Chimpanzee seed dispersal in a montane forest fragment in Rwanda

Chancellor, Rebecca; Rundus, Aaron; Nyandwi, Sylvain

doi:10.1002/ajp.22624

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Generalization of Afrotropical frugivores might functionally compensate for the lower diversity of animal frugivores compared with the Neotropics. Interestingly, this trend towards a greater generalization in Afrotropical frugivores with a high fruit dependence was unrelated to body mass and, thus, is not a result of the generalized diet of large mammals only (Campos‐Arceiz & Blake, ; Chancellor et al, ), but fruit‐dependent animals in the Afrotropics appear to be more generalized in their fruit resource use regardless of body size. Our findings corroborate earlier studies that have also shown that the degree of frugivory is generally a more important functional trait than body mass in seed‐dispersal networks (Mello et al, ; Sebastián‐González, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…In contrast, the higher diversity of fruit types in the Neotropics facilitates niche partitioning among Neotropical frugivores (Fleming et al, ) and could act as a mechanism that reinforces the high diversity of plants in Neotropical compared with Afrotropical forests (Terborgh et al, ). Another explanation for the difference between continents could be that the frugivorous megafauna, such as primates or large ungulates, have a generalized diet (Campos‐Arceiz & Blake, ; Chancellor, Rundus, & Nyandwi, ). The extinction of frugivorous megafauna from the Neotropical continent ca .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seed‐dispersal networks are more specialized in the Neotropics than in the Afrotropics

Dugger

Blendinger

Böhning‐Gaese

et al. 2018

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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Aim Biogeographical comparisons of interaction networks help to elucidate differences in ecological communities and ecosystem functioning at large scales. Neotropical ecosystems have higher diversity and a different composition of frugivores and fleshy‐fruited plants compared with Afrotropical systems, but a lack of intercontinental comparisons limits understanding of (a) whether plant–frugivore networks are structured in a similar manner, and (b) whether the same species traits define the roles of animals across continents. Location Afrotropics and Neotropics. Time period 1977–2015. Taxa Fleshy‐fruited plants and frugivorous vertebrates. Methods We compiled a dataset comprising 17 Afrotropical and 48 Neotropical weighted seed‐dispersal networks quantifying frugivory interactions between 1,091 fleshy‐fruited plant and 665 animal species, comprising in total 8,251 interaction links between plants and animals. In addition, we compiled information on the body mass of animals and their degree of frugivory. We compared four standard network‐level metrics related to interaction diversity and specialization, accounting for differences related to sampling effort and network location. Furthermore, we tested whether animal traits (body mass, degree of frugivory) differed between continents, whether these traits were related to the network roles of species and whether these relationships varied between continents. Results We found significant structural differences in networks between continents. Overall, Neotropical networks were less nested and more specialized than Afrotropical networks. At the species level, a higher body mass and degree of frugivory were associated with an increasing diversity of plant partners. Specialization of frugivores increased with the degree of frugivory, but only in the Neotropics. Main conclusions Our findings show that Afrotropical networks have a greater overlap in plant partners among vertebrate frugivores than the more diverse networks in the Neotropics that are characterized by a greater niche partitioning. Hence, the loss of frugivore species could have stronger impacts on ecosystem functioning in the more specialized Neotropical communities compared with the more generalized Afrotropical communities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed‐dispersal networks are more specialized in the Neotropics than in the Afrotropics

Dugger

Blendinger

Böhning‐Gaese

et al. 2018

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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“…As with other disease-associated clostridia, sarcinae form environmentally stable spores 106 and may be ubiquitous in soil 79,99,107 , but environmental factors may contribute to germination of spores and overgrowth. Seasonal changes known to be important in chimpanzees, such as habitat use, diet (including exposure to plant or arthropod toxins), and physiological condition 108 , may increase infection risk at certain times of the year. Alternatively, "Ca.…”

Section: Amentioning

confidence: 99%

A Sarcina bacterium linked to lethal disease in sanctuary chimpanzees in Sierra Leone

Owens

Colitti

Hirji³

et al. 2021

Nat Commun

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Human and animal infections with bacteria of the genus Sarcina (family Clostridiaceae) are associated with gastric dilation and emphysematous gastritis. However, the potential roles of sarcinae as commensals or pathogens remain unclear. Here, we investigate a lethal disease of unknown etiology that affects sanctuary chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Sierra Leone. The disease, which we have named “epizootic neurologic and gastroenteric syndrome” (ENGS), is characterized by neurologic and gastrointestinal signs and results in death of the animals, even after medical treatment. Using a case-control study design, we show that ENGS is strongly associated with Sarcina infection. The microorganism is distinct from Sarcina ventriculi and other known members of its genus, based on bacterial morphology and growth characteristics. Whole-genome sequencing confirms this distinction and reveals the presence of genetic features that may account for the unusual virulence of the bacterium. Therefore, we propose that this organism be considered the representative of a new species, named “Candidatus Sarcina troglodytae”. Our results suggest that a heretofore unrecognized complex of related sarcinae likely exists, some of which may be highly virulent. However, the potential role of “Ca. S. troglodytae” in the etiology of ENGS, alone or in combination with other factors, remains a topic for future research.

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“…Outliers and overlap in this environmental continuum can likely be explained by anthropogenic influences: The dense forest outlier in the bottom left panel of Fig. 3 (i.e., Gishwati in Rwanda) likely fell into the savanna-mosaic side of the environmental continuum as this site represents a forest island amidst a human-dominated landscape and therefore has relatively low forest cover and Hansen tree cover (Chancellor et al 2012a;Chancellor et al 2017). Similarly, the two forest mosaic sites that fell closest to the chimpanzee researcher-classified savanna sites in Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Classifying Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Landscapes Across Large-Scale Environmental Gradients in Africa

2020

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Primates are sometimes categorized in terms of their habitat. Although such categorization can be oversimplistic, there are scientific benefits from the clarity and consistency that habitat categorization can bring. Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) inhabit various environments, but researchers often refer to "forest" or "savanna" chimpanzees. Despite the wide use of this forest-savanna distinction, clear definitions of these landscapes for chimpanzees, based on environmental variables at study sites or determined in relation to existing bioclimatic classifications, are lacking. The robustness of the forest-savanna distinction thus remains to be assessed. We review 43 chimpanzee study sites to assess how the landscape classifications of researchers fit with the environmental characteristics of study sites and with three bioclimatic classifications. We use scatterplots and principal components analysis to assess the distribution of chimpanzee field sites along gradients of environmental variables (temperature, rainfall, precipitation seasonality, forest cover, and satellite-derived Hansen tree cover). This revealed an environmental continuum of chimpanzee study sites from savanna to dense forest, with a rarely acknowledged forest mosaic category in between, but with no natural separation into these three classes and inconsistencies with the bioclimatic classifications assessed. The current forest-savanna dichotomy therefore masks a progression of environmental adaptation for chimpanzees, and we propose that recognizing an additional, intermediate "forest mosaic" category is more meaningful than focusing on the ends of this environmental gradient only. Future studies should acknowledge this habitat continuum, place their study sites on the forest-savanna gradient, and include detailed environmental data to support further attempts at quantification.

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Chimpanzee seed dispersal in a montane forest fragment in Rwanda

Abstract: Chimpanzees in Gishwati disperse a significant number of large seeds. Large-bodied seed dispersers, like chimpanzees, are particularly important in regenerating forest fragments.

Cited by 14 publications

References 48 publications

Seed‐dispersal networks are more specialized in the Neotropics than in the Afrotropics

Seed‐dispersal networks are more specialized in the Neotropics than in the Afrotropics

A Sarcina bacterium linked to lethal disease in sanctuary chimpanzees in Sierra Leone

Classifying Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Landscapes Across Large-Scale Environmental Gradients in Africa

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