2015 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Cultural variation in Japanese macaques
| Project/Area Number |
15H06307
|
|---|
| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
|---|
Principal Investigator |
Watson Claire 京都大学, 霊長類研究所, 研究員 (10639751)
|
|---|
| Project Period (FY) |
2015-08-28 – 2017-03-31
|
| Keywords | Macaca fuscata / systematic survey / social learning / traditions / culture |
|---|
| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
1. Systematic survey to reveal patterns of cultural variation: Up to this point, I have carried out trips to 6 out of the 11 Japanese macaque long-term field sites in Japan: Koshima, Arashiyama, Shiga Heights, Shodoshima, Awajishima, and Takasakiyama. At each site, I recorded video footage and photographs of potential cultural behaviors performed by the monkey populations. I have completed much of my literature survey of cited potential behavioural traditions in Japanese macaques across Japan. I have made contacts: people who have spent time collecting data at the various field-sites, with knowledge of the populations’ behaviours, who are willing to answer the survey that I will send out next fiscal year.
2. Experimental Manipulation: I have received ethics approval for my experimental proposal. I have started testing various designs for the foraging-box apparatus to determine the optimal option.: 3. Research Dissemination to Society
Photographs and video that I have successfully collected at the various field sites will be used on the final website. I have learnt about communication of research to the media from Kyoto University Media Center.
|
| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
I chose level 2 because I have completed most of the work that I planned to do by this time. I have visited more sites than I had anticipated in my plans. I have already made contacts for the planned survey. I anticipate that I will finish my plans in the time left for this research grant.
|
| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
1. Systematic survey to reveal patterns of cultural variation: I will complete my literature survey of all potential single behavioural traditions cited for Japanese macaques, present the results at a conference and submit the report for publication. I will visit the remaining 5 out of the 11 Japanese macaque long-term field sites in Japan that I have not yet visited: Yakushima, Hakusan, Shimokita, Kinkazan and Katsuyama. I will make personal observations and take photographs and video at each site. I will continue to make contacts for the questionnaire survey. Having completed my candidate list of traditions, I will carry out the questionnaire survey of cultural variation, asking researchers who have, respectively, spent long periods of time observing the various long-term-observed populations of Japanese macaques to complete my survey, using my own video and photographs to illustrate the definition of each potential behavioural tradition.
2. Experimental Manipulation: I will collect data for my experiment to investigate whether foraging traditions can be socially learned in Japanese macaques.
3. Research Dissemination to Society: I will use my photographs and video, combined with the results of my literature survey, to create a clear, simple and engaging website.
|
