology·Adrian V JaeggiCarel P van Schaik
Sep 25, 2008·Biology Letters·Jennifer L BarnesLaurie R Santos
Nov 13, 2008·Current Biology : CB·Venkat R Lakshminarayanan, Laurie R Santos
Oct 15, 2009·PloS One·Shinya YamamotoMasayuki Tanaka
Jan 7, 2010·Primates; Journal of Primatology·Tomoyuki Tajima, Hidetoshi Kurotori
Oct 29, 2010·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Alicia P MelisMichael Tomasello
Apr 21, 2011·Animal Cognition·A E SkerryL R Santos
Apr 27, 2011·Animal Cognition·Ayaka Takimoto, Kazuo Fujita
Aug 10, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Victoria HornerFrans B M de Waal
Sep 6, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Malini Suchak, Frans B M de Waal
Oct 23, 2013·Animal Cognition·Lindsey A Drayton, Laurie R Santos
Jan 15, 2014·PloS One·Katja LiebalMichael Tomasello
Aug 28, 2014·Nature Communications·J M BurkartC P van Schaik
Sep 6, 2014·PloS One·Bailey R HouseSteven J Schapiro

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 6, 2016·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Joan B Silk, Bailey R House
Dec 21, 2016·Nature Communications·Claudio TennieJosep Call
May 27, 2017·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Ana Pérez-Manrique, Antoni Gomila
Dec 10, 2019·Primates; Journal of Primatology·Hope EmighJennifer Vonk

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.