1. The effect of memory capacity on the foraging efficiency of primates
- Author
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Emmen Riedel, S. L., van Loon, E. E., and Janmaat, K. R. L.
- Subjects
chimpanzees ,Pan troglodytes ,foraging efficiency ,Agent-Based Model ,ecological intelligence hypothesis ,memory capacity - Abstract
The ecological intelligence hypothesis proposes that factors of diet, such as the food type eaten and its spatiotemporal food distribution in the habitat, are the primary selective force behind the evolution of intelligent behaviour. Spatial memory is thought to be an important cognitive ability that is adapted to forage more efficiently. In this study, an Agent-Based Model (ABM) was created to test the effect of spatial memory capacity on the foraging efficiency of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Research has shown that chimpanzees use long-term spatial memory to relocate fruit-bearing trees in their complex habitat. However, it is not clear yet how the memory capacity, including both its size (how many items can be remembered) and retention (how long items can be remembered), contributes to foraging efficiency. The foraging efficiency is here defined as the amount of food eaten during ten days of traveling. Based on experiments of the ABM, it appeared that both memory size and retention did not influence the foraging efficiency of the agent. Thus, memory capacity did not affect the foraging efficiency of chimpanzees, and no evidence is provided for the ecological intelligence hypothesis. The current ABM is a good starting point to study how spatial memory could be beneficial for the fitness of individuals. Hence it is recommended to use the ABM of this study as a prototype and update it to a more accurate and enhanced model, using the proposed improvements.  
- Published
- 2021
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