Selection pressure on which capability may become a primary driver of evolutionary success in capuchins?
Answer
Learning ability
In complex, highly social primate societies such as those of the white-faced capuchins, survival and reproductive success are deeply connected to the accumulation and application of knowledge. When behavioral flexibility and the acquisition of complex skills—like coordinating group defenses or mastering tool use—provide significant advantages over purely innate behaviors, the selection pressure intensifies on the underlying neural mechanisms supporting these activities. Consequently, the ability to learn, retain, and transmit crucial information socially becomes a dominant force shaping the evolutionary trajectory, potentially fostering increased cerebral development dedicated to social information processing.
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