Page 152 - Demo

Chapter 6150previous studies have used this approach to study preferences for different stimulus categories in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), finding that they exerted more effort to see stimuli of monkeys (Tsuchida & Izumi, 2009) or humans (Ogura & Matsuzawa, 2012). A similar design could be considered for orang-utans: given that energy conservation is such a core strategy for them, using an effort task may be an especially relevant method to induce their preferences for specific stimuli categories.In conclusion, our findings from two experimental paradigms indicate no immediate attentional bias towards large flanges or symmetrical faces, nor a choice bias for flanged males. However, we did find a preference for the colour red in the preference task. Furthermore, individuals seemed to conserve energy during the preference task by picking the vertically lowest option on the touchscreen. Our results highlight the importance of taking species-specific characteristics into account when designing cognitive experiments. Future studies could leverage the energy-conserving nature of Bornean orang-utans by presenting them with effort tasks, where they need to exert effort to view stimuli. Such an approach may be fruitful to study social cognition, including its interplay with mate choice, in Bornean orang-utans.Tom Roth.indd 150 08-01-2024 10:41