Various tools help human beings and primates survive. New research, however, indicates these tools were used because of "ecological opportunity" rather than necessity.

An opinion piece by Kathelijne Koops of the University of Cambridge and her other colleagues challenges the assumption that necessity is the mother of invention. They argue research into tools used by primates should look at the opportunities for tool use provided by the local environment.

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Koops and her team evaluated published studies about tool use among three habitual tool-using primates: chimpanzees, orangutans and bearded capuchins.

Bearded capuchin monkeys live in a savannah-like environments and use a variety of tools like stones to crack open nuts. They also use sticks to dig for tubers.

Chimpanzees also use a variety of tools. These tool include stones to crack open nuts and sticks to harvest aggressive army ants.

Orangutans also use stick tools to prey on insects, as well as to extract seeds from fruits.

All the published studies including that of the team's showed using of tools didn't increase in times of food scarcity. What happened is that tool use seems to be determined 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," said Koops.

The researchers said tool use and tool making are essential parts in the development of culture.

The primate's tool use can give valuable insights as to how humans developed their extraordinary material culture and technology, said Koops.

The result of the study was published in the, Journal Biology Letters, on Tuesday.

Tagstool, tool use, primates, ecological opportunity, mother of invention