The Biogeographic Evidence Supporting the Pleistocene Forest Refuge Hypothesis

Mayr, Ernst; O’Hara, Robert J.

doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1986.tb05717.x

Cited by 214 publications

(163 citation statements)

References 17 publications

(11 reference statements)

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“…Chimpanzees, whose habitats on the right bank of the Congo River became very dry during some periods in the Pleistocene (Mayr and Ohara 1986;Plana 2004), may have developed highly flexible fission-fusion social systems to cope with seasonal and annual variation in the abundance and distribution of fruits. On the other hand, the area on the left bank had a large central refugia forest even during the driest periods, and the habitats of bonobos might have had relatively larger fruit patches, higher density of foods, and smaller seasonal and annual variation in food availability.…”

Section: Reconsideration Of the Difference In Grouping Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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Section: Reconsideration Of the Difference In Grouping Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Furuichi

2009

Primates

102

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“…In Africa, the evergreen forest habitat was reduced gradually since the early Miocene (Axelrod and Raven, 1978) and probably had a minimum extension during the cold parts of the Pleistocene (Diamond and Hamilton, 1980;Hamilton, 1982Hamilton, , 1988Crowe and Crowe, 1982;Mayr and O'Hara, 1986;Prigogine, 1986;Kingdon, (1989)). Proposed forest refuges were in Guinea, the Cameroon lowlands, the central Congo Basin and in the lowlands in eastern Zaire which have many old species and relatively few representatives of recent radiations.…”

Section: B a Reinterpretation Of The Role Of Pleistocene Forest Refugesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographical patterns for relict and young species of birds in Africa and South America and implications for conservation priorities

1994

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By comparing geographical patterns of old and new species with historical and ecological processes, interpretations can be made about time patterns of diversification. Such interpretations can form a basis for developing rationales for ranking biodiversity conservation priorities. The results of the comprehensive study of avian DNA were used to compare geographical distributions in Africa and South America of species of strong Plio-Pleistocene radiations and species representing older monophyletic branches. Striking patterns, some of them overlooked so far, were found. Most old species are widespread across a physiognomic and climatic domain, such as lowland rainforests, and therefore, are not specific conservation targets. In contrast, new species have evolved in well defined places with a special local environment, in particular in ecologically equable places inside geologically complex ecotonal regions. High species richness and taxonomic diversity, where maintained over wide areas by steady habitat alteration through patch dynamics, may be easiest to protect by general reforms that integrate regional development and protection of ecosystem services, rather than by strictly site-oriented projects. Areas of active speciation, although small, may have important regulatory functions and a critical role for maintaining 'evolutionary fronts'. The Tropical Andes Region includes a dozen such places. There is a congruence between the occurrence of old species which have relictual distributions and aggregates of limited-range component species of recent vicariance patterns, indicating that vicariance events take place mainly by isolation in extremely ecologically stable areas. Although these places do not necessarily have the highest taxic diversity, they should be top priorities for rapid and concentrated conserTvation action.

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“…In a study on the distribution of African birds, butterflies and mammals, Endler (1982) and then Mayr & O'Hara (1986) reported three probable refugia for these types of fauna. The first corresponds to Liberia and Sierra Leone, the second to Gabon and Cameroon and the third in eastern Za'fre.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Twelve new species of dactylogyrids (Platyhelminthes, Monogenea) from West African barbels (Teleostei, Cyprinidae), with some biogeographical implications

Guégan¹,

Lambert²

1990

Syst Parasitol

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The Biogeographic Evidence Supporting the Pleistocene Forest Refuge Hypothesis

Cited by 214 publications

References 17 publications

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

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

Geographical patterns for relict and young species of birds in Africa and South America and implications for conservation priorities

Twelve new species of dactylogyrids (Platyhelminthes, Monogenea) from West African barbels (Teleostei, Cyprinidae), with some biogeographical implications

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