The unexpected altruism of bonobos
Bonobos will happily share their food with a stranger, and even give up their own meal - but only if the stranger offers them social interaction, evolutionary anthropologists at Duke University report in the journal, PLoS One. The researchers, Jingzhi Tan and Brian Hare, say their findings may shed light on the origins of altruism in humans. Along with chimpanzees, bonobos are among the closest primates to humans. Chimpanzees, however, do not display similar behaviour toward strangers. "If you only studied chimps you would think that humans evolved this trait of sharing with strangers later," Tan said. "But now, given that bonobos do this, one scenario is that the common ancestor of chimps, humans and bonobos had this trait." The subjects were all orphaned bonobos at the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In one phase of the study, bonobos were given a pile of food, then given the opportunity to release a stranger or a group mate (or both) from other rooms. The bonobos chose to release strangers and share their food. Not only that, but the just-released bonobo would then release the third."This was shocking to us because chimpanzees are so xenophobic," Tan said.The apes did have a limit - they would not share their own food when no social interaction was involved.They were, however, willing to help a stranger get food even without social interaction. Tan compared this to certain human acts of kindness.
Jays that mourn dead comrades
When a Western scrub jay dies, researchers report, other jays may hold a kind of funeral — screeching over the body for as long as half an hour. It is not clear yet exactly why the birds display this behaviour. "Perhaps having more individuals helps them locate and chase away the predator," said Teresa Iglesias, an evolutionary biologist at the University of California, Davis, and an author of a new study on the jays. Iglesias and her colleagues report their findings in the journal, Animal Behaviour. After securing permits, the researchers gathered dead jays and loose feathers, then dried and preserved them. When other jays encountered the dead bird, they flew into trees above and made loud screeching calls that attracted other jays.
The birds formed similar gatherings and screeched when they encountered a model of a stuffed horned owl , but did not react to painted wood, which was used as a control.Bees and some aquatic animals react to chemicals given off by their dead, and other animals also react to the sight of dead comrades.Although this research does not explore whether the jays are having an emotional reaction, Iglesias said, it is not out of the question.
Bonobos will happily share their food with a stranger, and even give up their own meal - but only if the stranger offers them social interaction, evolutionary anthropologists at Duke University report in the journal, PLoS One. The researchers, Jingzhi Tan and Brian Hare, say their findings may shed light on the origins of altruism in humans. Along with chimpanzees, bonobos are among the closest primates to humans. Chimpanzees, however, do not display similar behaviour toward strangers. "If you only studied chimps you would think that humans evolved this trait of sharing with strangers later," Tan said. "But now, given that bonobos do this, one scenario is that the common ancestor of chimps, humans and bonobos had this trait." The subjects were all orphaned bonobos at the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In one phase of the study, bonobos were given a pile of food, then given the opportunity to release a stranger or a group mate (or both) from other rooms. The bonobos chose to release strangers and share their food. Not only that, but the just-released bonobo would then release the third."This was shocking to us because chimpanzees are so xenophobic," Tan said.The apes did have a limit - they would not share their own food when no social interaction was involved.They were, however, willing to help a stranger get food even without social interaction. Tan compared this to certain human acts of kindness.
Jays that mourn dead comrades
When a Western scrub jay dies, researchers report, other jays may hold a kind of funeral — screeching over the body for as long as half an hour. It is not clear yet exactly why the birds display this behaviour. "Perhaps having more individuals helps them locate and chase away the predator," said Teresa Iglesias, an evolutionary biologist at the University of California, Davis, and an author of a new study on the jays. Iglesias and her colleagues report their findings in the journal, Animal Behaviour. After securing permits, the researchers gathered dead jays and loose feathers, then dried and preserved them. When other jays encountered the dead bird, they flew into trees above and made loud screeching calls that attracted other jays.
The birds formed similar gatherings and screeched when they encountered a model of a stuffed horned owl , but did not react to painted wood, which was used as a control.Bees and some aquatic animals react to chemicals given off by their dead, and other animals also react to the sight of dead comrades.Although this research does not explore whether the jays are having an emotional reaction, Iglesias said, it is not out of the question.