Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
There are multiple theories behind the evolutionary origins and functions of play behavior in the animal kingdom, all with varying levels of support. Some argue play originated as a byproduct of individuals having excess energy in a resource-rich environment while others argue it arose as a way for young individuals to enhance the physical and mental skills needed to survive into adulthood. Many believe that both these theories are coexisting and applicable to some degree. However, previous play studies usually focused on one group of organisms, failing to consider how animals’ environment directly impacts the structure of their play and leading to generalizations across the species level. As anthropogenic activity continues to encroach on and influence wild populations across the globe, it is imperative we understand how the behaviors of individual populations may be altered as this could have connotations for the survival of individuals through adulthood. We investigated these possible mechanisms across several populations of green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) experiencing varying levels of human activity on the island of Barbados. We designed a scale to gauge the intensity of play behaviors that allowed us to ascertain how the levels of human-derived food and conflict across locations influenced the structure of play bouts and how this, in turn, related to the previously developed evolutionary theories of play. We found that the level of human-derived food in an area had significant effects on the intensity of monkey play bouts, supporting the theory that play arose as a way for individuals to prepare for adulthood. This suggests that the energy provided by a system may not be the best predictor of play structure in primate groups and emphasizes the necessity for us to avoid generalizing across species.
Included in
Animal Studies Commons, Behavior and Ethology Commons, Biological and Physical Anthropology Commons, Evolution Commons, Other Animal Sciences Commons, Zoology Commons
Anthropogenic Influences of Play in the Green Monkeys of Barbados
There are multiple theories behind the evolutionary origins and functions of play behavior in the animal kingdom, all with varying levels of support. Some argue play originated as a byproduct of individuals having excess energy in a resource-rich environment while others argue it arose as a way for young individuals to enhance the physical and mental skills needed to survive into adulthood. Many believe that both these theories are coexisting and applicable to some degree. However, previous play studies usually focused on one group of organisms, failing to consider how animals’ environment directly impacts the structure of their play and leading to generalizations across the species level. As anthropogenic activity continues to encroach on and influence wild populations across the globe, it is imperative we understand how the behaviors of individual populations may be altered as this could have connotations for the survival of individuals through adulthood. We investigated these possible mechanisms across several populations of green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) experiencing varying levels of human activity on the island of Barbados. We designed a scale to gauge the intensity of play behaviors that allowed us to ascertain how the levels of human-derived food and conflict across locations influenced the structure of play bouts and how this, in turn, related to the previously developed evolutionary theories of play. We found that the level of human-derived food in an area had significant effects on the intensity of monkey play bouts, supporting the theory that play arose as a way for individuals to prepare for adulthood. This suggests that the energy provided by a system may not be the best predictor of play structure in primate groups and emphasizes the necessity for us to avoid generalizing across species.
Comments
Perri Eason - University of Louisville