Social learning in new Caledonian crows |
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| Authors: | Jennifer C Holzhaider Gavin R Hunt and Russell D Gray |
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| Institution: | (1) Centre for the Coevolution of Biology and Culture, Department of Anthropology, Durham University, DH1 3LE Durham, England;(2) Goldsmiths, University of London, London, England;(3) Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia;(4) University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar |
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| Abstract: | New Caledonian (NC) crows are the most sophisticated tool manufacturers other than humans. The diversification and geographical
distribution of their three Pandanus tool designs that differ in complexity, as well as the lack of ecological correlates, suggest that cumulative technological
change has taken place. To investigate the possibility that high-fidelity social transmission mediated this putative ratchet-like
process, we studied the ontogeny of Pandanus tool manufacture and social organization in free-living NC crows. We found that juvenile crows took more than 1 year to reach
adult proficiency in their Pandanus tool skills. Although trial-and-error learning is clearly important, juveniles have ample opportunity to learn about Pandanus tool manufacture by both observing their parents and interacting with artifactual material. The crows’ social system seems
likely to promote the faithful social transmission of local tool designs by both favoring the vertical transmission of tool
information and minimizing horizontal transmission. We suggest that NC crows develop their Pandanus tool skills in a highly scaffolded learning environment that facilitates the cumulative technological evolution of tool designs. |
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