Coupling of coastal activity with tidal cycles is stronger in tool-using capuchins ( Cebus capucinus imitator )

Tool use in white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus imitator) on Jicarón Island, Coiba National Park, Panama, is more strongly linked to tidal cycles than in non-tool-using groups. This suggests that tool use enhances foraging efficiency and access to intertidal resources, such as molluscs and fruits, which are otherwise less accessible due to tidal fluctuations. The study analyzed over five years of camera trap data from varying distances along the coast, revealing distinct activity patterns tied to tides in tool-using capuchins compared to non-tool-users. These findings underscore the potential for tool use to facilitate niche expansion in these primates.

Goldsborough, Z., Crofoot, M. C., Alavi, S. E., Del Rosario-Vargas, E., Garza, S. F., Tiedeman, K., & Barrett, B. J. (2023). Coupling of coastal activity with tidal cycles is stronger in tool-using capuchins ( Cebus capucinus imitator ). Royal Society Open Science, 10(9). https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230355