Ecological correlates of chimpanzee termite fishing behavior in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon

Chimpanzee insectivory is seasonally variable, with pronounced peaks or set seasonal periods of consumption observed in most chimpanzee communities. This variation is interesting given that chimpanzees invest considerable effort into complex tool‐using behaviors to acquire insect prey. Evidence sugg...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology and evolution 2024-07, Vol.14 (7), p.e70080-n/a
Main Authors: Andres‐Bray, Tyler C., Smith, Jeffrey, Nichols, Ian, Abwe, Ekwoge E., Gonder, Mary Katherine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavioural Ecology
Chimpanzees
Dry season
Environmental factors
Fishing
Fishing communities
Foraging behavior
Hypotheses
Insects
Monkeys & apes
Mounds
National parks
Nigeria‐Cameroon chimpanzee
Pan troglodytes ellioti
Predation
Rainfall
Rainy season
Seasonal variations
seasonality
Soil surfaces
termite behavior
Termites
tool use
Variance analysis
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Summary:Chimpanzee insectivory is seasonally variable, with pronounced peaks or set seasonal periods of consumption observed in most chimpanzee communities. This variation is interesting given that chimpanzees invest considerable effort into complex tool‐using behaviors to acquire insect prey. Evidence suggests this seasonal variation is related to insect behavior, but few studies have been done to empirically examine this relationship. In this study, we assessed whether a seasonal pattern of termite fishing by Nigeria‐Cameroon chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes ellioti) in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon was driven by termite behavior. We measured termite presence and termite foraging activity monthly at seven termite mounds near Ganga Research Station from April 2022 to April 2023. Macroscopic fecal analysis and camera traps placed at each mound demonstrated termite fishing in this community occurred from March to June, with a rare smaller period of termite fishing in October 2021. Average monthly rainfall, average monthly temperature, and average monthly fruit availability were used to examine potential environmental factors that could impact termite fishing seasonality. Termite presence was significantly different between months with and without chimpanzee termite fishing (t‐test, −6.569, p 
ISSN:2045-7758
2045-7758
DOI:10.1002/ece3.70080