Wood and meat as complementary sources of sodium for Kanyawara chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

摘要: OBJECTIVES Sodium, a vital micronutrient that is often in scarce supply for tropical herbivores, sometimes found at high concentration decaying wood. We tested two hypotheses chimpanzees: first, wood-eating facilitates acquisition of sodium; second, occurs response to the low availability sodium from other dietary sources. MATERIALS AND METHODS studied behavior more than 50 chimpanzees all age-sex classes Kanyawara community Kibale National Park, Uganda. quantified content items, including wood samples tree species consumed or did not consume. To assess variation intake, we used 7 years data on time spent feeding plant foods, 18 months rates food intake by adult females, and 20 years meat-eating. RESULTS Major sources were wood, fruits meat. Chimpanzees primarily trees Neoboutonia macrocalyx (Euphorbiaceae), which had substantially higher items tested. Wood-eating was negatively correlated with fruit-eating. Females ate males, while males greater probability consuming meat predation events. DISCUSSION propose females because reduced access meat, their preferred source sodium. This hypothesis suggests need motivating reason consume both