Data from: Emulation of tool use and tool manufacture in Goffin cockatoos (Cacatua goffini)

Tool use can be inherited or acquired as individual innovation or social transmission. Having previously reported individual innovative tool-use and manufacture by a Goffin cockatoo, we used the innovator (Figaro, a male) as a demonstrator to investigate social transmission. Twelve Goffins saw either demonstrations by Figaro, or ‘ghost’ controls where tools and/or food were manipulated using magnets. Subjects observing demonstrations showed greater tool-related performance than ghost controls, with all three males in this group (but not the three females) acquiring tool-using competence. Two of these males further acquired tool-manufacturing competence. Since the actions of successful observers differed from those of the demonstrator, goal emulation, where observers are sensitive to the agency and behaviour of demonstrators, but do not mirror their actions is the most plausible transmission mechanism.

工具使用能力既可通过遗传获得，亦可通过个体创新或社会传播的途径习得。此前我们曾报道过一只戈芬凤头鹦鹉（Goffin cockatoo）的个体创新性工具使用与制造行为，本研究以该创新个体——雄性菲加罗（Figaro）——作为示范者，探究社会传播机制。本研究共纳入12只戈芬凤头鹦鹉，将其分为两组：一组观察菲加罗的示范行为，另一组为‘幽灵对照’组，该组中工具和/或食物通过磁力装置进行操控。观察示范行为的受试个体在工具相关任务中的表现显著优于幽灵对照组，该示范组的全部3只雄性个体（而非3只雌性个体）均成功掌握了工具使用技能。其中2只雄性个体还进一步掌握了工具制造技能。鉴于成功习得技能的受试个体的行为模式与示范者并不完全一致，因此目标模仿（goal emulation）——即受试个体能够感知示范者的能动性与行为逻辑，但并不完全复刻其动作——是最合理的社会传播机制。