Population Dynamics of Wild Bonobos (Pan paniscus) at Wamba |
| |
Authors: | Furuichi Takeshi Idani Gen'ichi Ihobe Hiroshi Kuroda Suehisa Kitamura Koji Mori Akio Enomoto Tomoo Okayasu Naobi Hashimoto Chie Kano Takayoshi |
| |
Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Biology, Meiji-Gakuin University, 1518 Kamikurata, Totsuka, Yokohama, 244, Japan;(2) Hayashibara Museum of Natural Sciences, Okayama, Japan;(3) Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan;(4) School of Human Cultures, The University of Shiga Prefecture, Shiga, Japan;(5) Faculty of Humanity, Hirosaki University, Aomori, Japan;(6) Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Aichi, Japan;(7) School of Medicine, Tokai University, Kanagawa, Japan |
| |
Abstract: | We analyzed population dynamics and birth seasonality of wild bonobos at Wamba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, based on 20 years of observations (1976–1996). Wamba Bonobo infant mortality is much lower than that reported for chimpanzees. This seemes to be related to several socioecological characteristics of bonobos: the use of abundant fruit and herbaceous foods, larger food patch size, female feeding priority, and the absence of infanticide. The mean interval between live births of 4.8 years is shorter than those reported for chimpanzees, and some females simultaneously carried and nursed two successive offspring. Mother–offspring conflicts, such as refusal of suckling attempts and interference with mothers' copulation, which are common in chimpanzees, are rare in Wamba bonobos. A birth peak seems to occur during the light rainy season from March to May, just after the season with the least rainfall. This timing of births is similar to those reported for chimpanzee populations, and might benefit both mother and offspring by maximizing the amount of time before the next dry season. |
| |
Keywords: | Pan paniscus bonobo demography interbirth interval |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|