When food is scarce, tool use among non-human primates does not increase. This counterintuitive finding leads researchers to suggest that the driving force behind tool use is ecological opportunity -- and that the environment shapes the development of culture.

 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141111205906.htm

 

I dont understand this driving force named "opportunity". They would also name it "curiosity" imho.

They define what they mean by ecological opportunity:

 

 

"By ecological opportunity, we mean the likelihood of encountering tool materials and resources whose exploitation requires the use of tools. We showed that these ecological opportunities influence the occurrence of tool use. The resources extracted using tools, such as nuts and honey, are among the richest in primate habitats. Hence, extraction pays off, and not just during times of food scarcity,"

 

I actually do not find it counter intuitive as times of extreme scarcity typically is not conducive to initiate potentially unrewarding behavior.

I actually do not find it counter intuitive as times of extreme scarcity typically is not conducive to initiate potentially unrewarding behavior.

 

Agree completely - I think it would also be the case in the original (human societal) usage of the aphorism (ie necessity is the mother of invention). There needs to be an excess to spend on potentially fruitless lines of enquiry and invention