Experimental field studies with non-human primates

Klaus Zuberbuehler

doi:10.1016/j.conb.2014.07.012

Experimental field studies with non-human primates

Klaus Zuberbuehler^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

One way to study language evolution is to compare human communication with closely related non-human primate species. This comparative approach has turned to be especially productive if subjects are studied under natural field conditions in which they have evolved. Various observation techniques have been developed, but field experiments are often needed to clarify underlying cause-effect relations. Here, I review the main experimental designs that are suitable for primate fieldwork and discuss some scientific advancements that they have generated. Field experiments are notoriously difficult to carry out for a range of reasons that are discussed. Nonetheless, considerable progress has been made in recent years, including with great apes, which have traditionally been neglected in experimental research in the wild.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	150-156
Number of pages	7
Journal	Current Opinion in Neurobiology
Volume	28
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2014.07.012
Publication status	Published - Oct 2014

Keywords

Gibbons hylobates-muelleri
Alarm calls
Vervet monkeys
Wild chimpanzees
Playback experiments
Diana monkeys
Semantic communication
Vocal recognitiion
Japanese monkeys
Macaca-sylvanus

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10.1016/j.conb.2014.07.012

Zuber_2014_CON_Experimental
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2014.04.004
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Cite this

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title = "Experimental field studies with non-human primates",

abstract = "One way to study language evolution is to compare human communication with closely related non-human primate species. This comparative approach has turned to be especially productive if subjects are studied under natural field conditions in which they have evolved. Various observation techniques have been developed, but field experiments are often needed to clarify underlying cause-effect relations. Here, I review the main experimental designs that are suitable for primate fieldwork and discuss some scientific advancements that they have generated. Field experiments are notoriously difficult to carry out for a range of reasons that are discussed. Nonetheless, considerable progress has been made in recent years, including with great apes, which have traditionally been neglected in experimental research in the wild.",

keywords = "Gibbons hylobates-muelleri, Alarm calls, Vervet monkeys, Wild chimpanzees, Playback experiments, Diana monkeys, Semantic communication, Vocal recognitiion, Japanese monkeys, Macaca-sylvanus",

author = "Klaus Zuberbuehler",

note = "This project has received funding from the European Union{\textquoteright}s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 283871.",

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language = "English",

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AU - Zuberbuehler, Klaus

N1 - This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 283871.

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N2 - One way to study language evolution is to compare human communication with closely related non-human primate species. This comparative approach has turned to be especially productive if subjects are studied under natural field conditions in which they have evolved. Various observation techniques have been developed, but field experiments are often needed to clarify underlying cause-effect relations. Here, I review the main experimental designs that are suitable for primate fieldwork and discuss some scientific advancements that they have generated. Field experiments are notoriously difficult to carry out for a range of reasons that are discussed. Nonetheless, considerable progress has been made in recent years, including with great apes, which have traditionally been neglected in experimental research in the wild.

AB - One way to study language evolution is to compare human communication with closely related non-human primate species. This comparative approach has turned to be especially productive if subjects are studied under natural field conditions in which they have evolved. Various observation techniques have been developed, but field experiments are often needed to clarify underlying cause-effect relations. Here, I review the main experimental designs that are suitable for primate fieldwork and discuss some scientific advancements that they have generated. Field experiments are notoriously difficult to carry out for a range of reasons that are discussed. Nonetheless, considerable progress has been made in recent years, including with great apes, which have traditionally been neglected in experimental research in the wild.

KW - Gibbons hylobates-muelleri

KW - Alarm calls

KW - Vervet monkeys

KW - Wild chimpanzees

KW - Playback experiments

KW - Diana monkeys

KW - Semantic communication

KW - Vocal recognitiion

KW - Japanese monkeys

KW - Macaca-sylvanus

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DO - 10.1016/j.conb.2014.07.012

M3 - Article

SN - 0959-4388

VL - 28

SP - 150

EP - 156

JO - Current Opinion in Neurobiology

JF - Current Opinion in Neurobiology

ER -

Experimental field studies with non-human primates

Abstract

Keywords

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