Individual variation and plasticity in the communicative behaviour of bonobos

10/02/2025 to 31/07/2028

This project module focuses on individual differences and plasticity in the communicative
behaviour of wild and captive bonobos. Given their tolerant and cooperative attitudes towards
out-group members, bonobos provide a unique study species for elucidating how non-human
primates adjust their communication to their social environment. The project has three main aims,
following the same multi-level and multimodal approach as the overarching Freigeist project: First,
we will investigate how individuals differ in their use of signals, using a behavioral reaction norm
approach to disentangle consistent individual variation from environmental sources. Second, we
will compare the communicative repertoires of wild and captive bonobos to assess the effect of
the socio-ecological environment on signal use. Third, we will compare the bonobo data with our
data from other great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans) to identify species-specific
communication styles. To collect data from a sufficient number of wild and captive individuals, we
will collaborate with the Kokolopori Bonobo Research Project in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) and two German zoos (Leipzig, Stuttgart). This module will consolidate the main
project by providing unique new insights into the flexibility and diversity of great ape
communication. Together, these findings will contribute to our understanding of the evolution of
primate communication and the cognitive underpinnings of human language.