Title
Flexible responses of gorillas and chimpanzees to environmental disturbance: Implications of past and present logging (Article abstract, 84th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists)
Author(s)
Morgan, D. B.; Sanz, C.; Strindberg, S.; Onononga, J. R.; Ayina, C. E.
Published
2015
Publisher
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Abstract
Great apes have a long evolutionary history of adjusting to fluctuating environments. However, basic questions remain as to how gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) cope with modern environmental conditions--particularly those associated with anthropogenic disturbances such as mechanized logging. Most studies of apes and forestry have compared areas with different logging histories, rather than documenting the responses of a particular ape population to timber extraction as it occurs. We present the results of a before-, during- and after- logging study aimed at monitoring the temporal and spatial distribution of sympatric gorillas and chimpanzees in an active forestry concession in northern Republic of Congo. During 12 repetitions of 14 transects (totaling 89 km per passage), we documented 6497 ape nests (2503 gorilla nests, 3994 chimpanzee nests) which comprised 1806 nest sites (852 gorilla sites, 954 chimpanzee sites). Both species of ape repeatedly shifted away from active forestry activities toward areas of lower human disturbance. Aspects of social spacing within species were also found to be influenced by environmental conditions across the land-use matrix over time. Our conclusion is that ape declines which occurred at small spatial scales were the result of ape redistribution into nearby “refuge areas”, rather than the loss of individuals. These findings are examined in light of the logging company’s adherence of Forest Stewardship Council certification standards and the compatibility of sustainable forestry with the conservation of African great apes.

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PUB26871