Melis, Alicia P. and Tomasello, Michael (2013) Chimpanzees' (Pan troglodytes) strategic helping in a collaborative task. Biology Letters, Volume 9 (Number 2). Article number 20130009. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2013.0009 ISSN 1744-9561.

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Abstract

Many animal species cooperate, but the underlying proximate mechanisms are often unclear. We presented chimpanzees with a mutualistic collaborative food-retrieval task requiring complementary roles, and tested subjects' ability to help their partner perform her role. For each role, subjects required a different tool, and the tools were not interchangeable. We gave one individual in each dyad both tools, and measured subjects' willingness to transfer a tool to their partner as well as which tool (correct versus incorrect) they transferred. Most subjects helped their partner and transferred the tool the partner needed. Thus, chimpanzees not only coordinate different roles, but they also know which particular action the partner needs to perform. These results add to previous findings suggesting that many of chimpanzees' limitations in collaboration are, perhaps, more motivational than cognitive.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Behavioural Science Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School
Journal or Publication Title:	Biology Letters
Publisher:	Royal Society
ISSN:	1744-9561
Official Date:	April 2013
Dates:	Date Event April 2013 Published
Volume:	Volume 9
Number:	Number 2
Page Range:	Article number 20130009
DOI:	10.1098/rsbl.2013.0009
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access

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