scholarly journals Energetic management in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prince D. Valé ◽  
Jean-Claude K. Béné ◽  
Antoine K. N’Guessan ◽  
Catherine Crockford ◽  
Tobias Deschner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Food Availability ◽  
National Park ◽  
Energetic Costs ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Mating Competition ◽  
High Ranking ◽  
Taï National Park ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Tai National Park

Abstract Socioecological theories predict that, in mammals, feeding and mating competitions affect male and female energetic conditions differently but energetic studies investigating both sexes simultaneously are rare. We investigated the effect of socioecological factors on the energetic conditions of male and female western chimpanzees, a long-lived species with high degrees of male-male competition. We used behavioural data collected on one chimpanzee community in the Taï National Park over 12 months, phenological data and urinary c-peptide (UCP) measures, a marker of energy balance. We found a positive effect of food availability on UCP levels in both sexes. Dominance rank also affected chimpanzee UCP levels. High-ranking females had higher UCP levels than low-ranking ones but only in periods when no oestrus females were present in the community. In contrast, high-ranking males had higher UCP levels than low-ranking males in the presence of oestrus females but lower UCP levels in their absence. Our results suggest that oestrus female presence lessened the competitive advantages of high-ranking females in feeding competition and that low-ranking males bore higher energetic costs related to mating competition than high-ranking ones. Yet caution should apply in interpreting these results since the statistical model was only close to significance. High-ranking male and female chimpanzees spent significantly less energy. Furthermore, all chimpanzees significantly spent less time feeding and spent more energy when food availability was high. Finally, our behavioural measure of energy intake and expenditure did not correlate with UCP levels highlighting the value of non-invasive hormonal markers for field studies. Significance statement General socioecological theories hypothesize that the social grouping dynamic and energetics of females are highly influenced by food competition, whereas in males, competition for sexual partners is more influential for these factors. Recent studies in the non-invasive physiological assessment of energy balance in primates have begun to test the implied relationship between chimpanzee socioecology and individual energetic condition, with inconsistent results. However, only a few studies have investigated this relationship concurrently for both sexes. Here, using non-invasive measures of energy balance in wild western chimpanzees, we found that the energetics of both males and females are related to ecological factors, such as food availability. However, female energy balance appears also to be related to increased male mating competition, as this can result in increased aggression directed from males to females, with apparent energetic costs for females.

scholarly journals Social rank overrides environmental and community fluctuations in determining meat access by female chimpanzees in the Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e8283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Riedel ◽  
Leo Polansky ◽  
Roman M. Wittig ◽  
Christophe Boesch
Keyword(s):  
Cote D'ivoire ◽  
National Park ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Social Rank ◽  
Female Dominance ◽  
Meat Eating ◽  
High Ranking ◽  
Taï National Park ◽  
Female Chimpanzee ◽  
Tai National Park

Meat, long hypothesized as an important food source in human evolution, is still a substantial component of the modern human diet, with some humans relying entirely on meat during certain times of the year. Understanding the socio-ecological context leading to the successful acquisition and consumption of meat by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), our closest living relative, can provide insight into the emergence of this trait because humans and chimpanzees are unusual among primates in that they both (i) hunt mammalian prey, (ii) share meat with community members, and (iii) form long-term relationships and complex social hierarchies within their communities. However, females in both human hunter-gatherer societies as well as chimpanzee groups rarely hunt, instead typically accessing meat via males that share meat with group members. In general, female chimpanzee dominance rank affects feeding competition, but so far, the effect of female dominance rank on meat access found different results within and across studied chimpanzee groups. Here we contribute to the debate on how female rank influences meat access while controlling for several socio-ecological variables. Multivariate analyses of 773 separate meat-eating events collected over more than 25 years from two chimpanzee communities located in the Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire, were used to test the importance of female dominance rank for being present at, and for acquiring meat, during meat-eating events. We found that high-ranking females were more likely to be present during a meat-eating event and, in addition, were more likely to eat meat compared to the subordinates. These findings were robust to both large demographic changes (decrease of community size) and seasonal ecological changes (fruit abundance dynamics). In addition to social rank, we found that other female properties had a positive influence on presence to meat-eating events and access to meat given presence, including oestrus status, nursing of a small infant, and age. Similar to findings in other chimpanzee populations, our results suggest that females reliably acquire meat over their lifetime despite rarely being active hunters. The implication of this study supports the hypothesis that dominance rank is an important female chimpanzee property conferring benefits for the high-ranking females.

scholarly journals Within-group spatial position and activity budget of wild sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2991-3008
Author(s):  
Bomey Clément Gba ◽  
Jean-Claude Koffi Bene ◽  
Zoro Bertin Gone Bi ◽  
Alexander Mielke ◽  
Inza Kone
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Activity Budget ◽  
Spatial Position ◽  
High Ranking ◽  
Taï National Park ◽  
Sooty Mangabeys ◽  
Tai National Park ◽  
Cercocebus Atys

Within social groups, feeding competition and predation pressure affect individual spatial position. The costs and benefits associated to each position are likely to influence the time that individuals allocate to different activities. Whether the effect of spatial positioning on activity budget differs between individuals of different sex or dominance rank remains unclear. This study aimed at investigating the effect of within-group spatial position on the activity budget of male and female sooty mangabeys. Focal behavioral observations was used to collect the individual location and behavior every 15 minutes (N=5115 locations) on 29 individuals from a wild group of sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) in the Taï National Park. The joint effect of rank, sex and spatial position on individual‟s activity budget was investigated. Females were more central in the group and both fed and rested more than males, independently of their rank. High-ranking  individuals from both sexes were more likely to be central and both fed and rested longer than low-ranking ones. Females and high-ranking individuals from both sexes benefit from their social status by adopting spatial positions in the community that could influence their fitness positively. These results are discussed to improve our understanding of social dynamics in wild primates.Keywords: Spatial position, primates, socio-ecology, social dynamics.

scholarly journals A Novel Orthohepadnavirus Identified in a Dead Maxwell’s Duiker (Philantomba maxwellii) in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Gogarten ◽  
Markus Ulrich ◽  
Nishit Bhuva ◽  
Joel Garcia ◽  
Komal Jain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cote D'ivoire ◽  
National Park ◽  
Côte D’Ivoire ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Cote D’Ivoire ◽  
Taï National Park ◽  
Côte D'ivoire ◽  
Copy Numbers ◽  
Viral Copy ◽  
Tai National Park

New technologies enable viral discovery in a diversity of hosts, providing insights into viral evolution. We used one such approach, the virome capture sequencing for vertebrate viruses (VirCapSeq-VERT) platform, on 21 samples originating from six dead Maxwell’s duikers (Philantomba maxwellii) from Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. We detected the presence of an orthohepadnavirus in one animal and characterized its 3128 bp genome. The highest viral copy numbers were detected in the spleen, followed by the lung, blood, and liver, with the lowest copy numbers in the kidney and heart; the virus was not detected in the jejunum. Viral copy numbers in the blood were in the range known from humans with active chronic infections leading to liver histolytic damage, suggesting this virus could be pathogenic in duikers, though many orthohepadnaviruses appear to be apathogenic in other hosts, precluding a formal test of this hypothesis. The virus was not detected in 29 other dead duiker samples from the Côte d’Ivoire and Central African Republic, suggesting either a spillover event or a low prevalence in these populations. Phylogenetic analysis placed the virus as a divergent member of the mammalian clade of orthohepadnaviruses, though its relationship to other orthohepadnaviruses remains uncertain. This represents the first orthohepadnavirus described in an artiodactyl. We have tentatively named this new member of the genus Orthohepadnavirus (family Hepadnaviridae), Taï Forest hepadnavirus. Further studies are needed to determine whether it, or some close relatives, are present in a broader range of artiodactyls, including livestock.

scholarly journals Inventaire spécifique et caractéristiques de quelques frayères du lac de Buyo dans le Parc National de Taï (Sud-Ouest Côte d’Ivoire)

2020 ◽  
Vol 145 ◽  
pp. 14902-14913
Author(s):  
N’DRI Olga Rosemonde ◽  
KONAN Yao Aristide ◽  
MONNEY Attoubé Ida ◽  
KONE Tidiani
Keyword(s):  
Cote D'ivoire ◽  
National Park ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Côte D’Ivoire ◽  
Cote D’Ivoire ◽  
Taï National Park ◽  
Côte D'ivoire ◽  
Spawning Areas ◽  
Tai National Park ◽  
Spawning Sites

Objectifs : Des investigations ont été menées dans 11 sites du lac de Buyo situés sur le cours du fleuve Sassandra dans le Parc National de Taï (Côte d’Ivoire) en vue de connaître les espèces de poisson qui utilisent ces zones comme sites de reproduction. Méthodologie et Résultats : Dans chaque site d’échantillonnage, les variables environnementales ont été mesurées et les poissons ont été capturés à l’aide de filets maillants. Les stades de maturité sexuelle avancés ont été considérés comme critères de reconnaissance des sites de fraie. La richesse spécifique a été de 32 espèces, répartie en 13 familles et dominée par les Cichlidae (7 espèces, soit 22%). Sur la base des stades sexuels de maturité, 14 espèces, en phase de reproduction, ont été capturées dans les 11 sites d’échantillonnage. Les résultats de l’analyse des sédiments ont indiqué une prédominance de sable (>60%) dans les sites de reproduction et des valeurs optimales de température (28,52°C), de pH (6,53), de conductivité (36,50 μS/cm) et d’oxygène dissous (5,37 mg/l). Conclusion et application des résultats : La présente étude a montré que les sites échantillonnés dans le lac de Buyo situé à l’intérieur du le Parc National de Taï sont caractérisés par des sédiments sableux et constituent des frayères pour plusieurs espèces de poisson. La localisation de ces zones de reproduction représente donc un outil important pour les gestionnaires dans la conservation de la diversité piscicole du parc national de Taï. Mots clés : sites de frai, stade de maturité sexuelle, ichtyofaune, lac de barrage de Buyo. Specific inventory and characteristics of some spawning grounds of Lake Buyo in the Taï National Park (South-West Côte d'Ivoire) Abstract Objectives: Investigations were carried out in 11 sites of Lake Buyo located in the midstream of Sassandra River in Taï National Park (Côte d'Ivoire) to get to know fish species that use these areas as spawning sites. Methodology and Results: Environmental variables were measured in each sampling sites and fish were caught using gillnets. Advanced stages of sexual maturity were considered as recognition criteria of spawning areas. Specific richness was of 32 species, belonging in 13 families and dominated by Cichlidae (7 species, 22%). Based on advanced sexual maturity stages, 14 species in spawning period, were captured at the 11 sampling sites. Results of sediment analysis indicated a predominance of sand (> 60%) in spawning sites and optimal values of temperature (28.52°C), pH (6,53), conductivity (36,50 μS/cm) and dissolved oxygen (5,37 mg/l). Conclusion and application of results: The present study showed that sites sampled in Lake Buyo located within the Tai National Park are characterized by sandy sediments and constitute spawning areas for several fish species. The location of these spawning areas therefore is an important tool for managers in conserving fish diversity of Taï National Park. Keywords: spawning sites, stage of sexual maturity, Ichtyofauna, Buyo Dam Lake.

Rank changes in female chimpanzees in Taï National Park

2019 ◽  
pp. 290-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Mielke ◽  
Catherine Crockford ◽  
Roman Wittig
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Taï National Park ◽  
Tai National Park
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