Ecological Factors Influencing Bonobo Density and Distribution in the Salonga National Park: Applications for Population Assessment

Guislain, Patrick; Bolinga, T. D. Mboyo; Isomana, Edmond; Inogwabini, Bila-Isia; Bokomo, Ndouzo; Ngamankosi, Mafuta; Wema, Lisalama Wema

doi:10.1007/978-0-387-74787-3_10

Cited by 61 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…We suspect that the mechanism by which fragmentation affects bonobo distributions is through increased bonobo avoidance of areas owing to increased hunter access and increased hunting mortality near linear openings. Our study supports findings that hunting activity increases near openings and results in lower nest occurrence (Reinartz et al 2008). Those linear openings in the forest habitat are effectively detected by remote sensing and measured by ED.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Although decades of effort have been invested in wild bonobo studies (Furuichi and Thompson 2008;Susman 1984;White 1996), much of that work has been on habituated populations (Furuichi 1987;Furuichi and Thompson 2008;Furuichi et al 1998;Hohmann and Fruth 2008;Kano 1992). Surveys of unhabituated bonobos tend to focus on the daily nest structures they build, because in areas where they are hunted, bonobos tend to avoid humans Hart et al 2008;Kano 1984;Mohneke and Fruth 2008;Reinartz et al 2006Reinartz et al , 2008Van Krunkelsven 2001;cf. Grossman et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Applying Landscape Metrics to Characterize Potential Habitat of Bonobos (Pan paniscus) in the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba Landscape, Democratic Republic of Congo

2012

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To conserve areas and species threatened by immediate landscape change requires that we make planning decisions for large areas in the absence of adequate data. Here we study the utility of broad-scale landscape metrics as predictors of species occurrence, especially for remote areas where there is a need to make the most of limited spatial and biological data. Bonobos (Pan paniscus) are endangered great apes endemic to lowland forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are threatened by bushmeat hunting that is exacerbated by habitat fragmentation through slash-and-burn agriculture and timber harvest. We developed four landscape metricsedge density (ED), COHESION, CONTAGION, and class area (CA)-that may serve as surrogates for measuring accessibility of areas to hunting in order to predict relative bonobo-habitat suitability. We calculated the metrics for the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba (MLW) landscape and evaluated them for utility in predicting bonobo-nest occupancy based on 2009 field data. Cross-validations showed that all four metrics performed similarly. However, forest ED was arguably the best predictor, with an overall classification accuracy of 72.1% in which 85% of known nest blocks (N0124) were classified correctly. We demonstrated that for a relatively intact landscape and a mobile forestdwelling species that is fairly tolerant of forest openings, forest fragmentation can still be an important predictor of species occurrence. We suggest that ED can be helpful when mapping bonobo habitat in MLW and can aid landscape-planning and conservation efforts. Our approach may be applied to other edge-sensitive species, especially where high-resolution data are deficient.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applying Landscape Metrics to Characterize Potential Habitat of Bonobos (Pan paniscus) in the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba Landscape, Democratic Republic of Congo

2012

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“…Bonobo studies subsequently resumed in and around the Salonga National Park, DR Congo (Hohmann and Fruth 2003;Grossmann et al 2008;Mohneke and Fruth 2008;Reinartz et al 2008) and Hohman and colleagues in particular began systematic ecological studies of bonobos at Lui Kotale (Hohmann and Fruth 2003). At Wamba in the northern sector of the Luo Scientific Reserve, DR Congo, ecological studies of bonobos resumed in 2002 (Furuichi and Mwanza 2003;Idani et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Factors underlying party size differences between chimpanzees and bonobos: a review and hypotheses for future study

Furuichi

2009

Primates

102

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Differences in party size and cohesiveness among females have been primary topics in socio-ecological comparisons of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (Pan paniscus). This paper aims to review previous studies that attempted to explain these differences and propose some hypotheses to be tested in future studies. Comparisons of recent data show that relative party size (expressed as a percentage of total group size) is significantly larger for bonobos than chimpanzees. Although the prolonged estrus of females, close association between mother and adult sons, female social relationships including unique homosexual behavior, and high female social status might be related to the increased party size and female cohesiveness of bonobos, these social and behavioral factors alone do not appear to explain the differences between the two species. Differences in ecological factors, including fruit-patch size, density of terrestrial herbs, and the availability of scattered foods that animals forage as they travel between large fruit patches could also contribute to the differences between chimpanzees and bonobos. However, these factors cannot fully account for the increased party size and female cohesiveness of bonobos. The higher female cohesiveness in bonobos may be explained by socio-ecological systems that reduce the cost in feeding efficiency incurred by attending mixed-sex parties. These systems may include female initiatives for party ranging movements as well as the factors mentioned above. Because of their geographical isolation, the two species probably evolved different social systems. Chimpanzees, whose habitats became very dry during some periods in the Pleistocene, likely evolved more flexible fission-fusion social systems to cope with seasonal and annual variation in food availability. On the other hand, bonobos had a large refugia forest in the middle of their range even during the driest periods in the Pleistocene. Therefore bonobos, whose habitats had more abundant food and smaller variation in food availability, probably evolved systems that help females stay in mixed parties without incurring large costs from contest and scramble competition.

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“…However, a study on bonobos at Yalosidi [Kano, 1983] showed that bonobos sometimes slept in the swamp forest, though the frequency was not very high (8.7%). Recently, Reinartz et al [2008] found that 6% of bonobo nests occurred in inundated or seasonally inundated forests in northern Salonga National Park, and Mohneke and Fruth [2008] reported that 2.2% of bonobo nests occurred in permanent swamp forest in Lui Kotale. This study also showed that bonobos at Wamba slept in the swamp forest for as many as 13% of the days, and that 10.9% nests were found in the swamp forest.…”

Section: Selection Of Vegetation Types and Tree Species For Nestingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The nest-building behavior of great apes provides various kinds of valuable information. The density of nests or nest groups was used for estimation of distribution and population density [Fruth & Hohmann, 1994;Furuichi et al, 1997Furuichi et al, , 2001aGhiglieri, 1984;Grossmann et al, 2008;Hashimoto, 1995;Mohneke & Fruth, 2008;Plumptre & Reynolds, 1996Reinartz et al, 2008;Russon et al, 2001;Tutin & Fernandez, 1984;van Schaik et al, 1995;White, 1994], and their locations are used to examine habitat use and seasonal changes therein [Anderson & Williamson, 1983;Baldwin et al, 1981;Fruth & Hohmann, 1994;Furuichi & Hashimoto, 2004;Furuichi et al, 2001b;Kano, 1992;MacKinnon, 1974;Ogawa et al, 2007]. Furthermore, the size and composition of nest groups were used to estimate the size and composition of parties of chimpanzees and bonobos or groups of gorillas, and their seasonal changes [Furuichi et al, 2001a;Hohmann et al, 2006;Schaller, 1963;Tutin et al, 1995].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nest groups of wild bonobos at Wamba: selection of vegetation and tree species and relationships between nest group size and party size

Mulavwa¹,

Yangozene²,

Yamba-Yamba³

et al. 2010

American J Primatol

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We examined the location of nest groups, spatial distribution of nests within a nest group, and attributes of individual nests of wild bonobos at Wamba, Democratic Republic of Congo. We also examined the seasonal factors influencing nesting behavior and compared the nest group size with the 1 hr party size during daytime. We defined a nest group to be a cluster of nests that were built in the same evening and found within 30 m from the other nearest nest. Examination of the largest gap within a nest group suggested that 30 m was an acceptable cutoff value. Monthly rainfall or fruit abundance did not significantly influence the monthly mean nest group size. Nests were built in the swamp forest for as many as 13% observation days, suggesting the need for reevaluation of the use of swamp forest by bonobos. The use of swamp forest was influenced not by seasonal rainfall or fruit abundance, but by the fruiting of specific species. Preferred tree species for building nests accounted for 19.8% of standing trees, which suggested that the selection of sleeping sites was not largely restricted by the distribution of specific species. The mean 1 hr party size was almost identical through the day and was similar to the mean nest group size. Parties of bonobos sometimes split into smaller nest groups, especially when feeding on non-preferred fruits during fruit scarcity. By contrast, when feeding on preferred fruits while ranging in large parties, they often aggregated to form even larger nest groups. When sleeping in small- or middle-sized nest groups, they tended to aggregate the next morning. These tendencies may reflect the gregarious nature of bonobos who prefer to range or sleep together as far as circumstances allow.

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Ecological Factors Influencing Bonobo Density and Distribution in the Salonga National Park: Applications for Population Assessment

Cited by 61 publications

References 22 publications

Applying Landscape Metrics to Characterize Potential Habitat of Bonobos (Pan paniscus) in the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba Landscape, Democratic Republic of Congo

Applying Landscape Metrics to Characterize Potential Habitat of Bonobos (Pan paniscus) in the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba Landscape, Democratic Republic of Congo

Factors underlying party size differences between chimpanzees and bonobos: a review and hypotheses for future study

Nest groups of wild bonobos at Wamba: selection of vegetation and tree species and relationships between nest group size and party size

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