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Manipulation of physical environment and cognition in primates: Ontogenetic development
Kolářová, Anna ; Nekovářová, Tereza (advisor) ; Hradec, Michal (referee)
Cognition is a crucial factor for primates as it allows properly perceive and respond to the surrounding environment. This thesis is devoted to cognitive phenomena, which are often associated with understanding the physical environment and object manipulation. Much attention is focused on causal reasoning, object permanence and tool using. Particular emphasis is placed on the ontogenesis of these cognitive abilities. One of the main questions is how development differs between humans and non-human primates. Despite the fact that non- human primates, just like humans, have a very complex knowledge of the laws of the physical environment, causal reasoning and object permanence develops in a very similar way for these related species, but far from the same way. A large disparity is observed mainly in the area of the pace of development. Tool use in humans and non-human primates is strongly influenced by social learning and traditions. Key words: primates, physical environment, cognitive abilities, causal reasoning, object permanence, object manipulation, tool using, ontogeny
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Tool use in birds
Skoumalová, Žaneta ; Exnerová, Alice (advisor) ; Nekovářová, Tereza (referee)
Tool use has been observed in many bird taxa, mostly in parrots and songbirds. Tools are primarily used for a purpose of food acquisition and food preparation and physical maintenance. Spontaneous tool manufacture or tool use has been observed in species, which do not use tools in the wild. Tool using is actively performed only by those birds, whose natural environment has a reduced food availability, food is difficult to extract and handle. Tool manufacturing and tool using requires a considerable degree of cognitive abilities, which are experimentally tested in tasks involving use of tools. Differences between species that use tools in the wild, and those that do not are manifested not only in solving experimental tasks, but also in how birds acquire the ability to use tools. While tool users often solve tasks successfully by using causal reasoning, non-tool users are not always capable of solving complex tasks and understanding of the physical properties of the situation. Negative results of these species do not necessarily imply a lack of understanding, but they can also be caused by morphological or environmental constrains, which make tool use more difficult. Tool users also have inherited behavioral patterns, which are further strengthened by individual learning and can be influenced by...
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