Selective Logging, Habitat Quality and Home Range Use by Sympatric Gorillas and Chimpanzees: A Case Study from an Active Logging Concession in Southeast Cameroon

We examined range use by great apes during logging activities and investigated associations between local variations in ape abundance and changes in the structure of the habitat or in the availability of fruits after disturbances. We carried out two annual censuses of western lowland gorilla (G. g....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Folia primatologica 2008-01, Vol.79 (1), p.1-14
Main Authors: Arnhem, E, Dupain, J, Drubbel, R. Vercauteren, Devos, C, Vercauteren, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal ethology
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cameroon
Conservation of Natural Resources
Ecosystem
Environmental quality
Feeding Behavior
Food
Forestry
Fruits
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gorilla gorilla - physiology
Mammalia
Nesting Behavior
Original Article
Pan troglodytes
Pan troglodytes - physiology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Troglodytes
Vertebrata
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Summary:We examined range use by great apes during logging activities and investigated associations between local variations in ape abundance and changes in the structure of the habitat or in the availability of fruits after disturbances. We carried out two annual censuses of western lowland gorilla (G. g. gorilla) and chimpanzee populations (Pan t. troglodytes) in an active logging concession in Southeast Cameroon. The results suggest that gorillas may adapt their range use to avoid most recently logged compartments, while chimpanzees appear to be more spatially resilient to logging. In our study site, selective logging affected 10% of the forest. After logging, gorillas nested in all types of vegetation, while chimpanzees nested exclusively in mixed mature forest. Fruit availability was not affected by logging and did not explain the distribution of ape nests in the study area.
ISSN:0015-5713
1421-9980
DOI:10.1159/000107664