Journal article
Ecological correlates of chimpanzee termite fishing behavior in Mbam Djerem National Park, Cameroon
Ecology and evolution, v 14(7), 70080
Jul 2024
PMID: 39050659
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, R-2 = .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.
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Details
- Title
- Ecological correlates of chimpanzee termite fishing behavior in Mbam Djerem National Park, Cameroon
- Creators
- Tyler C. Andres-Bray - Drexel UniversityJeffrey Smith - Drexel Univ, Dept Biol, Philadelphia, PA USAIan Nichols - Virginia TechEkwoge E. Abwe - Zoological Society of San DiegoMary Katherine Gonder - Texas A&M University
- Publication Details
- Ecology and evolution, v 14(7), 70080
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 15
- Grant note
- F18AP00882; F19AP00620-01 / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; US Fish & Wildlife Service
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Center for the Advancement of STEM Teaching & Learning Excellence (CASTLE); Biology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001275832900001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85199466778
- Other Identifier
- 991021966370604721
InCites Highlights
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology