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Cited by 93Primate Behavior and EcologyChild and Animal Learning DevelopmentPlant and animal studies

Primates Take Weather into Account when Searching for Fruits

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Janmaat, Karline R.L., Byrne, Richard W., Zuberbühler, Klaus·2006·Current Biology
DOI 10.1016/j.cub.2006.04.031
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Abstract

Temperature and solar radiation are known to influence maturation of fruits and insect larvae inside them . We investigated whether gray-cheeked mangabeys (Lophocebus albigena johnstonii) of Kibale Forest, Uganda, take these weather variables into account when searching for ripe figs or unripe figs containing insect larvae. We predicted that monkeys would be more likely to revisit a tree with fruit after several days of warm and sunny weather compared to a cooler and more cloudy period. We preselected 80 target fig trees and monitored whether they contained ripe, unripe, or no fruit. We followed one habituated monkey group from dawn to dusk for three continuous observation periods totalling 210 days. Whenever the group came within a 100 m circle of a previously visited target tree for a second time, we noted whether or not individuals proceeded to the trunk, i.e., whether they "revisited" or simply "bypassed" the tree. We found that average daily maximum temperature was significantly higher for days preceding revisits than bypasses. The probability of a revisit was additionally influenced by solar radiation experienced on the day of reapproach. These effects were found only for trees that carried fruit at the previous visit but not for trees that had carried none. We concluded that these nonhuman primates were capable of taking into account past weather conditions when searching for food. We discuss the implication of these findings for theories of primate cognitive evolution.

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  • Observational data on wild grey-cheeked mangabey foraging behaviour may suggest a form of memory that includes recalling the 'what' (fruit), 'where' (tree location) and 'when' (timing relative to fruiting) aspects of previous foraging experiences, while incorporating recent weather conditions with these memories to flexibly dictate decision-making.

    “observational data on wild grey-cheeked mangabey foraging behaviour may suggest a form of memory that includes recalling the ‘what’ (fruit), ‘where’ (tree location) and ‘when’ (timing relative to fruiting) aspects of previous foraging experiences [206], while incorporating recent weather conditions (semantic information) with these memories to flexibly dictate decision-making [207].”

    From Is episodic-like memory <i>like</i> episodic memory? (2024) · cites this paper as [207]

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Authors
Janmaat, K. R. L., Byrne, R. W., & Zuberbühler, K.
Affiliations
University of St Andrews (GB)
Corresponding author
Zuberbühler, Klaus
ORCID
Venue
Current Biology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2006-06
Volume
16
Issue
12
Pages
1232-1237
ISSN
0960-9822 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.cub.2006.04.031
OpenAlex
W2070857075
Cited by
93
References
30
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 3
FWCI
7.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Current Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • reroDoc Digital Library (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Plant and animal studies
Keywords
figs, insect larvae, weather effects on foraging, temperature, solar radiation, revisit behavior, primate cognition, cognitive evolution, Kibale Forest
MeSH terms
Animals, Awareness, Cues, Feeding Behavior, Light, Sunlight, Temperature, Cercocebus

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