Dataset Information

Guns, germs, and trees determine density and distribution of gorillas and chimpanzees in Western Equatorial Africa.

ABSTRACT: We present a range-wide assessment of sympatric western lowland gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla and central chimpanzees Pan troglodytes troglodytes using the largest survey data set ever assembled for these taxa: 59 sites in five countries surveyed between 2003 and 2013, totaling 61,000 person-days of fieldwork. We used spatial modeling to investigate major drivers of great ape distribution and population trends. We predicted density across each taxon's geographic range, allowing us to estimate overall abundance: 361,900 gorillas and 128,700 chimpanzees in Western Equatorial Africa-substantially higher than previous estimates. These two subspecies represent close to 99% of all gorillas and one-third of all chimpanzees. Annual population decline of gorillas was estimated at 2.7%, maintaining them as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List. We quantified the threats to each taxon, of which the three greatest were poaching, disease, and habitat degradation. Gorillas and chimpanzees are found at higher densities where forest is intact, wildlife laws are enforced, human influence is low, and disease impacts have been low. Strategic use of the results of these analyses could conserve the majority of gorillas and chimpanzees. With around 80% of both subspecies occurring outside protected areas, their conservation requires reinforcement of anti-poaching efforts both inside and outside protected areas (particularly where habitat quality is high and human impact is low), diligent disease control measures (including training, advocacy, and research into Ebola virus disease), and the preservation of high-quality habitat through integrated land-use planning and implementation of best practices by the extractive and agricultural industries.

SUBMITTER: Strindberg S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5916511 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Guns, germs, and trees determine density and distribution of gorillas and chimpanzees in Western Equatorial Africa.

Strindberg Samantha S Maisels Fiona F Williamson Elizabeth A EA Blake Stephen S Stokes Emma J EJ Aba'a Rostand R Abitsi Gaspard G Agbor Anthony A Ambahe Ruffin D RD Bakabana Parfait C PC Bechem Martha M Berlemont Antoine A Bokoto de Semboli Bruno B Boundja Patrick R PR Bout Nicolas N Breuer Thomas T Campbell Genevieve G De Wachter Pauwel P Ella Akou Marc M Esono Mba Fidel F Feistner Anna T C ATC Fosso Bernard B Fotso Roger R Greer David D Inkamba-Nkulu Clement C Iyenguet Calixte F CF Jeffery Kathryn J KJ Kokangoye Max M Kühl Hjalmar S HS Latour Stephanie S Madzoke Bola B Makoumbou Calixte C Malanda Guy-Aimé F GF Malonga Richard R Mbolo Victor V Morgan David B DB Motsaba Prosper P Moukala Gabin G Mowawa Brice S BS Murai Mizuki M Ndzai Christian C Nishihara Tomoaki T Nzooh Zacharie Z Pintea Lilian L Pokempner Amy A Rainey Hugo J HJ Rayden Tim T Ruffler Heidi H Sanz Crickette M CM Todd Angelique A Vanleeuwe Hilde H Vosper Ashley A Warren Ymke Y Wilkie David S DS

Science advances 20180425 4

We present a range-wide assessment of sympatric western lowland gorillas <i>Gorilla gorilla gorilla</i> and central chimpanzees <i>Pan troglodytes troglodytes</i> using the largest survey data set ever assembled for these taxa: 59 sites in five countries surveyed between 2003 and 2013, totaling 61,000 person-days of fieldwork. We used spatial modeling to investigate major drivers of great ape distribution and population trends. We predicted density across each taxon's geographic range, allowing ...[more]

PMID: 29707637

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Project description:Among factors affecting animal health, environmental influences may directly or indirectly impact host nutritional condition, fecundity, and their degree of parasitism. Our closest relatives, the great apes, are all endangered and particularly sensitive to infectious diseases. Both chimpanzees and western gorillas experience large seasonal variations in fruit availability but only western gorillas accordingly show large changes in their degree of frugivory. The aim of this study is to investigate and compare factors affecting health (through records of clinical signs, urine, and faecal samples) of habituated wild ape populations: a community (N = 46 individuals) of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in Kanyawara, Kibale National Park (Uganda), and a western gorilla (G. gorilla) group (N = 13) in Bai Hokou in the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park (Central African Republic). Ape health monitoring was carried out in the wet and dry seasons (chimpanzees: July-December 2006; gorillas: April-July 2008 and December 2008-February 2009). Compared to chimpanzees, western gorillas were shown to have marginally greater parasite diversity, higher prevalence and intensity of both parasite and urine infections, and lower occurrence of diarrhea and wounds. Parasite infections (prevalence and load), but not abnormal urine parameters, were significantly higher during the dry season of the study period for western gorillas, who thus appeared more affected by the large temporal changes in the environment in comparison to chimpanzees. Infant gorillas were the most susceptible among all the age/sex classes (of both apes) having much more intense infections and urine blood concentrations, again during the dry season. Long term studies are needed to confirm the influence of seasonal factors on health and parasitism of these great apes. However, this study suggest climate change and forest fragmentation leading to potentially larger seasonal fluctuations of the environment may affect patterns of ape parasitism and further exacerbate health impacts on great ape populations that live in highly seasonal habitats.

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Dataset Information

Guns, germs, and trees determine density and distribution of gorillas and chimpanzees in Western Equatorial Africa.

Publications

Guns, germs, and trees determine density and distribution of gorillas and chimpanzees in Western Equatorial Africa.

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