Publications

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nucleotide sequencing of the hoxa gene cluster using gorilla fosmid clones.we sequenced the western gorilla (gorilla gorilla) hoxa cluster region using seven fosmid clones, and found that the total tiling path sequence was 214,185 bp from the 5' non-genic region of hoxa1 to the 3' non-genic region of evx1. we compared the nucleotide sequence with the gorilla genome sequence in the ncbi database, and the overall proportion of nucleotide difference was estimated to be 0.0005-0.0007. these estimates are lower than overall genomic polymorphism in gorillas.202032934753
gorilla calcaneal morphological variation and ecological divergence.the primate foot has been extensively investigated because of its role in weight-bearing; however, the calcaneus has been relatively understudied. here we examine entire gorilla calcaneal external shape to understand its relationship with locomotor behavior.202032871028
the effect of visitors on the behavior of zoo-housed western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).primates, especially apes, are popular with the public, often attracting large crowds. these crowds could cause behavioral change in captive primates, whether positive, neutral, or negative. we examined the impact of visitors on the behavior of six western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla), observing the troop over 6 weeks during high season (4.5 hr/day, 35 days, may-july 2016). we used focal scan sampling to determine activity budget and enclosure usage, and focal continuous sampling t ...202032813293
in or out: response slowing across housing conditions as a measure of affect in three western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).individuals experiencing negative affect have shown response slowing, a longer latency to respond in relation to baseline, when presented with aversive stimuli. we assessed response slowing in three male gorillas housed in a bachelor group as a function of daytime and nighttime housing arrangements.202032728496
infant survival in western lowland gorillas after voluntary dispersal by pregnant females.in many social species, after the alpha male has been replaced or the group disintegrates, a female's infant is at risk of infanticide by a male. female gorillas have developed the rare strategy of secondary dispersal in which they transfer between reproductive groups during the limited time period between weaning an infant and conceiving the next one (voluntary dispersal). by doing so they leave a weaker silverback near the end of his tenure and join a stronger silverback at an earlier stage of ...202032720106
ecological correlates of space use patterns in wild western lowland gorillas.the distribution of resources is a crucial determinant of animals' space use (e.g., daily travel distance, monthly home range size, and revisitation patterns). we examined how variation in ecological parameters affected variability in space use patterns of western lowland gorillas, gorilla gorilla gorilla. they are an interesting species for investigating this topic because key components of their diet are nonfruit items (herbaceous vegetation and tree leaves) that occur at low density and are s ...202032608168
prior experience mediates the usage of food items as tools in great apes (pan paniscus, pan troglodytes, gorilla gorilla, and pongo abelii).humans use tools with specific functions to solve tasks more efficiently. however, functional specialization often comes at a cost: it can hinder the production of actions that are not usually performed with those tools, thus resulting in a fixation effect (functional fixedness). little is known about whether our closest living relatives, the nonhuman great apes, are vulnerable to this detrimental effect of experience. we examined whether great apes from 4 species (n = 35) would become fixated o ...202032463250
allostatic load indices with cholesterol and triglycerides predict disease and mortality risk in zoo-housed western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).allostatic load, or the physiological dysregulation accumulated due to senescence and stress, is an established predictor of human morbidity and mortality and has been proposed as a tool for monitoring health and welfare in captive wildlife. it is estimated by combining biomarkers from multiple somatic systems into allostatic load indices (alis), providing a score representing overall physiological dysregulation. such alis have been shown to predict disease and mortality risk in western lowland ...202032425494
same space, different species: the influence of exhibit design on the expression of zoo-housed apes' species-typical retiring behaviors.wild chimpanzees frequently make arboreal nests, while wild lowland gorillas typically nest on the ground. we aimed to understand whether zoo-housed apes' use of elevated spaces for retiring similarly differed between species and across exhibits. using a pre-planned exhibit switch at lincoln park zoo (chicago, usa), we compared where (elevated or terrestrial) two groups of apes (pan troglodytes and gorilla gorilla gorilla) performed retiring behaviors (inactive, sleeping, and nest-building behav ...202032408572
variation in behavioral traits of two frugivorous mammals may lead to differential responses to human disturbance.human activities can lead to a shift in wildlife species' spatial distribution. understanding the specific effects of human activities on ranging behavior can improve conservation management of wildlife populations in human-dominated landscapes. this study evaluated the effects of forest use by humans on the spatial distribution of mammal species with different behavioral adaptations, using sympatric western lowland gorilla and central chimpanzee as focal species. we collected data on great ape ...202032313637
food preference and nutrient composition in captive bonobos (pan paniscus).food preference has been studied in a range of hominoidea in the wild and in captivity, allowing for interspecific comparisons. chimpanzees (pan troglodytes) and gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) prefer low-fibre, high-sugar foods, suggesting that frugivory and their dietary overlap are a result of their shared preference for the same nutrients. comparable tests of the nutritional preference of bonobos do not exist. in this study we examined food preferences of five captive bonobos for 23 famil ...202032246408
testing a method to improve predictions of disease and mortality risk in western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) using allostatic load.allostatic load is the wear-and-tear organisms accumulate due to senescence and stress; it is measured by combining biomarkers from multiple somatic systems into allostatic load indices (alis). frequently used in human research, alis have shown consistent results across samples despite different biomarkers and methods. however, determining optimal models likely is necessary if alis are to be feasible research tools in other species. herein, we build on prior research in western lowland gorillas ...202032228119
mandibular corpus shape is a taxonomic indicator in extant hominids.the aim of this study is to understand whether the shape of three sub-regions of the mandibular corpus (the alveolar arch, corpus at m1 and posterior symphysis) are useful for making taxonomic assessments at the genus and species levels in extant hominids.202032166734
gorillas' (gorilla g. gorilla) knowledge of conspecifics' affordances: intraspecific social tool use for food acquisition.the use of tools, long thought to be uniquely human, has now been observed in other animal taxa including several species of birds, non-primate mammals as well as some non-human primate species. chimpanzees, one of humankind's closest living relatives, exceed all other non-human animal species as they have been reported to use an exceptionally large toolkit. however, relatively little is known about the tool-use skills of the other great ape species. while the majority of tools described are ina ...202032166437
western gorilla space use suggests territoriality.the evolutionary origins of how modern humans share and use space are often modelled on the territorial-based violence of chimpanzees, with limited comparison to other apes. gorillas are widely assumed to be non-territorial due to their large home ranges, extensive range overlap, and limited inter-group aggression. using large-scale camera trapping, we monitored western gorillas in republic of congo across 60 km2. avoidance patterns between groups were consistent with an understanding of the "ow ...202032165643
video-mediated behavior in gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla): a stage in the development of self-recognition in a juvenile male?the anomalous position of gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) in the capacity for self-recognition remains puzzling. the standard measure of self-recognition is gallup's (1970) mark test that assesses an individual's ability to recognize its altered image in a mirror following the application of paint marks to visually inaccessible areas. here, the results of a small-scale pilot study are presented, utilizing video playback through a tv monitor, to examine behavioral differences indicative of dev ...202032162933
spatial cognition in western gorillas (gorilla gorilla): an analysis of distance, linearity, and speed of travel routes.spatial memory allows animals to retain information regarding the location, distribution, and quality of feeding sites to optimize foraging decisions. western gorillas inhabit a complex environment with spatiotemporal fluctuations of resource availability, prefer fruits when available, and travel long distances to reach them. here, we examined movement patterns-such as linearity, distance, and speed of traveling-to assess whether gorillas optimize travel when reaching out-of-sight valued resourc ...202032060749
no evidence of what-where-when memory in great apes (pan troglodytes, pan paniscus, pongo abelii, and gorilla gorilla).episodic memory is the ability to recollect specific past events belonging to our personal experience, and it is one of the most crucial human abilities, allowing us to mentally travel through time. in animals, however, evidence of what-where-when memory (hereafter, www memory) is limited to very few taxa, mostly reflecting the socioecological challenges faced in their environment. in this article, we aimed to replicate 2 studies previously conducted on birds and primates to find convincing evid ...202032052981
perceptions and behaviors of indigenous populations regarding illegal use of protected area resources in east africa's mountain gorilla landscape.illegal activities and use of park resources are the main challenges facing mountain gorilla (gorilla beringei beringei) conservation and the protection of their habitats in the east africa's greater virunga transboundary landscape (gvtl). indigenous residents around gvtl are considered the primary illegal users of park resources. despite this, there is limited understanding of the current and past perceptions of indigenous residents living in communities adjacent to two gvtl parks; volcanoes na ...202031938874
brief communication: maximum ingested bite size in captive western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).previously, we found that maximum ingested bite size (vb ), the largest piece of food an animal can consume without biting it into smaller pieces first, isometrically scales relative to body size in strepsirrhines and with negative allometry in anthropoids. in the current study, we rectify the omission of great apes from the earlier sample to now characterize the vb of the entire size-range of the order.202031912896
the context of chest beating and hand clapping in wild western gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).loud auditory gestures that are produced by repetitively percussing body parts are rare in primate repertoires and have been mostly observed in captive settings. gorillas produce two of the most conspicuous long-range signals of this type: chest beating and hand clapping. here we present the first systematic analysis of chest beating (n = 63) and hand clapping (n = 88) in wild western gorillas to assess the behavioral contexts in which they emerged, the flexibility of their use, and the age-sex ...202031894436
trabecular architecture of the capitate and third metacarpal through ontogeny in chimpanzees (pan troglodytes) and gorillas (gorilla gorilla).chimpanzees (pan troglodytes) and gorillas (gorilla gorilla) both knuckle-walk in adulthood but are known to develop their locomotor strategies differently. using dentally defined age-groups of both pan and gorilla and behavioral data from the literature, this study presents an internal trabecular bone approach to better understand the morphological ontogeny of knuckle-walking in these taxa. capitate and third metacarpal bones were scanned by μct at 23-43 μm resolution with scaled volumes of int ...202031805487
trabecular variation in the first metacarpal and manipulation in hominids.the dexterity of fossil hominins is often inferred by assessing the comparative manual anatomy and behaviors of extant hominids, with a focus on the thumb. the aim of this study is to test whether trabecular structure is consistent with what is currently known about habitually loaded thumb postures across extant hominids.202031762017
evaluating changes in salivary oxytocin and cortisol following positive reinforcement training in two adult male western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).positive reinforcement training (prt) is associated with increases in species-typical behavior and decreases in stereotypic and abnormal behavior in participating animals. physiological changes following prt, for example, increases in oxytocin (oxt) and/or decreases in cortisol (cort), may facilitate these behavioral changes. this study evaluated salivary oxt and salivary cort concentrations in two adult male western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) following prt with their primary ani ...202031746026
reaction to allospecific death and to an unanimated gorilla infant in wild western gorillas: insights into death recognition and prolonged maternal carrying.it is still unclear to what extent animals possess knowledge of death. primates display a large variety and often contradictory behaviors toward conspecific corpses, particularly those of infants (e.g., prolonged carrying and care). this study reports on reactions in a wild, habituated western gorilla group (gorilla gorilla, 11-13 individuals) in the central african republic to an unanimated conspecific infant, and to an allospecific corpse. individuals' reactions were compared to their usual be ...202031444648
parasitic infections in african humans and non-human primates.different protozoa and metazoa have been detected in great apes, monkeys and humans with possible interspecies exchanges. some are either nonpathogenic or their detrimental effects on the host are not yet known. others lead to serious diseases that can even be fatal. their survey remains of great importance for public health and animal conservation. fecal samples from gorillas (gorilla gorilla) and humans living in same area in the republic of congo, chimpanzees (pan troglodytes) from senegal an ...202032664573
adenovirus infections in african humans and wild non-human primates: great diversity and cross-species transmission.non-human primates (nhps) are known hosts for adenoviruses (advs), so there is the possibility of the zoonotic or cross-species transmission of advs. as with humans, adv infections in animals can cause diseases that range from asymptomatic to fatal. the aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and diversity of advs in: (i) fecal samples of apes and monkeys from different african countries (republic of congo, senegal, djibouti and algeria), (ii) stool of humans living near gorillas in ...202032570742
total eclipse of the zoo: animal behavior during a total solar eclipse.the infrequency of a total solar eclipse renders the event novel to those animals that experience its effects and, consequently, may induce anomalous behavioral responses. however, historical information on the responses of animals to eclipses is scant and often conflicting. in this study, we qualitatively document the responses of 17 vertebrate taxa (including mammals, birds, and reptiles) to the 2017 total solar eclipse as it passed over riverbanks zoo and garden in columbia, south carolina. i ...202032244374
comparative performance of orangutans (pongo spp.), gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla), and drills (mandrillus leucophaeus), in an ephemeral foraging task.a goal of the comparative approach is to test a variety of species on the same task. here, we examined whether the factors that helped capuchin monkeys improve their performance in a dichotomous choice task would generalize to three other primate species: orangutans, gorillas, and drill monkeys. in this task, subjects have access to two options, each resulting in an identical food, but one (the ephemeral option) is only available if it is chosen first, whereas the other one (the permanent option ...202033135209
competition, seed dispersal and hunting: what drives germination and seedling survival in an afrotropical forest?disentangling the contributions of different processes that influence plant recruitment, such as competition and seed dispersal, is important given the increased human-mediated changes in tropical forest ecosystems. previous studies have shown that seedling communities in an afrotropical rainforest in southeastern nigeria are strongly affected by the loss of important seed-dispersing primates, including cross river gorillas (gorilla gorilla diehli), chimpanzee (pan troglodytes elioti) and drill ...201931024680
refining the ecological brain: strong relation between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and feeding ecology in five primate species.to survive in complex and seasonal environments, primates are thought to rely upon cognitive capacities such as decision-making and episodic memory, which enable them to plan their daily foraging path. according to the ecological brain hypothesis, feeding ecology has driven the expansion of the brain to support the corresponding development of cognitive skills. recent works in cognitive neurosciences indicate that cognitive operations such as decision-making or subjective evaluation (which are c ...201931030897
lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) failed to respond to others' yawn: experimental and naturalistic evidence.yawn contagion, possibly a form of emotional contagion, occurs when a subject yawns in response to others' yawns. yawn contagion has been reported in humans, chimpanzees, bonobos, geladas, wolves, and dogs. in these species, individuals form strong, long-term relationships and yawn contagion is highest between closely bonded individuals. this study focuses on the possible expression of yawn contagion in western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla). gorillas share with geladas a similar bas ...201930896230
diversity and temporal dynamics of primate milk microbiomes.milk is inhabited by a community of bacteria and is one of the first postnatal sources of microbial exposure for mammalian young. bacteria in breast milk may enhance immune development, improve intestinal health, and stimulate the gut-brain axis for infants. variation in milk microbiome structure (e.g., operational taxonomic unit [otu] diversity, community composition) may lead to different infant developmental outcomes. milk microbiome structure may depend on evolutionary processes acting at th ...201931219214
monkeys (sapajus apella and macaca tonkeana) and great apes (gorilla gorilla, pongo abelii, pan paniscus, and pan troglodytes) play for the highest bid.many studies investigate the decisions made by animals by focusing on their attitudes toward risk, that is, risk-seeking, risk neutrality, or risk aversion. however, little attention has been paid to the extent to which individuals understand the different odds of outcomes. in a previous gambling task involving 18 different lotteries (pelé, broihanne, thierry, call, & dufour, 2014), nonhuman primates used probabilities of gains and losses to make their decision. although the use of complex mathe ...201930589294
serological diagnosis of baylisascaris procyonis in primates using a human elisa test.the usefulness of a human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) for serological diagnosis of baylisascaris procyonis larva migrans was assessed in nonhuman primates (nhp). the test was originally developed as an assay performed on human samples at purdue university. six participating zoos submitted 258 nhp serum samples, spanning these major phylogenetic groups: 1) great apes (n = 84), 2) lesser apes (n = 17), 3) old world monkeys (n = 84), 4) new world monkeys (n = 20), and 5) prosimians (n ...201931260208
detection of hepatitis e virus antibodies among cercopithecidae and hominidae monkeys in cameroon.we screened hepatitis e from 15 species of non-human primates. anti-hev igg was detected in 11.1% (1/9) mandrillus sphinx, 14.3% (2/14) gorilla gorilla, 5.9% (4/67) pan troglodytes and 8.7% (2/23) mandrillus leucophaeus, whereas anti-hev igm was detected in 1.5% (1/18) papio anubis, 28.6% (2/7) cercocebus agilis and 1.5% (1/67) pan troglodyte.201931179536
empirical selection between least-cost and current-flow designs for establishing wildlife corridors in gabon.corridors are intended to increase species survival by abating landscape fragmentation resulting from the conversion of natural habitats into human-dominated matrices. conservation scientists often rely on 1 type of corridor model, typically the least-cost model or current-flow model, to construct a linkage design, and their choice is not usually based on theory or empirical evidence. we developed a method to empirically confirm whether corridors produced by these 2 models are used by target spe ...201930022531
high-tech and tactile: cognitive enrichment for zoo-housed gorillas.the field of environmental enrichment for zoo animals, particularly great apes, has been revived by technological advancements such as touchscreen interfaces and motion sensors. however, direct animal-computer interaction (aci) is impractical or undesirable for many zoos. we developed a modular cuboid puzzle maze for the troop of six western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) at bristol zoo gardens, united kingdom. the gorillas could use their fingers or tools to interact with interconne ...201931354581
cardiac disease is linked to adiposity in male gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).cardiac disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality for adult gorillas. previous research indicates a sex-based difference with predominantly males demonstrating evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy. to evaluate these findings, we analyzed serum markers with cardiac measures in a large sample of gorillas. the study sample included 44 male and 25 female gorillas housed at american association of zoo and aquariums (aza)-accredited zoos. serum samples were collected from fasted gorillas ...201931242268
three-dimensional geometric morphometric analysis of the distal radius insertion sites of the palmar radiocarpal ligaments in hominoid primates.to identify anatomic differences in the insertion sites of the palmar radiocarpal ligaments in different species of hominoid primates that may be related to their different types of locomotion.201931215639
mapping gastrointestinal gene expression patterns in wild primates and humans via fecal rna-seq.limited accessibility to intestinal epithelial tissue in wild animals and humans makes it challenging to study patterns of intestinal gene regulation, and hence to monitor physiological status and health in field conditions. to explore solutions to this limitation, we have used a noninvasive approach via fecal rna-seq, for the quantification of gene expression markers in gastrointestinal cells of free-range primates and a forager human population. thus, a combination of poly(a) mrna enrichment a ...201931200636
a mathematical landmark-based method for measuring worn molars in hominoid systematics.worn teeth pose a major limitation to researchers in the fields of extinct and extant hominoid systematics because they lack clearly identifiable anatomical landmarks needed to take measurements on the crown enamel surface and are typically discarded from a study. this is particularly detrimental when sample sizes for some groups are already characteristically low, if there is an imbalance between samples representing populations, sexes or dietary strategies, or if the worn teeth in question are ...201931198638
disease avoidance, and breeding group age and size condition the dispersal patterns of western lowland gorilla females.social dispersal is an important feature of population dynamics. when female mammals occur in polygynous groups, their dispersal decisions are conditioned by various female-, male-, and group-related factors. among them, the influence of disease often remains difficult to assess. to address this challenge, we used long-term monitoring data from two gorilla populations (gorilla gorilla gorilla) affected by infectious skin disease lesions. after controlling for other potentially influential factor ...201931188468
first metatarsal trabecular bone structure in extant hominoids and swartkrans hominins.changes in first metatarsal (mt1) morphology within the hominin clade are crucial for reconstructing the evolution of a forefoot adapted for human-like gait. studies of the external morphology of the mt1 in humans, non-human apes, and fossil hominins have documented changes in its robusticity, epiphyseal shape and its articulation with the medial cuneiform. here, we test whether trabecular structure in the mt1 reflects different loading patterns in the forefoot across extant large apes and human ...201931182196
alveolar echinococcosis in western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla): albendazole was not able to stop progression of the disease.echinococcus multilocularis is the etiologic agent of alveolar echinococcosis (ae), a severe and potentially fatal larval cestode infection primarily affecting the liver. ae is known to occur in dead-end intermediate hosts, including humans and nonhuman primates. between 1999 and 2016, ae was diagnosed in seven western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla), all from a swiss zoo. six gorillas died of the disease. one individual is still alive, receives continuous albendazole medication, and ...201931120685
metacarpal trabecular bone varies with distinct hand-positions used in hominid locomotion.trabecular bone remodels during life in response to loading and thus should, at least in part, reflect potential variation in the magnitude, frequency and direction of joint loading across different hominid species. here we analyse the trabecular structure across all non-pollical metacarpal distal heads (mc2-5) in extant great apes, expanding on previous volume of interest and whole-epiphysis analyses that have largely focused on only the first or third metacarpal. specifically, we employ both a ...201931099419
comparative chemical analysis of body odor in great apes.olfaction is important across the animal kingdom for transferring information on, for example, species, sex, group membership, or reproductive parameters. its relevance has been established in primates including humans, yet research on great apes still is fragmentary. observational evidence indicates that great apes use their sense of smell in various contexts, but the information content of their body odor has not been analyzed. our aim was therefore to compare the chemical composition of body ...201931094019
the distribution of plant consumption traits across habitat types and the patterns of fruit availability suggest a mechanism of coexistence of two sympatric frugivorous mammals.understanding the mechanisms governing the coexistence of organisms is an important question in ecology, and providing potential solutions contributes to conservation science. in this study, we evaluated the contribution of several mechanisms to the coexistence of two sympatric frugivores, using western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) and central chimpanzees (pan troglodytes troglodytes) in a tropical rainforest of southeast cameroon as a model system. we collected great ape fecal sam ...201931031921
gut microbiome composition of wild western lowland gorillas is associated with individual age and sex factors.environmental and ecological factors, such as geographic range, anthropogenic pressure, group identity, and feeding behavior are known to influence the gastrointestinal microbiomes of great apes. however, the influence of individual host traits such as age and sex, given specific dietary and social constraints, has been less studied. the objective of this investigation was to determine the associations between an individual's age and sex on the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome in ...201931025322
genomic analyses of bifidobacterium moukalabense reveal adaptations to frugivore/folivore feeding behavior.despite the essential role of bifidobacterium in health-promoting gut bacteria in humans, little is known about their functions in wild animals, especially non-human primates. it is difficult to determine in vivo the function of bifidobacterium in wild animals due to the limited accessibility of studying target animals in natural conditions. however, the genomic characteristics of bifidobacterium obtained from the feces of wild animals can provide insight into their functionality in the gut. her ...201930987363
from groups to communities in western lowland gorillas.social networks are the result of interactions between individuals at different temporal scales. thus, sporadic intergroup encounters and individual forays play a central role in defining the dynamics of populations in social species. we assessed the rate of intergroup encounters for three western lowland gorilla ( gorilla gorilla gorilla) groups with daily observations over 5 years, and non-invasively genotyped a larger population over four months. both approaches revealed a social system much ...201930963928
diagnosing cardiovascular disease in western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) with brain natriuretic peptide.cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in zoo-housed great apes, accounting for 41% of adult gorilla death in north american zoological institutions. obtaining a timely and accurate diagnosis of cardiovascular disease in gorillas is challenging, relying on echocardiography which generally requires anesthetic medications that may confound findings and can cause severe side effects in cardiovascularly compromised animals. the measurement of brain natriuretic peptide (bnp) has emerged a ...201930889217
novelty response of wild african apes to camera traps.temperament and personality research in humans and nonhuman animals measures behavioral variation in individual, population, or species-specific traits with implications for survival and fitness, such as social status, foraging, and mating success [1-5]. curiosity and risk-taking tendencies have been studied extensively across taxa by measuring boldness and exploration responses to experimental novelty exposure [3, 4, 6-15]. here, we conduct a natural field experiment using wildlife monitoring t ...201930880013
index hopping on the illumina hiseqx platform and its consequences for ancient dna studies.the high-throughput capacities of the illumina sequencing platforms and the possibility to label samples individually have encouraged wide use of sample multiplexing. however, this practice results in read misassignment (usually <1%) across samples sequenced on the same lane. alarmingly high rates of read misassignment of up to 10% were reported for lllumina sequencing machines with exclusion amplification chemistry. this may make use of these platforms prohibitive, particularly in studies that ...201930848092
hominoid anterior teeth from the late oligocene site of losodok, kenya.kamoyapithecus hamiltoni is a potential early hominoid species described from fragmentary dentognathic specimens from the oligocene site of losodok (turkana basin, northwestern kenya). other catarrhine dental materials have been recovered at losodok, but were not initially included in the kamoyapithecus hypodigm. here we present descriptions of the unpublished canine and incisor specimens from losodok, and revisit the published specimens in light of recent changes in understanding of hominoid an ...201930825982
foraging in a social setting: a comparative analysis of captive gorillas and chimpanzees.this study was designed to investigate the foraging behavior of zoo-housed western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) and compare it with that of zoo-housed chimpanzees (pan trogloydytes) tested previously in a similar paradigm. specifically, we aimed to document how a group of zoo-housed gorillas foraged within a familiar environment to discover novel food sources and whether they sought out more preferred foods, even if they had to travel further to reach them, as they do in the wild. ...201930806863
trabecular architecture of the great ape and human femoral head.studies of femoral trabecular structure have shown that the orientation and volume of bone are associated with variation in loading and could be informative about individual joint positioning during locomotion. in this study, we analyse for the first time trabecular bone patterns throughout the femoral head using a whole-epiphysis approach to investigate how potential trabecular variation in humans and great apes relates to differences in locomotor modes. trabecular architecture was analysed usi ...201930793309
hardly habitual: chimpanzees and gorillas show flexibility in their motor responses when presented with a causally-clear task.in contrast to reports of wild primates, studies of captive primates' flexibility often reveal conservatism: individuals are unable to switch to new and more efficient strategies when task demands change. we propose that such conservatism might be a result of task design and hypothesize that conservatism might be linked to primates' lack of causal understanding in relation to experimental apparatuses. we investigated if chimpanzees (pan troglodytes) and western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla ...201930643700
humeral anatomy of the knm-er 47000 upper limb skeleton from ileret, kenya: implications for taxonomic identification.knm-er 47000 is a fossil hominin upper limb skeleton from the koobi fora formation, kenya (fwjj14e, area 1a) that includes portions of the scapula, humerus, ulna, and hand. dated to ∼1.52 ma, the skeleton could potentially belong to one of multiple hominin species that have been documented in the turkana basin during this time, including homo habilis, homo erectus, and paranthropus boisei. although the skeleton lacks associated craniodental material, the partial humerus (described here) preserve ...201930583842
potential adaptations for bipedalism in the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae of homo sapiens: a 3d comparative analysis.a number of putative adaptations for bipedalism have been identified in the hominin spine. however, it is possible that some have been overlooked because only a few studies have used 3d and these studies have focused on cervical vertebrae. with this in mind, we used geometric morphometric techniques to compare the 3d shapes of three thoracic and two lumbar vertebrae of homo sapiens, pan troglodytes, gorilla gorilla, and pongo pygmaeus. the study had two goals. one was to confirm the existence of ...201931711026
faster growth corresponds with shallower linear hypoplastic defects in great ape canines.deeper or more 'severe' linear enamel hypoplasia (leh) defects are hypothesized to reflect more severe stress during development, but it is not yet clear how depth is influenced by intrinsic enamel growth patterns. recent work documented inter- and intraspecific differences in leh defect depth in extant great apes, with mountain gorillas having shallower defects than other taxa, and females having deeper defects than males. here, we assess the correspondence of inter- and intraspecific defect de ...201931704354
pelvic shape variation among gorilla subspecies: phylogenetic and ecological signals.gorillas occupy habitats that range in elevation from 0 to 3850 m. populations at higher elevations tend to be less arboreal than lowland populations. variation in habitat-specific behaviors among closely related populations makes gorillas a unique model to study the relationship between locomotion and morphology. the pelvis reflects differences in locomotion in other primates, and thus may also reflect locomotor differences among gorillas. we tested the hypothesis that pelvic morphology exhibit ...201931669913
nutritional composition of the diet of the western gorilla (gorilla gorilla): interspecific variation in diet quality.to meet nutritional needs, primates adjust their diets in response to local habitat differences, though whether these dietary modifications translate to changes in dietary nutrient intake is unknown. a previous study of two populations of the mountain gorilla (mg: gorilla beringei) found no evidence for intraspecific variation in the nutrient composition of their diets, despite ecological and dietary differences between sites. one potential explanation is that nutritional variability in primate ...201931463957
the body center of mass in primates: is it more caudal than in other quadrupedal mammals?whole body center of mass (bcom) position values are lacking for a comparative sample of primates. therefore, it still remains unknown whether the bcom in primates is more posteriorly located than in other mammals. the aim of the present report is to provide data for a large sample of primate species and to compare the position of the bcom in primates to non-primate mammals.201930839107
recent decline in vegetative regeneration of bamboo (yushania alpina), a key food plant for primates in volcanoes national park, rwanda.the african montane bamboo yushania alpina provides both habitat and food for many species in the albertine rift region. in volcanoes national park (vnp), rwanda, it is especially important as a key food resource for the endangered mountain gorilla gorilla beringei beringei and endangered golden guenon cercopithecus mitis kandti. we examined temporal and spatial variation in bamboo shoots regeneration and consumption by primates, monitored between 2013 and 2018 in 82 16-m2 plots located along tr ...201931506574
diversity of mammomonogamus (nematoda: syngamidae) in large african herbivores.four species of mammomonogamus are known from large african herbivores. a recent study demonstrated that a single mammomonogamus species was shared by both western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) and african forest elephants (loxodonta cyclotis) in central african republic, suggesting lower species diversity than previously described in literature. we examined more than 500 fecal samples collected from sympatric african forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, and african forest bu ...201829470712
morphological integration in the gorilla, chimpanzee, and human neck.although integration studies are important to understand the evolution of organisms' traits across phylogenies, vertebral integration in primates is still largely unexplored. here we describe and quantify patterns of morphological integration and modularity in the subaxial cervical vertebrae (c3-c7) in extant hominines incorporating the potential influence of size.201829446467
biologically validating the measurement of oxytocin in western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla) urine and saliva using a commercial enzyme immunoassay.the neuroendocrine hormone oxytocin, which is an important physiological driver of social behavior and bonding, is increasingly being measured in conjunction with behavior to better understand primate sociality. however, no data are available on oxytocin concentrations within the genus gorilla, even though the members of this genus are of great interest to researchers due to their close genetic relatedness to humans and their tolerance-based social system. the purpose of this study was to valida ...201829423533
adaptive evolution of rh5 in apeplasmodiumspecies of thelaveraniasubgenus.plasmodium falciparum, the major cause of malaria morbidity and mortality in humans, has been shown to have emerged after cross-species transmission of one of six host-specific parasites (subgenuslaverania) infecting wild chimpanzees (pan troglodytes) and western gorillas (gorilla gorilla). binding of the parasite-encoded ligand rh5 to the host protein basigin is essential for erythrocyte invasion and has been implicated in host specificity. a recent study claimed to have found two amino acid ch ...201829362238
detection of hev-specific antibodies in four non-human primate species, including great apes, from different zoos in germany.the hepatitis e virus (hev) has been described in humans and various animal species in different regions of the world. however, the knowledge on natural hev infection in non-human primates and the corresponding risk of zoonotic transmission is scarce. to determine whether primates in captivity are affected by hev infection, we investigated 259 individual sera of clinically healthy non-human primates of 14 species from nine german zoos. using a commercial double-antigen-sandwich elisa and a comme ...201829168441
noninvasive western lowland gorilla's health monitoring: a decade of simian immunodeficiency virus surveillance in southern cameroon.simian immunodeficiency virus (sivgor) causes persistent infection in critically endangered western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) from west central africa. sivgor is closely related to chimpanzee and human immunodeficiency viruses (sivcpz and hiv-1, respectively). we established a noninvasive method that does not interfere with gorillas' natural behaviour to provide wildlife pathogen surveillance and health monitoring for conservation. a total of 1,665 geo-referenced fecal samples w ...201830519399
recycling 115,369 mobile phones for gorilla conservation over a six-year period (2009-2014) at zoos victoria: a case study of 'points of influence' and mobile phone donations.more than seven billion mobile phones are estimated to be in service globally, with more than a billion older phones likely to be retired. a major barrier to a sustainable circular economy for mobile phones is people's hoarding of their retired phones. old mobile phones may be refurbished for re-use or ultimately dismantled for possible extraction of elements, including 'conflict' metals such as coltan (containing elements tantalum and niobium), mined in eastern democratic republic of congo and ...201830517131
behavioral changes following alterations in the composition of a captive bachelor group of western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) in zoos are housed in family or bachelor groups to maximize social opportunities. while wild bachelor groups are transient, all-male groups in zoos may be maintained for many years. captive bachelor groups need to be carefully monitored, particularly during periods of demographic transition, due to the possibility for escalating aggression. we examined behavioral changes in a bachelor group at the saint louis zoo following two significant altera ...201830371940
variation in the social organization of gorillas: life history and socioecological perspectives.a focus of socioecological research is to understand how ecological, social, and life history factors influence the variability of social organization within and between species. the genus gorilla exhibits variability in social organization with western gorilla groups being almost exclusively one-male, yet approximately 40% of mountain gorilla groups are multimale. we review five ultimate causes for the variability in social organization within and among gorilla populations: human disturbance, e ...201830325554
an unexpected diversity of trypanosomatids in fecal samples of great apes.charismatic great apes have been used widely and effectively as flagship species in conservation campaigns for decades. these iconic representatives of their ecosystems could also play a role as reservoirs of several zoonotic diseases. recently it was demonstrated that african great apes can host leishmania parasites (kinetoplastea: trypanosomatidae). given that this finding raised a strong negative reaction from leishmania experts and the subsequent discussion did not lead to a clear resolution ...201830225193
long bone diaphyseal shape follows different ontogenetic trajectories in captive and wild gorillas.a number of studies have demonstrated the ontogenetic plasticity of long bone diaphyseal structure in response to mechanical loading. captivity should affect mechanical loading of the limbs, but whether captive apes grow differently than wild apes has been debated. here, we compare captive and wild juvenile and adult gorilla to ascertain whether growth trajectories in cross-sectional diaphyseal shape are similar in the two environments.201830159891
characteristics of gorilla-specific lactobacillus isolated from captive and wild gorillas.lactic acid bacteria (lab) reside in a wide range of mammals, such as autochthonous intestinal bacteria. in this paper, we present the phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics of gorilla-specific lab. lactobacillus gorillae-previously isolated from the wild and captive western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla)-were successfully isolated from wild mountain gorillas (gorilla gorilla beringei) in addition to other captive and wild western lowland gorillas. the strains from wild gorillas ...201830110987
validating the use of a commercial enzyme immunoassay to measure oxytocin in unextracted urine and saliva of the western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla).the neuroendocrine hormone oxytocin, which is an important physiological driver of social behavior and bonding, is increasingly being measured in conjunction with behavior to better understand primate sociality. to date no data are available on oxytocin concentrations within the genus gorilla; however, as a result of their close genetic relatedness to humans, and tolerance-based social system, gorilla represents an important group of study. the purpose of this study was to validate the measureme ...201830030689
why human environments enhance animal capacities to use objects: evidence from keas (nestor notabilis) and apes (gorilla gorilla, pan paniscus, pongo abelii, pongo pygmaeus).formal training programs, which can be called education, enhance cognition in human and nonhuman animals alike. however, even informal exposure to human contact in human environments can enhance cognition. we review selected literature to compare animals' behavior with objects among keas and great apes, the taxa that best allow systematic comparison of the behavior of wild animals with that of those in human environments such as homes, zoos, and rehabilitation centers. in all cases, we find that ...201830024236
long-term group membership and dynamics in a wild western lowland gorilla population (gorilla gorilla gorilla) inferred using non-invasive genetics.the social organization of a group-living animal is defined by a balance between group dynamic events such as group formation, group dissolution, and dispersal events and group stability in membership and over time. understanding these processes, which are relevant for questions ranging from disease transmission patterns to the evolution of polygyny, requires long-term monitoring of multiple social units over time. because all great ape species are long-lived and elusive, the number of studies o ...201830024040
trabecular bone patterning in the hominoid distal femur.in addition to external bone shape and cortical bone thickness and distribution, the distribution and orientation of internal trabecular bone across individuals and species has yielded important functional information on how bone adapts in response to load. in particular, trabecular bone analysis has played a key role in studies of human and nonhuman primate locomotion and has shown that species with different locomotor repertoires display distinct trabecular architecture in various regions of t ...201830002981
management of respiratory complications in a western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla) born by cesarean section.a female western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla) infant was delivered by cesarean section (c-section) to an 18-year-old primiparous dam after prolonged labor. the infant required resuscitation at birth and was hospitalized for management of pneumonia and associated respiratory distress secondary to the aspiration of meconium-stained amniotic fluid. the infant received nine days of intensive care with respiratory support, antibiotics, intravenous fluid therapy, anti-inflammatory drugs, ...201829974496
trajectory analysis among african hominoids can provide insights into genetic and epigenetic influences during ontogeny.prior examination of the ontogeny of hominoid talo-crural joint morphology using singular warp analysis suggested both a genetic and epigenetic signal during development. this question is examined using trajectory analysis and its implications for the hominin fossil record explored.201829968909
visceral leishmaniasis in an infant gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla): clinical signs, diagnosis, and successful treatment with single-dose liposomal amphotericin b.a 2-year-old captive gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla) was diagnosed with visceral leishmaniasis in brazil, and treated with a single dose of liposomal amphotericin b, which resulted in clinical cure. this is the first report of visceral leishmaniasis in gorillas, and the first reported liposomal amphotericin b treatment in great apes.201829956831
comparing the sniffing behavior of great apes.the importance of smell in humans is well established but we know little about it in regard to our closest relatives, the great apes, as systematic studies on their olfactory behavior are still lacking. olfaction has long been considered to be of lesser importance in hominids given their relatively smaller olfactory bulbs, fewer functional olfactory receptor genes than other species and absence of a functional vomeronasal organ. therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the use of olfacti ...201829756687
stillbirth rates across three ape species in accredited american zoos.stillbirths, or births of infants that died in the womb, represent a failure of the materno-feto-placental unit to maintain a suitable fetal environment. typical studies of nonhuman primate (nhp) stillbirth patterns are primarily descriptive and focus on macaques (genus macaca). thus, less is known about other nhp species and rarer still are studies that examine possible biological factors that influence stillbirth rates across taxa. to examine possible contributors to stillbirths in great apes, ...201829756650
the first multi-zoo application of an allostatic load index to western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).vertebrate stress responses are highly adaptive biological functions, maximizing survival probability in life-threatening situations. however, experiencing repeated and/or chronic stressors can generate physiological dysregulation and lead to disease. because stress responses are multi-systemic and involve a wide range of physiological functions, identifying responses to stressors is best accomplished using integrated biomarker models. allostatic load, defined as the physiological dysregulation ...201829746855
spatial representation of magnitude in humans (homo sapiens), western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla), and american black bears (ursus americanus).the spatial-numerical association of response codes (snarc) effect is the tendency for humans to respond faster to relatively larger numbers on the left or right (or with the left or right hand) and faster to relatively smaller numbers on the other side. this effect seems to occur due to a spatial representation of magnitude either in occurrence with a number line (wherein participants respond to relatively larger numbers faster on the right), other representations such as clock faces (responses ...201829728786
the interplay of prior experience and motivation in great ape problem-solving (gorilla gorilla, pan paniscus, pan troglodytes, and pongo abelii).many primate species have a strong disposition to approach and manipulate objects in captivity. however, few studies have investigated what primates learn during free exploration of objects in the absence of rewards, and how previous problem-solving performance influences subsequent exploration. we confronted members of each of the four nonhuman great ape species (n = 25) with the collapsible platform task that required subjects to drop a stone inside a tube to collapse a platform and release a ...201829708360
guns, germs, and trees determine density and distribution of gorillas and chimpanzees in western equatorial africa.we present a range-wide assessment of sympatric western lowland gorillas gorilla gorilla gorilla and central chimpanzees pan troglodytes troglodytes using the largest survey data set ever assembled for these taxa: 59 sites in five countries surveyed between 2003 and 2013, totaling 61,000 person-days of fieldwork. we used spatial modeling to investigate major drivers of great ape distribution and population trends. we predicted density across each taxon's geographic range, allowing us to estimate ...201829707637
dialium seed coprophagy in wild western gorillas: multiple nutritional benefits and toxicity reduction hypotheses.unraveling the relationship between the unusual feeding behaviors and the nutritional intake of endangered species may provide crucial information for understanding species response to habitat unpredictable changes. primates occasionally re-ingest fruit seeds alongside ingestion of feces, a behavior called coprophagy. the nutritional benefit is one of the several non-mutual exclusive hypotheses proposed to explain this behavior. we investigated the ecological correlates of coprophagy in wild wes ...201829664132
differences in play can illuminate differences in affiliation: a comparative study on chimpanzees and gorillas.play behaviour reinforces social affiliation in several primate species, including humans. via a comparative approach, we tested the hypothesis that play dynamics in a group of lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) are different from those in a group of chimpanzees (pan troglodytes) as a reflection of their difference in social affiliation and agonistic support. we selected one group of lowland gorillas and one of chimpanzees, hosted at the zooparc de beauval (france), managed in a similar ...201829513696
expression of concern: biologically validating the measurement of oxytocin in western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla) urine and saliva using a commercial enzyme immunoassay. 201829502326
great ape walking kinematics: implications for hominoid evolution.great apes provide a point of reference for understanding the evolution of locomotion in hominoids and early hominins. we assessed (1) the extent to which great apes use diagonal sequence, diagonal couplet gaits, like other primates, (2) the extent to which gait and posture vary across great apes, and (3) the role of body mass and limb proportions on ape quadrupedal kinematics.201829313896
population-level assessment of genetic diversity and habitat fragmentation in critically endangered grauer's gorillas.the critically endangered grauer's gorilla (gorilla beringei graueri) has experienced an estimated 77% population decline within a single generation. although crucial for informed conservation decisions, there is no clear understanding about population structure and distribution of genetic diversity across the species' highly fragmented range. we fill this gap by studying several core and peripheral grauer's gorilla populations throughout their distribution range.201829313894
body signals used during social play in captive immature western lowland gorillas.the play face is a well-established play signal in nonhuman primates that functions to invite play and convey a playful intent. however, recent evidence indicates that some species display repertoires of play signals that may have more specific meanings related to particular aspects of play. furthermore, previous studies have inconsistently categorized gorilla behaviors as play signals versus actual play. here we aim to identify behaviors displayed by two immature captive western lowland gorilla ...201829280023
impact of stress on the gut microbiome of free-ranging western lowland gorillas.exposure to stressors can negatively impact the mammalian gastrointestinal microbiome (gim). here, we used 454 pyrosequencing of 16s rrna bacterial gene amplicons to evaluate the impact of physiological stress, as evidenced by faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fgcm; ng/g), on the gim composition of free-ranging western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla). although we found no relationship between gim alpha diversity (h) and fgcm levels, we observed a significant relationship between the ...201829205130
high order formation and evolution of hornerin in primates.genomic duplication or loss can accelerate evolution because the number of repeats could affect molecular pathways and phenotypes. we have previously reported that the repeated region of filaggrin (flg), a crucial component of the outer layers of mammalian skin, had high levels of nucleotide diversity with species-specific divergence and expansion and that it evolved under the birth-and-death model. we focused on hornerin (hrnr), a member of the same gene family that harbor similar tandem repeat ...201830256937
food cleaning in gorillas: social learning is a possibility but not a necessity.food cleaning is widespread in the animal kingdom, and a recent report confirmed that (amongst other behaviours) wild western lowland gorillas also show food cleaning. the authors of this report conclude that this behaviour, based on its distribution patterns, constitutes a potential candidate for culture. while different conceptualisations of culture exist, some more and some less reliant on behavioural form copying, all of them assign a special role to social learning processes in explaining p ...201729200437
extant ape dental topography and its implications for reconstructing the emergence of early homo.dental topography reflects diet accurately in several extant and extinct mammalian clades. however, dental topographic dietary reconstructions have high success rates only when closely related taxa are compared. given the dietary breadth that exists among extant apes and likely existed among fossil hominins, dental topographic values from many species and subspecies of great apes are necessary for making dietary inferences about the hominin fossil record. here, we present the results of one metr ...201729037413
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