Ecological correlates of chimpanzee termite fishing behavior in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon
Abstract Chimpanzee insectivory is seasonally variable, with pronounced peaks or set seasonal periods of consumption observed in most chimpanzee communities. This variation is interesting given that chimpanzees invest considerable effort into complex tool‐using behaviors to acquire insect prey. Evid...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2024-07-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70080 |
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| author | Tyler C. Andres‐Bray Jeffrey Smith Ian Nichols Ekwoge E. Abwe Mary Katherine Gonder |
| author_facet | Tyler C. Andres‐Bray Jeffrey Smith Ian Nichols Ekwoge E. Abwe Mary Katherine Gonder |
| author_sort | Tyler C. Andres‐Bray |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Chimpanzee insectivory is seasonally variable, with pronounced peaks or set seasonal periods of consumption observed in most chimpanzee communities. This variation is interesting given that chimpanzees invest considerable effort into complex tool‐using behaviors to acquire insect prey. Evidence suggests this seasonal variation is related to insect behavior, but few studies have been done to empirically examine this relationship. In this study, we assessed whether a seasonal pattern of termite fishing by Nigeria‐Cameroon chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes ellioti) in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon was driven by termite behavior. We measured termite presence and termite foraging activity monthly at seven termite mounds near Ganga Research Station from April 2022 to April 2023. Macroscopic fecal analysis and camera traps placed at each mound demonstrated termite fishing in this community occurred from March to June, with a rare smaller period of termite fishing in October 2021. Average monthly rainfall, average monthly temperature, and average monthly fruit availability were used to examine potential environmental factors that could impact termite fishing seasonality. Termite presence was significantly different between months with and without chimpanzee termite fishing (t‐test, −6.569, p < .001). Termite presence was also significantly associated with average monthly rainfall (ANOVA, F = 13.9, p = .002, R2 = .775). Termites in this region appear to respond to the transition from dry to wet seasons by moving closer to the soil surface. This corresponds with greater chimpanzee termite fishing, suggesting that termite accessibility may be driving seasonal variation in this behavior. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4bdca08a69ba4fdcb61ddcca129476a2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
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| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-4bdca08a69ba4fdcb61ddcca129476a22025-08-20T03:13:48ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-07-01147n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70080Ecological correlates of chimpanzee termite fishing behavior in Mbam & Djerem National Park, CameroonTyler C. Andres‐Bray0Jeffrey Smith1Ian Nichols2Ekwoge E. Abwe3Mary Katherine Gonder4Department of Biology Drexel University Philadelphia Pennsylvania USADepartment of Biology Drexel University Philadelphia Pennsylvania USADepartment of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation Virginia Tech Blacksburg Virginia USACameroon Biodiversity Association Douala CameroonCameroon Biodiversity Protection Plan Yaoundé CameroonAbstract Chimpanzee insectivory is seasonally variable, with pronounced peaks or set seasonal periods of consumption observed in most chimpanzee communities. This variation is interesting given that chimpanzees invest considerable effort into complex tool‐using behaviors to acquire insect prey. Evidence suggests this seasonal variation is related to insect behavior, but few studies have been done to empirically examine this relationship. In this study, we assessed whether a seasonal pattern of termite fishing by Nigeria‐Cameroon chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes ellioti) in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon was driven by termite behavior. We measured termite presence and termite foraging activity monthly at seven termite mounds near Ganga Research Station from April 2022 to April 2023. Macroscopic fecal analysis and camera traps placed at each mound demonstrated termite fishing in this community occurred from March to June, with a rare smaller period of termite fishing in October 2021. Average monthly rainfall, average monthly temperature, and average monthly fruit availability were used to examine potential environmental factors that could impact termite fishing seasonality. Termite presence was significantly different between months with and without chimpanzee termite fishing (t‐test, −6.569, p < .001). Termite presence was also significantly associated with average monthly rainfall (ANOVA, F = 13.9, p = .002, R2 = .775). Termites in this region appear to respond to the transition from dry to wet seasons by moving closer to the soil surface. This corresponds with greater chimpanzee termite fishing, suggesting that termite accessibility may be driving seasonal variation in this behavior.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70080Nigeria‐Cameroon chimpanzeeseasonalitytermite behaviortool use |
| spellingShingle | Tyler C. Andres‐Bray Jeffrey Smith Ian Nichols Ekwoge E. Abwe Mary Katherine Gonder Ecological correlates of chimpanzee termite fishing behavior in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon Ecology and Evolution Nigeria‐Cameroon chimpanzee seasonality termite behavior tool use |
| title | Ecological correlates of chimpanzee termite fishing behavior in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon |
| title_full | Ecological correlates of chimpanzee termite fishing behavior in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon |
| title_fullStr | Ecological correlates of chimpanzee termite fishing behavior in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecological correlates of chimpanzee termite fishing behavior in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon |
| title_short | Ecological correlates of chimpanzee termite fishing behavior in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon |
| title_sort | ecological correlates of chimpanzee termite fishing behavior in mbam djerem national park cameroon |
| topic | Nigeria‐Cameroon chimpanzee seasonality termite behavior tool use |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70080 |
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