Diet and seasonal changes in sympatric gorillas and chimpanzees at Kahuzi-Biega National Park.

摘要: Based on 8 years of observations a group western lowland gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) and unit-group chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) living sympatrically in the montane forest at Kahuzi–Biega National Park, we compared their diet analyzed dietary overlap between them relation to fruit phenology. Data consumption were collected mainly from fecal samples, phenology preferred ape fruits was estimated by monitoring. Totals 231 plant foods (116 species) 137 (104 recorded for chimpanzees, respectively. Among these, 38% gorilla 64% chimpanzee eaten both apes. Fruits accounted largest (77% 59% chimpanzees). Gorillas consumed more species vegetative (especially bark) exclusively whereas animal exclusively. Although number available Kahuzi is much lower than that forest, per sample (average 2.7 similar habitats. By contrast, 0.8 Fruit apes tended increase during dry season when ripe abundant habitat. However, did not change according abundance. The differences may be attributed wide ranging repeated usage small range and/or avoidance inter-specific contact chimpanzees. different staple (leaves bark fig chimpanzees) characterize divergence Kahuzi, where usually scarce. rarely fed insects, but occasionally bees with honey, which possibly compensate scarcity. A comparison across habitats suggests sympatry influence stimulate behavioral reduce feeding competition them.