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Title
Dialium and Seed Reingestion from Faeces in Western Gorillas: A Source of Protein and "Cooking" Effect (meeting abstract, 7th European Federation for Primatology)
Author(s)
Masi, S.;Breuer, T.
Published
2017
Publisher
Folia Primatologica
Published Version DOI
https://doi.org/10.1159/000479094
Abstract
Unraveling the relationship between the nutritional intake of endangered species and their unusual feeding behaviours may provide crucial information for understanding their response to seasonal and unpredictable variation in food availability in their environments. Primates sometimes re-ingest fruit seeds from faeces (coprophagy). We investigate the ecological correlates of coprophagy in wild western gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla ), particularly testing if it occurs during periods of lower fruit availability and if it leads to higher nutrient intake. Data included behavioural observations collected at two field sites in Central Africa (Mbeli Bai: ad libitum observations based on 11,511 h; Bai Hokou: 720 h of 5-min scans on focal animals from December 2004-December 2005), phenological records, faecal sample inspections and nutritional analysis of food items. Gorilla coprophagy occurred at the end of the high-fruiting season and correlated positively with the presence of Dialium spp. in gorilla dung and feeding bouts of Dialium , as well as Dialium fruit availability. Dialium seeds have very high levels of protein content and of phenols and tannins compared to other gorilla food items. This suggests that coprophagy in western gorillas may be linked to a search for protein. The gut processing likely improves their ability to extract macro- and micro-nutrients while concurrently softening indigestible fibre and reducing antifeedant content. In this sense, coprophagy by western gorillas can be regarded as having a ‘cooking’ effect on seeds, helping to increase nutrient intake while concurrently decreasing the effect/presence of secondary compounds.
Keywords
Zoology
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PUB22424