Wild chimpanzees show group differences in selection of agricultural crops

Abstract

The ability of wild animals to respond flexibly to anthropogenic environmental changes, including agriculture, is critical to survival in human-impacted habitats. Understanding use of human foods by wildlife can shed light on the acquisition of novel feeding habits and how animals respond to human-driven land-use changes. Little attention has focused on within-species variation in use of human foods or its causes. We examined crop-feeding in two groups of wild chimpanzees – a specialist frugivore – with differing histories of exposure to agriculture. Both groups exploited a variety of crops, with more accessible crops consumed most frequently. However, crop selection by chimpanzees with long-term exposure to agriculture was more omnivorous (i.e., less fruit-biased) compared to those with more recent exposure, which ignored most non-fruit crops. Our results suggest chimpanzees show increased foraging adaptations to cultivated landscapes over time; however, local feeding traditions may also contribute to group differences in crop-feeding in this species. Understanding the dynamic responses of wildlife to agriculture can help predict current and future adaptability of species to fast-changing anthropogenic landscapes.

Gastrointestinal parasite infections and self-medication in wild chimpanzees surviving in degraded forest fragments within an agricultural landscape mosaic in Uganda

“…The chimpanzees frequently enter gardens to feed on agricultural crops [70,71] and they encounter villagers and domestic animals daily (including cattle, chickens, pigs, goats, dogs and cats) [62] (Fig 1). Villagers sometimes defecate outdoors at garden edges and in the forest, and chimpanzee knuckle prints have been seen in fresh human faeces [54].…”

Apes in the Anthropocene: flexibility and survival

“…For great apes, information about which crops are eaten and which are ignored, and their potential to generate conflict, can help stakeholders to develop effective management schemes in anthropogenic habitats [17]. For example, chimpanzees predictably target fruit crops, but their selection diversifies over time to incorporate more nonfruits, including underground storage organs and staple human crops [63]. Effective crop-foraging deterrents must address these dynamic feeding changes, as well as attempt to increase the perceived risk to an ape exploiting croplands.…”

Perceptions of challenges to subsistence agriculture, and crop foraging by wildlife and chimpanzees Pan troglodytes verus in unprotected areas in Sierra Leone

“…Non-human primates are often cited as one of the main culprits of crop feeding in the geographical ranges where they occur (Humle & Hill, 2016). Chimpanzee foraging on crops has also been reported across Africa (Hockings & Humle, 2009;McLennan & Hockings, 2014). Studies have to date primarily focused on evaluating the crops targeted by chimpanzees and their dietary contribution relative to wild foods Hockings & McLennan, 2012;McLennan & Hockings, 2014), as well as chimpanzees' responses to interactions with people and associated infrastructures such as roads (McLennan & Hill, 2010Hockings, 2011;Cibot et al, 2015;McLennan & Asiimwe, 2016).…”

“…Chimpanzee foraging on crops has also been reported across Africa (Hockings & Humle, 2009;McLennan & Hockings, 2014). Studies have to date primarily focused on evaluating the crops targeted by chimpanzees and their dietary contribution relative to wild foods Hockings & McLennan, 2012;McLennan & Hockings, 2014), as well as chimpanzees' responses to interactions with people and associated infrastructures such as roads (McLennan & Hill, 2010Hockings, 2011;Cibot et al, 2015;McLennan & Asiimwe, 2016). Although reports of chimpanzees wounding people fatally are rare, there have also been a growing number of accounts of chimpanzees behaving aggressively towards people (McLennan & Hockings, 2016).…”