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Context-dependent 'safekeeping' of foraging tools in New Caledonian crows
Barbara C Klump1, Jessica E M van der Wal2, James J H St Clair2
1Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Sir Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK bck3@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|May 22, 2015
Summary
New Caledonian crows protect their foraging tools, reducing costs associated with tool loss. They adapt safekeeping behaviors based on environmental risks, such as height or prey difficulty, to ensure tool reuse.
Area of Science:
- Animal behavior
- Cognitive ecology
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Tool use is common in animals for foraging, but incurs costs like searching and transport.
- Re-using tools can mitigate these costs, making tool safekeeping crucial for efficient foraging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how New Caledonian crows manage their tools between prey extractions.
- To determine if tool safekeeping behaviors are influenced by the risk of tool loss.
Main Methods:
- Experimental observation of New Caledonian crows' tool handling during prey extraction.
- Recording tool safekeeping behaviors (foot-trapping, storing in holes) in controlled and wild settings.
- Analyzing the correlation between environmental factors (foraging height, prey difficulty) and safekeeping strategies.
Main Results:
- Crows consistently safekept tools in 84% of observed prey extractions.
- Safekeeping methods included trapping tools underfoot (74%) or storing them in holes (26%).
- Tool-handling behavior was context-dependent: increased safekeeping at heights and hole storage for difficult prey.
Conclusions:
- New Caledonian crows exhibit sophisticated, context-dependent tool safekeeping behaviors.
- These behaviors minimize the risk of tool loss, particularly in arboreal environments.
- Efficient tool safekeeping may be a key factor enabling the evolution of complex tool use in animals.
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