The study
analysed the different gesturing strategies used by a group of females at
Chester Zoo.
In
female-female interactions, the chimps used more aggressive signals and
"apologised" less often with gestures of reassurance.
But they employed
a more positive strategy around males, with more expressions of greeting and
submission.
"When
communicating with males, females sort of 'suck up' to them," said PhD
student Nicole Scott from the University
of Minnesota , Minneapolis , US
To carry out
the research, Ms Scott video-recorded the behaviour of 17 females and five
males in a group of chimps at Chester Zoo , UK
"I
defined gesture as an expressive movement of the limbs or head and body
postures produced intentionally," she told BBC Nature.
Examination of
overall behaviour in males and females showed no differences in the repertoire
of gestures the animals used. But differences in communication appeared when
individual interactions were analysed.
Continued: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/21621643
Posts
