Elevated activity in adult mountain gorillas is related to consumption of bamboo shoots

Grueter, Cyril C.; Robbins, Martha M.; Abavandimwe, Didier; Ortmann, Sylvia; Mudakikwa, Antoine; Ndagijimana, Felix; Vecellio, Veronica; Stoinski, Tara S.

doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyw132

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…With regards to the mountain gorillas of VNP, we deem it probable that mountain gorillas can show some dietary flexibility 20 if bamboo shoots become scarce, especially as it is clear that bamboo does not form a substantial part of the diet of all gorillas in VNP 15 . On the other hand, although there is no current direct evidence of food competition 39 , a decrease in bamboo shoot regeneration might become a problem if the population of mountain gorillas in VNP continues to increase. Besides, even if gorillas are not physically limited by a lack of bamboo shoot availability, there might be indirect consequences that are mediated through changes in behaviour.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent decline in vegetative regeneration of bamboo (Yushania alpina), a key food plant for primates in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Hoek

Faida

Eckardt

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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The African montane bamboo Yushania alpina provides both habitat and food for many species in the Albertine Rift region. In Volcanoes National Park (VNP), Rwanda, it is especially important as a key food resource for the Endangered mountain gorilla Gorilla beringei beringei and Endangered golden guenon Cercopithecus mitis kandti. We examined temporal and spatial variation in bamboo shoots regeneration and consumption by primates, monitored between 2013 and 2018 in 82 16-m2 plots located along transects in VNP. Our analyses revealed a decline in vegetative regeneration of bamboo in recent years, which is mirrored by a decline in bamboo shoot consumption by primates; but an increase in proportional intake. Local declines in regeneration are potentially due to high intensities of herbivory, decreased amounts of rainfall during growing seasons, and natural processes that form part of the life cycle of bamboo. Moreover, spatial variation in bamboo regeneration can be explained by elevation, as well as by stand-level variation in soil acidity, vegetation density, and the density of dead bamboo culms. We discuss the potential mechanisms underlying observed temporal and spatial variations and outline possible effects of a decline in bamboo regeneration for primates and other aspects of biodiversity in VNP.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent decline in vegetative regeneration of bamboo (Yushania alpina), a key food plant for primates in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Hoek

Faida

Eckardt

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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“…Moreover, Stewart and Harcourt [ 97 ] noted that, even if the social behavior most commonly observed in youngster lowland gorillas was play, its rates were inversely related to age just from two years of life. In a study on wild mountain gorillas, Grueter and colleagues [ 117 ] found that the consumption of high-quality food (e.g. bamboo shoots) had a positive influence on the level of adult play.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in play can illuminate differences in affiliation: A comparative study on chimpanzees and gorillas

et al. 2018

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Play behaviour reinforces social affiliation in several primate species, including humans. Via a comparative approach, we tested the hypothesis that play dynamics in a group of lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are different from those in a group of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) as a reflection of their difference in social affiliation and agonistic support. We selected one group of lowland gorillas and one of chimpanzees, hosted at the ZooParc de Beauval (France), managed in a similar way and living in similar enclosures. The same observers video-collected and analysed data on play behaviour in both groups, by applying identical methodological procedures. Data showed that adult play was less frequent in the group of gorillas compare to chimpanzees. Polyadic play, which involves more than two players and is characterised by the most uncertain outcome, was also less frequent in gorillas than chimpanzees. Play sessions were more unbalanced (more unidirectional patterns by one of the player towards the other) in chimpanzees than in gorillas but in the latter play escalated more frequently into serious aggression. Play asymmetry in the gorilla group increased as the number of players increased, which explains why gorillas limited their polyadic playful interactions. In conclusion, our findings on the study groups of apes can be a valuable starting point to expand the study of social play in the great apes to evaluate if inter-individual affiliative relationships really account for the differences in play distribution and dynamics.

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“…Food availability is a crucial driver of female reproductive strategies in mammals (Clutton‐Brock, 2006; Dufour & Sauther, 2002). Bamboo shoots are rich in protein, fiber, and minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus) but low in fat and carbohydrates (Grueter et al, 2016; Karanja et al, 2015; Rode & Robbins, 2000; Rothman et al, 2007), while fruit is rich in carbohydrates and fats (Lambert & Rothman, 2015). In VNP, golden monkeys consume highly nutritious bamboo shoots during both annual rainy seasons, and they consume leaves, in particular young bamboo leaves, as well as a small amount of insects and fruit, when bamboo shoots are unavailable.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food availability influences birth seasonality at a small spatial scale in endangered golden monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis kandti)

Tuyisingize

Eckardt

Kaplin

et al. 2022

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

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Objectives Studying reproductive seasonality helps us understand changes in the energetically demanding periods of pregnancy and lactation. We investigated how diet variability and key food plant phenology relate to mating and birth seasonality in both remaining populations of endangered golden monkeys in the Virunga massif and the Gishwati forest in Rwanda. Material and Methods Using scan and ad libitum sampling, we recorded feeding, mating, and births in two social groups (K and M) living in Volcanoes National Park (VNP), in the Virunga massif, from 2004 to 2018, and in one group (G) in the Gishwati forest in 2017–2018. We also monitored bamboo shoot and fruit availability in the groups' home ranges in 2017–2018. Results Mating was observed year‐round but peaked four to 6 months prior to each group's respective birth season. Despite the two VNP groups ranging only 16 km apart, they had different birth seasons. Females from group K gave birth during the late bamboo growing season, from September to December, while females from group M gave birth during the early bamboo shooting season, from February to April. This pattern was linked to differences in the availability and consumption of bamboo shoots between low‐elevation (group K) and high‐elevation (group M) habitat. In group G, births occurred from March to April, coinciding with the period of high fruit availability and consumption in the Gishwati forest. Discussion Our findings suggest that food availability shapes golden monkey birth seasons, even at a small spatial scale. Current changes in key food plant regeneration, potentially driven by climate change, need to be closely monitored to inform golden monkey conservation management.

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Elevated activity in adult mountain gorillas is related to consumption of bamboo shoots

Cited by 8 publications

References 54 publications

Recent decline in vegetative regeneration of bamboo (Yushania alpina), a key food plant for primates in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Recent decline in vegetative regeneration of bamboo (Yushania alpina), a key food plant for primates in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Differences in play can illuminate differences in affiliation: A comparative study on chimpanzees and gorillas

Food availability influences birth seasonality at a small spatial scale in endangered golden monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis kandti)

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