Published August 2, 2020 | Version v1
Journal article Open

DETERMINATION OF BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY OF CHIMPANZEES (PAN TROGLODYTES TROGLODYTES) IN MEFOU PRIMATE SANCTUARY, YAOUNDE, CENTRE REGION, CAMEROON

Authors/Creators

  • 1. Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon

Description

Living in groups can provide greater protection from predators, promote discovery, defense of food sources and improve access to mates. On the other hand, it can increase susceptibility to predators, pathogens, and competition for resources. Because of these trade-offs, social systems can display high levels of diversity, both on an evolutionary time-scale as well as in response to short-term variation in social and ecological pressures. This study was aimed at assessing the behavioral ecology of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) in Mefou primate sanctuary in Yaounde ecological zone. The launching of a full-scale research data collection was considered at the end of the pilot study and lasted for four months. The habituated chimpanzee group consisting of 22 animals was observed for 10 hours each day and this was done for 10 days each month. Data collection on check-sheets started 8:00 am and ended 6:00 pm each day. During this period the animal group was followed, targeting either an adult male or adult female for focal data collection for the day. The focal data collection was done within an interval period of 15 minutes, during this period observations were recorded on this adult on feeding, moving, resting, grooming, aggression, and climbing. Secondly, the scan data collection, based on the entire animal group activity was done within an interval of 15 minutes. The ad-libitum and ecological data, such as weather type, food type, seasonality, photo-period, animal height from ground, and sex-class of animal were recorded simultaneously alongside the animal activity. The survey has shown a significant association between sex-class on animal-group activity and its position above the ground, X2 =180.495 df=18, P=0.000 and X2=19.328 df=12, P=0.081 respectively. Moreover, there was a significant link between group activity on photo-period and weather type, X2= 87.741 df=12, P=0.000 and X2 = 39.201 df=18, P=0.003 respectively. Group feeding recorded 22%, and whenever a food resource was met, each member of the group participated effectively in feeding and later moved to other areas. This study discovered that the group behavior of chimpanzees in Mefou primate sanctuary depends on various ecological changes.

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Subjects

Zoology
10.5281/zenodo.3969700