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Factors Influencing the Survival of Sympatric Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) Nests

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Abstract

Accurate and precise surveys of primate abundance provide the basis for understanding species ecology and essential information for conservation assessments. Owing to the elusive nature of wild apes and the vast region of dense forest they inhabit, population estimates of central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) and western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) have largely relied on surveys of their nests. Specific information about the nesting behavior of apes permits the estimation of the number of nests built (nest creation rate). Similarly, information on nest characteristics and environmental factors can be used to estimate the time it takes nests to decay (nest decay rate). Nest creation and decay rates are then used to convert nest density estimates to absolute ape densities. Population estimates that use site-specific estimates of nest creation and decay rates are more accurate and precise. However, it is common practice to generalize these conversion factors across sites because of the additional cost of studies required to gather the information to estimate them. Over a 9-mo study period, we detected and monitored the time to decay of gorilla nests (N = 514) and chimpanzee nests (N = 521) in northern Republic of Congo. We investigated the influence of nest characteristics and environmental factors on nest survivorship and estimated the mean time to nest decay (or equivalently survival) using MARK. Key factors influencing nest decay rate included ape species, forest type, nest height, mean rainfall, nest structure, nest type, and primary aspects of nest construction. Our findings highlight the synergistic effect of behavior and environment on great ape nest degradation, as well as providing practical insights for improving measures to monitor remaining populations of these endangered species.

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Acknowledgments

We are deeply appreciative of the opportunity to work in the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park and especially the Goualougo Triangle. This work would not be possible without the continued support of the Ministère de l’Economie Forestière of the Government of the Republic of Congo and Wildlife Conservation Society’s Congo Program. Special thanks are due to J. M. Fay, P. Telfer, P. Elkan, S. Elkan, B. Curran, M. Gately, E. Stokes, H. Thomas, P. Ngouembe, and D. Dos Santos. We would also like to recognize the tireless dedication of C. Eyana-Ayina, S. Ndolo, A. Nzeheke, W. Mayoukou, M. Mguessa, I. Singono, and the Goualougo tracking team. Our thanks go to Gary White for guidance on the application of the model for avian nest success in MARK to ape nest survival. We thank the editor and two anonymous reviewers for providing constructive feedback on the manuscript. Grateful acknowledgment of funding is due to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Arcus Foundation, the American Zoological Association, Columbus Zoological Park, and the International Center for Advanced Renewable Energy and Sustainability (I-CARES) of Washington University in Saint Louis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL, 60614, USA

    David Morgan

  2. Wildlife Conservation Society, Congo Program, B.P. 14537, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

    Crickette Sanz & Jean Robert Onononga

  3. Department of Anthropology, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA

    Crickette Sanz

  4. Global Conservation Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, 10460, USA

    Samantha Strindberg

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  1. David Morgan
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Correspondence to David Morgan.

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Morgan, D., Sanz, C., Onononga, J.R. et al. Factors Influencing the Survival of Sympatric Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) Nests. Int J Primatol 37, 718–737 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-016-9934-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-016-9934-9

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