Student in the Field: Two to Tango

Ever tried an activity like kayaking with a partner, only to discover that coordinating paddling is harder than it looks, and end up stuck in some mangroves? Cooperation is a challenge humans often struggle to master, but it is not unique to us. Owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae) and their cooperative traits are especially fascinating. They live in monogamous pairs, share parenting duties and even engage in food sharing - behaviors rarely seen in other primate species. Kai, left, and Winston are one of 10 pairs tested with the “loose string paradigm,” a cooperative puzzle that requires two individuals to pull opposite ends of a string simultaneously to move a sliding platform and access a food reward. In many group-living species, dominant individuals often monopolize the reward, discouraging participation. But would more collaborative owl monkeys succeed? Could they work together to solve the challenge?

Permits for this project include FAU IACUC protocol A25-05 and DuMond Conservancy IACUC protocol 2025-01. Collaborators include faculty and students at Florida Southern College, led by Christy Wolovich, Ph.D., with research assistants Alannah Atibel, Amanda Charana and Sarah Schoppman. Additional collaborators from the DuMond Conservancy include Sian Evans, Ph.D., and Eliza Jones.