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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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Homosexuality in primates
Falladová, Josefína ; Havlíček, Jan (advisor) ; Kuběnová, Barbora (referee)
Homosexual interactions were documented in more than 50 primate species, including humans. Homosexual behaviour is defined as either genital contact, genital manipulation or combination of both between same-sex individuals. The aim of this thesis is to systematically summarize the past knowledge of homosexual behavior in primates and critically analyze its possible functions. Homosexual behaviour varies in frequency, context and form in which this behaviour occurs, both between species, between males and females and during ontogenesis. I summarise not only studies looking recording homosexual behaviour in different primate species, but also regarding its form and the circumstances under which such behaviour occurs. Furthermore, in this thesis I introduce several sociosexual functions explaining homosexual behaviour, which are described most frequently: 1) dominance assertion, 2) tension regulation, 3) reconciliation, 4) alliance formation and social-bonding and 5) training for heterosexual mating. Sexual/hedonic aspects of this behaviour also form significant part of homosexual interactions. Possible functions of homosexual behaviour do not clearly point to a single explanation, homosexual behaviour could be multifunctional similarly to humans. Keywords: homosexual behaviour, homosexuality,...
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Relative numerosity discrimination in primates
Moravcová, Anna ; Nekovářová, Tereza (advisor) ; Petrásek, Tomáš (referee)
This work is focused on numerical competence in primates specifically focusing on relative numerosity, one of the many aspects of these cognitive abilities. Relative numerosity is an ability to discriminate a larger quantity from a smaller amount or smaller quantity from a larger amount and could be classified as one of the easiest numerical competence. In this work I have summarized the present knowledge of numerical competences in primates, which have been so far studied only in a few species of primates, most of them was rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes). In the experimental part I focused on the research of relative numerosity in rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). The goal of my work was to find out whether macaques are able to solve the problem of relative abundance with different types of stimuli. Another goal was to find out whether they are able to generalize information about relative abundance and whether they can apply it for new design of the task. The results confirm that macaques possess the ability of relative numerosity and are able to abstract stimuli that are differing in their character. This proves that they are not learning to recognize a particular stimul, but are able to use this numerical skill on any type of stimul. I also found out that...
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Use of Primate Expositions in Education at Elementary School
Vilímová, Tereza ; Vančata, Václav (advisor) ; Hlaváčová, Lucie (referee)
This thesis proposes a possibility of using the exposition of primates in the Prague zoo during the school excursion for pupils of the 7th or 8th grade of elementary school. The thesis is divided into individual parts that theoretically analyse the importance of excursions for education and subsequently it is practically focused on facilitating the smooth course of the excursion and other activities that precede the excursion or follow it freely. In the thesis there is the general sorting of primates into individual species described in detail and there is provided basic information about primates that are bred in the Prague zoo. Further, possible excursion trail including individual expositions where the particular animals can be seen is described in detail. The main objective was to provide teachers with detailed instructions on how to make the excursion so it is successful. The purpose of the work was also to create materials which help to actively memorize the information provided and to raise children's interest in such an interesting animal species as the primates. With regard to the fact that most primates are currently threatened by extinction in their natural habitat, the theme of the excursion is closely linked to environmental issues and a responsible approach to the use of natural...
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Bipedal locomotion of primates: ecological, ontogenetic, and morphological aspects
Letošníková, Lenka ; Hora, Martin (advisor) ; Novák, Jan (referee)
In my bachelor's thesis I focus on bipedal locomotion and bipedal posture of various primate species in a morphological, ontogenetic and ecological context. Nowadays, a habitual bipedalism is used only by human, about whom I mention only marginally with comparing him to the other primates in my thesis. First part of thesis deals with morphological aspects of bipedal primate locomotion, including description of anatomical differences of primate species and comparison of bipedal walk to quadrupedal walk. Next in thesis, I deal with ontogenetic aspects of bipedal primate locomotion, where I compare the rate of bipedal use among infant and adult primates and also among selected primate species. Finally, I describe the use of bipedal walk and bipedal postures of primates in different situations and ecological conditions. Keywords: bipedalism, primates, primate locomotion, ontogenetic aspects, morphology, ecological aspects, transport, human
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Numerical competence in primates
Rejlová, Markéta ; Nekovářová, Tereza (advisor) ; Komárková, Martina (referee)
Numerical competences include the number of abilities as representation of the quantity and transformations or operations with quantity. Many species of animals can use these abilities for example during searching for food, sexual partners and also for detection of number of competitors or predators. Numerical abilities such as counting or estimating quantity can increase the chance of survival and reproduction. In this work, I summarize some previous studies of numerical competences in primates and humans and I also mention experiments in other species. I divide the competences into chapters: estimating of the numbers (relative and absolute), counting, summation, conservation of quantity, proportion, ordinality and transitivity. The aim of this study was to study the ability of macaques (Macaca mulatta) to distinguish between the quantities of two sets. In the following part of experiment I observed the preference of monkeys for size or the number of stimuli. This preference was studied also in children. The results confirm the ability of relative numerousness judgment of monkeys. The results demonstrate that with increasing difference of quantity between the two sets the ability of distinguish between the two quantities also increase. Other experiment studied preference of larger number of...
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Object permanence as a method to study higher cognitive functions of primates
Englerová, Kateřina ; Nekovářová, Tereza (advisor) ; Sedláček, František (referee)
Object permanence is a cognitive ability, which allows individual to realize the existence of an object even it is not directly accessible to its senses. This ability is essential for successful using of complex cognitive operations. Object permanence is qualitatively and gradually change throughout the development of a child. Congruently, it is not developed to the same level in various species of animals. The aim of this study is to study object permanence in naive rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), because there is still some uncertainty about the development of this ability in macaques. Our results show that the naive subjects do not have the highest stage of object permanence (and they do not use representative strategy to solve the tasks), however, other results of our team suggest that more experienced individuals are able to achieve the highest stage under certain circumstances. We show that experimental design used to test object permanence can be modified and used also for studying of other cognitive abilities. We test the preferences of macaque monkeys toward novel non-food stimuli. The reactions of different species of animals can vary. The reactions depend on the type of stimuli (food or non-food), but also on the ecology and ethology of the species. Age, sex and personality of the...
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Locomotion of mantled guereza Colobus gueresa caudatus-kikuyuensis (Thomas 1885 - Lonnberg 1912) in ZOO Prague and ZOO Usti nad Labem
Kost, Lukáš ; Vančata, Václav (advisor) ; Vančatová, Marina (referee)
Summary: This dissertation is focused on observation of locomotion two groups of mantled guereza in ZOO Prague and ZOO Usti nad Labem. The observation took place in the summer of 2011. The locomotion behavior is for better clarity presented by tables, diagrams and detailed description of the breeding facilities of both groups. The work contains list of all species of guereza, including all subspecies of mantled guereza. Key words: primates, old world monkeys, Colobinae, black and white colobus monkey, mantled guereza, threat, behavior, breeding in the zoo.
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