InQuizitive: Chapter 7: Primate Sociality, Social Behavior, and Culture

Which of the following are true regarding females with good nutrition?

True:

They have offspring at a younger age.

They live longer.

They have healthier offspring.

They give birth to their offspring closer together in time.

The higher a primate is ranked, the greater is its ability to acquire resources such as food.

Identify the statements that correctly describe primate vocalizations.

Describes Primate Vocalizations:

Primate vocalizations are a form of vocal communication.

Vocal systems are complex.

All primates produce them.

Selective pressures likely shaped the vocalizations of primates.

Does Not Describe Primate Vocalizations:

Vocalizations are generally involuntary.

Vocalizations are an automatic response to stimuli.

One of the main reasons why scientists study primate behavior is to address the question of why primates are social.

True

Primate males engage in competition for access to females. This reproductive strategy has led to larger body size and canine size in males because of -

sexual selection

In the Anthropology at Work section, Dr. Marcela Benítez discusses her research on the vocalizations of male gelada baboons. Why does she suggest that research on male baboons' assessment of rival strength in relation to their own status is important to biological anthropology?

By studying the cognitive abilities of other primates, we can better understand the evolutionary forces that influenced brain size in humans.

Some primate taxa exhibit multiple types of material culture, while others exhibit only one (or even none at all). All of the primates listed below are known to use tools. Drag each primate to all of the tools that they have been observed engaging with. Remember, some of these primates may exhibit more than one type of material culture.

spears to kill bush babies = chimpanzee

stones used to dig for food = capuchin monkey

probes to obtain insects = chimpanzee + orangutan

stones used for nut cracking = chimpanzee + capuchin monkey

Some animal behaviors are the by-products of years of natural selection and are therefore natural to them. Some behaviors are learned from others in a social context. For each of the primate behaviors listed below, select the ones that are primarily learned rather than instinctual.

Learned Behavior:

the use of hammer stones to open palm nuts

hand clasp grooming

alarm calls in response to predators

Although most primates live in groups with some form of social interaction, there are a few solitary species of primates, such as orangutans and some strepsirrhines. Identify the behaviors and characteristics of solitary primates.

Characteristic of Solitary Primates:

Interaction between adult males and adult females occurs only for sexual activity.

Not a Characteristic of Solitary Primates:

Temporary groups of males are formed for hunting purposes.

The male invests a significant amount of time with the young.

Primates who live with nonrelatives will engage in altruistic behaviors more often than primates who live with relatives.

False

Which of the following behaviors and attributes was Jane Goodall the first to document in chimpanzees?

Correct:

high intelligence

enduring mother-infant bonds

meat-eating

tool use

Incorrect:

cooking food

Which of the following are techniques that chimpanzees use to acquire food?

Techniques Chimpanzees Use:

hunting

tools

food sharing

memory

Techniques Chimpanzees Do Not Use:

primitive gardening

domestication of animals

Primatologists working to create and implement primate conservation efforts often work specifically in the field of ethnoprimatology. What might an anthropologist study if they are using an ethnoprimatological approach?

Correct Answer(s):

interactions between humans and primates in Balinese temples and shrines

folklore surrounding and involving primates

the effects of deforestation on primate populations

Incorrect Answer(s):

social behavior of primates in their natural habitat

Feeding success is vital for female primates' reproductive success. Identify the key factors that determine a female primate's feeding success.

Key factor:

availability of food

quality of food

distribution of food

Not a Key Factor:

proximity of food to sources of water

Which of the following are central features regarding chimpanzee tool use?

Correct Answer(s)

Chimpanzees are intelligent enough to engage in behaviors that require learning.

Chimpanzee tool production and use is sometimes highly localized (unique to a particular location).

Incorrect Answer(s)

Chimpanzees only use tools in settings where the tool use was initially taught by humans.

Chimpanzees' tools are only used for acquiring food.

Match each communication trait listed below with the group to which it belongs.

nonhuman primates:

restricted to a preprogrammed set of calls

humans:

spoken language

invent new vocalizations

both:

sound variation to convey difference in meaning

sign language

patterns to vocalizations