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Monkeying around: Non-human primate behavioural responses to humans reproducing their facial expressions
(www.sciencedirect.com)
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user:
What is this document about? Give me a detailed summary explaining the discoveries and observations in this document. Use plain English that is easy to understand and really highlight the potential benefits of the discoveries made.
assistant:
This document is a detailed report on a study conducted by B. Luisi and team, which aimed to understand how different species, specifically macaques, perceive communication cues. The study was conducted at the wildlife park "Terre de singes" in France, where 45 free-ranging Barbary macaques lived. The researchers used a wooden box with a picture of a macaque with an open-mouth threat face as a stimulus to observe the macaques' reactions.
The study found that humans often mimic animal behavior, such as gestures and facial expressions, in an attempt to communicate with them. However, these behaviors can sometimes negatively affect the animals, causing stress and anxiety. Therefore, understanding how different species perceive these communication cues is crucial for both human safety and animal welfare.
The researchers collected data on 40 individual macaques from four different groups. They observed the macaques' reactions to the stimulus and recorded the interactions for a maximum of 5 minutes using a GoPro camera. The macaques were not exposed to more than 2 stimuli per day, and the testing was done in open space, in the absence of rain.
The potential benefits of this study are significant. By understanding how different species perceive communication cues, we can improve our interactions with them, ensuring their welfare and reducing stress and anxiety. This could lead to better management practices in zoos and wildlife parks, and could also enhance our understanding of animal behavior in general.
user:
how exactly where the studies carried out?
assistant:
The study was conducted at the wildlife park "Terre de singes" in Lumigny-Nesles-Ormeaux, France, where 45 free-ranging Barbary macaques lived in an enclosure of 15 hectares of open grass and woodland. The macaques were divided into four groups based on their zoos of origin. The animals were fed twice a day and had up to six presentations to tourists throughout the day. Data were collected on 40 individuals from the four groups.
The study was approved by the University of Lincoln’s Ethics Committee and followed the Animal Behaviour ethical guidelines for animal research. The macaques were not isolated for the experiment and participated spontaneously in their normal social setting. For safety reasons, pictures of neutral and threatening stimuli were used instead of live human facial reproduction.
The experimental set-up involved presenting one picture of a macaque or human face at a time to an individual macaque. The picture was placed in a wooden structure that limited the field of vision to the stimulus. The stimuli were composed of photographs of three adult male macaques and a human recreating these expressions.
The researchers recorded the macaques' behaviour when they were within 10 meters of, and in front of, the stimuli. The behaviours recorded included aggressive behaviour, submissive behaviour, and self-directed behaviours, which are an indicator of anxiety. The researchers also measured the duration the macaques stayed within 10 meters of, and in front of the stimuli, and the time spent looking at it.
The dominance rank of the macaques was assessed to be included as a control variable. This was done using the Elo-Rating method, which uses the succession of victories or defeats over time and assigns a score to each individual after each conflict.
The data collection was carried out from 25th February to 18th May 2019. The results were then analyzed to understand the macaques' perception of communication cues.