Welcome to vnonline.co.uk

vnonline.co.uk provides the veterinary nursing profession with the latest news and industry developments, as well as events, resources, learning materials and careers.

Our website is dedicated to veterinary nurses and we strive to provide a platform where you can voice and explore your interests.

Not a member yet? Sign up for free!

Register for free with vnonline.co.uk to gain unlimited access to news, resources, jobs and much more!



Click here to become a member






Log in to vnonline

Forgot your password?

Posted: 31st August 2012

Grooming habits of chimpanzees
Study suggests location affects grooming habits

A study has concluded that chimpanzee grooming habits are more influenced by where they live than by genetic or ecological influences.

According to Proceedings of the Royal Society B, where the findings were published, different communities of semi-wild chimps showed different social behaviours to one another.

A specific style of grooming, the grooming hand clasp (GHC), is only used in certain chimp communities according to previous studies. The more recent study, however, has highlighted the different styles of GHC, which researchers believe are learned by social convention.

The researchers recorded GHC behaviour in four social groups of chimps living in the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust (CWOT), Zambia.

Professor Frans de Waal, director of the Living Links Centre at Emory University's Yerkes Primate Centre, commented: 'The present study goes beyond [previous studies] in taking neighbouring communities where genetics and ecology are the same, and finding substantial differences from group to group. This is an extra argument for social learning.'

The conclusions have shown links with human social behaviours and will help scientists understand how human cultures began.



Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history



Latest news | Careers | Events | Resources | Contact us | Terms and conditions | Data Protection and Privacy |Cookie policy | About us | Copyright
© 2024 Vision Media, all rights reserved. vnonline.co.uk is not responsible for the content of external websites.