Fragility of Traditions: The Disturbance Hypothesis for the Loss of Local Traditions in Orangutans

摘要: Chimpanzees and orangutans have increasingly well documented local traditions involving learned skillful behaviors, often tools, which vary from place to are maintained by social transmission. These most likely the antecedents of human culture. The complexity is thought largely be a function cumulative frequency opportunities for learning, hence extent tolerant gregarious foraging. Data on chimpanzees consistent with this hypothesis. This reliance continued transmission makes vulnerable interruptions I examine disturbance hypothesis, suggests that extinction, hunting pressure, selective logging, habitat loss in general affect key parameters process—innovation, diffusion, horizontal transmission—and will significantly impoverish repertoire complex skills subsistence. Given current trends orangutan habitats, serious erosion taking place. also speculate past has led significant traditions.