Chimpanzees Create Relationships Through Food Sharing

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The hormone oxytocin plays a huge role in the formation of relationships. Just as the mother-offspring bond is flourished through the presence of oxytocin, oxytocin may play a role in promoting cooperative long term relationships among chimps.[1]

The level of oxytocin in the urine of chimpanzee's are significantly higher in those that participated in food sharing.[2] Food sharing is a less frequent behavior than grooming in chimps, however, it seems that it has a stronger effect on relationships.

 
Gombe Stream NP Jungtier fressend

Reference List

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  1. ^ Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (2014, January 16). The way to a chimpanzee's heart is through its stomach. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 18, 2014, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2014/01/140116113504.htm
  2. ^ Wittig, Roman M.; Crockford, Catherine; Deschner, Tobias; Langergraber, Kevin E.; Ziegler, Toni E.; Zuberbühler, Klaus (2014). "Food sharing is linked to urinary oxytocin levels and bonding in related and unrelated wild chimpanzees". Proceedings. Biological Sciences / The Royal Society. 281 (1778): 20133096. doi:10.1098/rspb.2013.3096. PMC 3906952. PMID 24430853.