2015-05-01

Wild bearded capuchin monkeys really know how to crack a nut -- ScienceDaily

Wild bearded capuchin monkeys really know how to crack a nut -- ScienceDaily

The monkeys are known to use stone "hammers" to crack nuts. The new study shows that the monkeys are quite careful about the amount of force delivered to those nuts. They adjust the force applied with each strike based on the condition of the nutshell, making it less likely that they'll end up smashing the tasty kernel inside.

"Wild bearded capuchin monkeys dynamically modulate their strikes based on the outcome of the preceding strike while using stone hammers to crack nuts," says Madhur Mangalam of the University of Georgia at Athens. "Until now, this level of dexterity was not suspected of any monkey."

Mangalam's graduate advisor, Dorothy Fragaszy, and her colleagues have studied nut-cracking in wild bearded capuchin monkeys since 2005, when they established the EthoCebus research project. They were especially curious how the monkeys managed to crack such hard nuts. They also wondered whether the monkeys might change their nut-cracking approach with nuts that are softer.

In the new study, the researchers videotaped 14 capuchin moneys cracking nuts. They carefully analyzed the tapes to determine the height and velocity of each and every strike. It typically takes several strikes with a stone to reach the nut inside.

And what they discovered came as quite a surprise.

"It was a 'eureka' moment when we realized that the monkeys modulated the strikes systematically according to the condition of the nut following the preceding strike," Mangalam says.

They had expected the monkeys to maintain the force of their strikes within a certain range, or possibly to increase it until the nuts cracked. It never crossed their minds that the monkeys might show such a sophisticated ability to match their action to the physical state of the nut. But that's exactly what they did.

"Our finding opens our eyes to the fact that non-human primates modulate their actions with a tool to accommodate the rapidly changing requirements of the task, which is a cognitive accomplishment," Mangalam says.

The researchers now plan to examine whether other species make adjustments in tool use on the fly. They'll also explore how this kind of dexterity influences each species' tool-use repertoire.


Welcome to SUV System Ltd!

SUV System Ltd is ISO 90012008 Certified electronics distributor with 10 years of experiences.

We have built up long term business relationship with about many companies which are stockers and authorized agents. we have a steady and reliable supply to meet customer's demands to the greatest extent .Confidently, we are able to lower your cost and support your business with our years of professional service.

SUV System Ltd is Electronic Components Distributor Supplies,Find Quality Electronic Components Supplies Products IC(Integrated Circuits),Connectors,Capacitor,Resistors,Diodes,Transistors,LED at Suvsystem.com. Sourcing Other Energy, Environment, Excess Inventory Products from Manufacturers and Suppliers at Suvsystem.com

Electronic Components distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com

Connectors Distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com/l/Connectors-1.html

IC Distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com/l/IC(Integrated-Circuits)-1.html

LED Distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com/l/LED-1.html

Capacitor Distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com/l/Capacitor-1.html

Transistor Distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com/l/Transistors-1.html

Resistor Distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com/l/Resistors-1.html

Diode Distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com/l/Diodes-1.html

SUV System Ltd insists on the managing faith ofsincereness,speciality,foresight, win-win,so we build up stable-relationship customers located all over the world, including the States, Europe, Argentina, UAE, Malaysia, Australia,and India etc

we are focus on the following fields,and hope we can help you.


Low Ohmic Resistors Transistors Freescale NEC Transistors PANASONIC Resistors TI IC Dialight LED MURATA IC Xilinx IC VISHAY IC Ligitek LED Electronic News FAIRCHILD diodes INFLNEON Diodes Chip Fuses About US AD IC Diodes Inc ELPIDA IC ROHM Resistors AVX Resistors Chip Ferrite Beads ST Diodes components Fleld Effect Transistors BB IC Thin Film Resistors Capacitor Diodes MOTOROLA IC TDK IC Kingbrigt LED Civil IC Cypress IC IDT IC Current Sensors Resistors PANASONIC Fairchild Semiconductor Transistors DIODES Transistors ON Diodes ST Transistors
http://www.suvsystem.com/a/44650.aspx

No comments:

Post a Comment