Age differences in neophilia, exploration, and innovation in family groups of Callitrichid monkeys.

R L Kendal, R L Coe, Kevin Neville Laland

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

79 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The prevailing assumption in the primate literature is that young or juvenile primates are more innovative than adult individuals. This innovative tendency among the young is frequently thought to be a consequence, or side effect, of their increased rates of exploration and play. Conversely, Reader and Laland's [International Journal of Primatology 22:787-806, 2001] review of the primate innovation literature noted a greater reported incidence of innovation in adults than nonadults, which they interpreted as (in part) a reflection of the greater experience and competence of older individuals. Within calli-trichids there is contradictory evidence for age differences in response to novel objects, foods, and foraging tasks. By presenting novel extractive foraging tasks to family groups of callitrichid monkeys in zoos, we examined, in a large sample, whether there are positive or negative relationships of age with neophilia, exploration, and innovation, and whether play or experience most facilitates innovation. The results indicate that exploration and innovation (but not neophilia) are positively correlated with age, perhaps reflecting adults' greater manipulative competence. To the extent that there was evidence for play in younger individuals, it did not appear to contribute to innovation. The implications of these findings for the fields of innovation and conservation through reintroduction are considered. Am. J. Primatol. 66:167-188, 2005. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)167-188
Number of pages22
JournalAmerican Journal of Primatology
Volume66
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2005

Keywords

  • innovation
  • exploration
  • neophilia
  • age differences
  • callitrichids
  • reintroduction
  • SAGUINUS-OEDIPUS
  • FEEDING-HABITS
  • SEX-RATIOS
  • TOOL-USE
  • CHIMPANZEES
  • TAMARINS
  • BEHAVIOR
  • BIRDS
  • PRIMATES
  • TANZANIA

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