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the birth of an infant decreases group spacing in a zoo-housed lowland gorilla group (gorilla gorilla gorilla).changes in group composition can alter the behavior of social animals such as gorillas. although gorilla births are presumed to affect group spacing patterns, there is relatively little data about how these events affect gorilla group cohesion. we investigated how members of a western lowland gorilla group (n = 6) at lincoln park zoo (chicago, il, usa) spaced themselves prior to and after the birth of an infant, to investigate changes in group cohesion. gorillas were housed in an indoor-outdoor ...201425130595
fatty acids in mountain gorilla diets: implications for primate nutrition and health.little is known about the fatty acid composition of foods eaten by wild primates. a total of 18 staple foods that comprise 97% of the annual dietary intake of the mountain gorilla (gorilla beringei) were analyzed for fatty acid concentrations. fruits and herbaceous leaves comprise the majority of the diet, with fruits generally having a higher mean percentage of fat (of dry matter; dm), as measured by ether extract (ee), than herbaceous leaves (13.0% ± sd 13.0% vs. 2.3 ± sd 0.8%). the mean daily ...201424243235
tooth cusp sharpness as a dietary correlate in great apes.mammalian molars have undergone heavy scrutiny to determine correlates between morphology and diet. here, the relationship between one aspect of occlusal morphology, tooth cusp radius of curvature (roc), and two broad dietary categories, folivory and frugivory, is analyzed in apes. the author hypothesizes that there is a relationship between tooth cusp roc and diet, and that folivores have sharper teeth than frugivores, and further test the correlation between tooth cusp roc and tooth cusp size. ...201424227163
monitoring ovarian cycle activity via progestagens in urine and feces of female mountain gorillas: a comparison of eia and lc-ms measurements.understanding the reproductive biology of endangered mountain gorillas (gorilla beringei beringei) is essential for optimizing conservation strategies, determining any demographic impact of socioecological changes, and providing information for comparative studies of primates. non-invasive techniques have been used to assess the reproductive function of many primates and the importance of validating the measurements of hormones metabolites is widely recognized because they may vary even within c ...201424123105
variable temporoinsular cortex neuroanatomy in primates suggests a bottleneck effect in eastern gorillas.we describe an atypical neuroanatomical feature present in several primate species that involves a fusion between the temporal lobe (often including heschl's gyrus in great apes) and the posterior dorsal insula, such that a portion of insular cortex forms an isolated pocket medial to the sylvian fissure. we assessed the frequency of this fusion in 56 primate species (including apes, old world monkeys, new world monkeys, and strepsirrhines) by using either magnetic resonance images or histologica ...201423939630
non-contiguous finished genome sequence and description of gorillibacterium massiliense gen. nov, sp. nov., a new member of the family paenibacillaceae.strain g5(t) gen. nov., sp. nov. is the type strain of gorillibacterium massiliense, a newly proposed genus within the family paenibacillaceae. this strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated in france from a stool sample of a wild gorilla gorilla subsp. gorilla from cameroon. g. massiliense is a facultatively anaerobic, gram negative rod. here we describe the features of this bacterium, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. the 5,546,433 bp long genome (1 chromoso ...201425197465
the interpretive power of infraorbital foramen area in making dietary inferences in extant apes.the infraorbital foramen (iof) is located below the orbit and transmits the sensory infraorbital nerve (ion) to mechanoreceptors located throughout the maxillary region. the size of the iof correlates with the size of the ion; thus, the iof appears to indicate relative touch sensitivity of maxillary region. in primates, iof size correlates well with diet. frugivores have relatively larger iofs than folivores or insectivores because fruit handling/processing requires increased touch sensitivity. ...201424898102
molecular characterization, tissue expression profile and snp analysis of the porcine nr1h4 gene.nuclear receptor subfamily 1, group h, member 4 (nr1h4) is a receptor for bile acids and has an important role in regulating energy metabolism in liver, muscle and adipose tissues in humans and animals. in this study, we cloned the full coding region of nr1h4 gene from porcine longissimus dorsi by rapid amplification of cdna end (race). results indicated that the open reading frame of nr1h4 covered 1461 bp encoding 486 amino acid residues and the deduced amino acid sequence was 91-94 % identical ...201425034892
fecal microbial diversity and putative function in captive western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla), common chimpanzees (pan troglodytes), hamadryas baboons (papio hamadryas) and binturongs (arctictis binturong).microbial populations in the gastrointestinal tract contribute to host health and nutrition. although gut microbial ecology is well studied in livestock and domestic animals, little is known of the endogenous populations inhabiting primates or carnivora. we characterized microbial populations in fecal cultures from gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla), common chimpanzees (pan troglodytes), hamadryas baboons (papio hamadryas) and binturongs (arctictis binturong) to compare the microbiomes associate ...201425236539
looking in apes as a source of human pathogens.because of the close genetic relatedness between apes and humans, apes are susceptible to many human infectious agents and can serve as carriers of these pathogens. consequently, they present a serious health hazard to humans. moreover, many emerging infectious diseases originate in wildlife and continue to threaten human populations, especially vector-borne diseases described in great apes, such as malaria and rickettsiosis. these wild primates may be permanent reservoirs and important sources ...201425220240
in vivo cellular tropism of gorilla simian foamy virus in blood of infected humans.simian foamy viruses (sfv) are retroviruses that are widespread among nonhuman primates. sfv can be transmitted to humans, giving rise to a persistent infection. only a few data are available concerning the distribution of sfv in human blood cells. here we purified blood mononuclear cell subsets from 11 individuals infected with a gorilla gorilla sfv strain and quantified sfv dna levels by quantitative pcr. sfv dna was detected in the majority of the cd8(+), cd4(+), and cd19(+) lymphocyte sample ...201425210185
human herpes simplex virus type 1 in confiscated gorilla.in 2007, we detected human herpes simplex virus type 1, which caused stomatitis, in a juvenile confiscated eastern lowland gorilla (gorilla beringei graueri) that had a high degree of direct contact with human caretakers. our findings confirm that pathogens can transfer between nonhuman primate hosts and humans.201425341185
african great apes are naturally infected with roseoloviruses closely related to human herpesvirus 7.primates are naturally infected with herpesviruses. during the last 15 years, the search for homologues of human herpesviruses in nonhuman primates allowed the identification of numerous viruses belonging to the different herpesvirus subfamilies and genera. no simian homologue of human herpesvirus 7 (hhv7) has been reported to date. to investigate the putative existence of hhv7-like viruses in african great apes, we applied the consensus-degenerate hybrid oligonucleotide primers (codehop) progra ...201425187544
hemorrhagic colitis associated with salmonella enterica serotype infantis infection in a captive western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla) in brazil.enteric diseases are among the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in gorillas, and it is often caused by bacteria.201424359673
lactobacillus gorillae sp. nov., isolated from the faeces of captive and wild western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).four strains of gram-staining-positive, anaerobic rods were isolated from the faeces of western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla). three strains, kz01(t), kz02 and kz03, were isolated at the kyoto city zoo, japan, and one strain, gg02, was isolated in the moukalaba-doudou national park, gabon. these strains were investigated taxonomically. these strains belonged to the lactobacillus reuteri phylogenetic group according to phylogenetic analysis based on 16s rrna gene sequences and specif ...201425240022
bifidobacterium moukalabense sp. nov., isolated from the faeces of wild west lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla).gram-staining-positive anaerobic rods were isolated from the faeces of a wild lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla) in moukalaba-doudou national park, gabon, and strain gg01(t) was taxonomically investigated. based on phylogenetic analyses and specific phenotypic characteristics, the strain belonged to the genus bifidobacterium. phylogenetic analysis of its 16s rrna gene sequence revealed that strain gg01(t) formed a single monophyletic cluster and had a distinct line of descent. based on 16 ...201424158945
pathogenic eukaryotes in gut microbiota of western lowland gorillas as revealed by molecular survey.although gorillas regarded as the largest extant species of primates and have a close phylogenetic relationship with humans, eukaryotic communities have not been previously studied in these populations. herein, 35 eukaryotic primer sets targeting the 18s rrna gene, internal transcribed spacer gene and other specific genes were used firstly to explore the eukaryotes in a fecal sample from a wild western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla). then specific real-time pcrs were achieved in addit ...201425231746
characterization of enteroviruses from non-human primates in cameroon revealed virus types widespread in humans along with candidate new types and species.enteroviruses (evs) infecting african non-human primates (nhp) are still poorly documented. this study was designed to characterize the genetic diversity of evs among captive and wild nhp in cameroon and to compare this diversity with that found in humans. stool specimens were collected in april 2008 in nhp housed in sanctuaries in yaounde and neighborhoods. moreover, stool specimens collected from wild nhp from june 2006 to october 2008 in the southern rain forest of cameroon were considered. r ...201425079078
first case of disseminated cryptococcosis in a gorilla gorilla.in humans, cryptococcus mainly infects individuals with hiv infection or other types of immunosuppression. here, we report the first case of disseminated cryptococcosis in a simian immunodeficiency virus-negative 27-year-old female gorilla gorilla presenting with lethargy, progressive weight loss and productive cough. the diagnosis was confirmed by positive lung biopsy culture, serum cryptococcal antigen, and cerebral histopathology demonstrating encapsulated yeasts. molecular characterisation o ...201424963815
gorilla gorilla gorilla gut: a potential reservoir of pathogenic bacteria as revealed using culturomics and molecular tools.wild apes are considered to be the most serious reservoir and source of zoonoses. however, little data are available about the gut microbiota and pathogenic bacteria in gorillas. for this propose, a total of 48 fecal samples obtained from 21 gorilla gorilla gorilla individuals (as revealed via microsatellite analysis) were screened for human bacterial pathogens using culturomics and molecular techniques. by applying culturomics to one index gorilla and using specific media supplemented by plants ...201425417711
wild gorillas as a potential reservoir of leishmania major.vector-borne parasites of the genus leishmania are responsible for severe human diseases. cutaneous leishmaniasis, a common form of the disease, is most often caused by the transmission of leishmania major to humans by female phlebotomine sand flies. apes are increasingly being seen as a source of zoonotic diseases, including malaria and rickettsiosis. to examine whether gorillas harbor leishmania species, we screened fecal samples from wild western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) in c ...201425001460
great apes (pan paniscus, pan troglodytes, gorilla gorilla, pongo abelii) follow visual trails to locate hidden food.whether nonhuman primates understand causal relations beyond mere associations is still a matter of debate. we presented all four species of nonhuman great apes (n = 36) with a choice between 2 opaque, upside down cups after displacing them out of sight from their starting positions. crucially, 1 of them had left a yogurt trail behind it. great apes spontaneously used the trail to select the yogurt baited cup. follow-up experiments demonstrated that chimpanzees distinguished trails based on the ...201424866009
twelve-year proximity relationships in a captive group of western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) at the san diego wild animal park, california, usa.proximity data were collected in a captive breeding group of gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) at the san diego wild animal park (currently called the san diego zoo safari park) twice a year (spring and fall periods) for over 12 years, by using a convenient method in which individuals less than 5 m from each animal in the group were recorded by scan sampling, approximately once per hour. immature females from infancy to young adulthood maintained relatively frequent proximity to both their moth ...201424838632
social environment elicits lateralized behaviors in gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) and chimpanzees (pan troglodytes).the influence of the social environment on lateralized behaviors has now been investigated across a wide variety of animal species. new evidence suggests that the social environment can modulate behavior. currently, there is a paucity of data relating to how primates navigate their environmental space, and investigations that consider the naturalistic context of the individual are few and fragmented. moreover, there are competing theories about whether only the right or rather both cerebral hemi ...201424749503
informing conservation management about structural versus functional connectivity: a case-study of cross river gorillas.connectivity among subpopulations is vital for the persistence of small and fragmented populations. for management interventions to be effective conservation planners have to make the critical distinction between structural connectivity (based on landscape structure) and functional connectivity (which considers both landscape structure and organism-specific behavioral attributes) which can differ considerably within a given context. we assessed spatial and temporal changes in structural and func ...201424737604
the effects of auditory enrichment on gorillas.several studies have demonstrated that auditory enrichment can reduce stereotypic behaviors in captive animals. the purpose of this study was to determine the relative effectiveness of three different types of auditory enrichment-naturalistic sounds, classical music, and rock music-in reducing stereotypic behavior displayed by western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla). three gorillas (one adult male, two adult females) were observed at the buffalo zoo for a total of 24 hr per music tria ...201424715297
retroperitoneal abscesses in two western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).this report describes two cases of retroperitoneal abscesses in female western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla). clinical symptoms included perivulvar discharge, lameness, hindlimb paresis, and general malaise. retroperitoneal abscesses should be considered as part of a complete differential list in female gorillas with similar clinical signs.201424712182
the genetic population structure of wild western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) living in continuous rain forest.to understand the evolutionary histories and conservation potential of wild animal species it is useful to assess whether taxa are genetically structured into different populations and identify the underlying factors responsible for any clustering. landscape features such as rivers may influence genetic population structure, and analysis of structure by sex can further reveal effects of sex-specific dispersal. using microsatellite genotypes obtained from noninvasively collected fecal samples we ...201424700547
human-animal relationships in zoo-housed orangutans (p. abelii) and gorillas (g. g. gorilla): the effects of familiarity.i examined human-animal relationships (hars) in zoo-housed orangutans (pongo abelii) and gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) to see if they followed patterns similar to conspecific relationships in great apes and humans. familiarity and social relationships guide humans' and great apes' behaviors with conspecifics. inter-individual relationships, based on shared social history, and "generalized" relationships, based on a history of interactions with relevant classes of individuals, guide behavior ...201424687450
detection of termites and other insects consumed by african great apes using molecular fecal analysis.the consumption of insects by apes has previously been reported based on direct observations and/or trail signs in feces. however, dna-based diet analyses may have the potential to reveal trophic links for these wild species. herein, we analyzed the insect-diet diversity of 9 feces obtained from three species of african great apes, gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla), chimpanzee (pan troglodytes) and bonobo (pan paniscus), using two mitochondrial amplifications for arthropods. a total of 1056 clon ...201424675424
malignant hypertension and retinopathy in a western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla).a 34-year-old western lowland gorilla presented with peracute blindness.201424646309
orangutans (pongo abelii) and a gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla) match features in familiar and unfamiliar individuals.great apes can perceive images as representative of corresponding real-life objects. coupled with the potential advantages of identifying specific members of one's species and mounting evidence for individual recognition in other non-humans, it seems likely that great apes would have the ability to identify conspecifics in photographs. the ability of four orangutans and a gorilla to match images of individuals of their own and a closely related but unfamiliar species was examined here for the fi ...201424623526
ischiopagus tripus conjoined twins in a western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla).conjoined twinning is rare in man and non-human primates. the current report describes a case of ischiopagus tripus conjoined western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla) twins. the female twins were joined at the umbilical and pelvic region, involving the liver, xiphoid, umbilicus, body wall and skin. computed tomography revealed two complete spines. the combined pelvic space was formed by two sacra, each connected with two iliac bones. the twins were only conjoined by a common pubis. cause of dea ...201424529511
high diversity of mic genes in non-human primates.the human mhc class i (mhc-i) chain-related genes a and b (mica and micb) encode stress-induced glycoproteins, ligands for the activating receptor nkg2d. they display an unusually high degree of polymorphism, next only to that of classical mhc-i. the functional relevance and selective pressure behind this peculiar polymorphism, which is quite distinct from that of classical mhc-i, remain largely unknown. this study increases the repertoire of allelic sequences determined for the mic genes of non ...201425073428
the function of loud calls (hoot series) in wild western gorillas (gorilla gorilla).the use of loud vocal signals to reduce distance among separated social partners is well documented in many species; however, the underlying mechanisms by which the reduction of spacing occurs and how they differ across species remain unclear. western gorillas (gorilla gorilla) offer an opportunity to investigate these issues because their vocal repertoire includes a loud, long-distance call (i.e., hoot series) that is potentially used in within-group communication, whereas mountain gorillas use ...201425059429
niche partitioning in sympatric gorilla and pan from cameroon: implications for life history strategies and for reconstructing the evolution of hominin life history.factors influencing the hominoid life histories are poorly understood, and little is known about how ecological conditions modulate the pace of their development. yet our limited understanding of these interactions underpins life history interpretations in extinct hominins. here we determined the synchronisation of dental mineralization/eruption with brain size in a 20th century museum collection of sympatric gorilla gorilla and pan troglodytes from central cameroon. using δ13c and δ15n of indiv ...201425054380
evaluating the physiological and behavioral response of a male and female gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla) during an introduction.prolonged stress responses can lead to infertility and death; therefore monitoring respective indicators like stress-related hormones and behaviors is an important tool in ensuring the health and well-being among zoo-housed animal populations. changes in social structure, such as the introduction of a new conspecific, can be a source of stress. in april 2010, a sexually mature female western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla) was brought to lincoln park zoo (lpz; chicago, il) from the chi ...201425042832
individual distinctiveness in call types of wild western female gorillas.individually distinct vocalizations play an important role in animal communication, allowing call recipients to respond differentially based on caller identity. however, which of the many calls in a species' repertoire should have more acoustic variability and be more recognizable is less apparent. one proposed hypothesis is that calls used over long distances should be more distinct because visual cues are not available to identify the caller. an alternative hypothesis proposes that close calls ...201425029238
wild western lowland gorillas signal selectively using odor.mammals communicate socially through visual, auditory and chemical signals. the chemical sense is the oldest sense and is shared by all organisms including bacteria. despite mounting evidence for social chemo-signaling in humans, the extent to which it modulates behavior is debated and can benefit from comparative models of closely related hominoids. the use of odor cues in wild ape social communication has been only rarely explored. apart from one study on wild chimpanzee sniffing, our understa ...201425006973
the influence of body posture on the kinematics of prehension in humans and gorillas (gorilla gorilla).much of our current understanding of human prehension in a comparative context is based on macaque models in a sitting, constrained body posture. in a previous study, we clearly showed differences in the amplitude of the forelimb joints between five primate species (lemur, capuchin, chimpanzee, gorilla and human) during unconstrained grasping where the animals were free to choose their body posture. one of our interrogations was to know if these differences could be due to the body posture. to a ...201424430026
does sympathy motivate prosocial behaviour in great apes?prosocial behaviours such as helping, comforting, or sharing are central to human social life. because they emerge early in ontogeny, it has been proposed that humans are prosocial by nature and that from early on empathy and sympathy motivate such behaviours. the emerging question is whether humans share these abilities to feel with and for someone with our closest relatives, the great apes. although several studies demonstrated that great apes help others, little is known about their underlyin ...201424416212
niche differentiation and dietary seasonality among sympatric gorillas and chimpanzees in loango national park (gabon) revealed by stable isotope analysis.the feeding ecology of sympatric great ape species yields valuable information for palaeodietary reconstructions in sympatric early hominin species. however, no isotopic references on sympatrically living apes and their feeding ecology are currently available. here we present the first isotopic study on sympatric great apes, namely western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) and central chimpanzees (pan troglodytes troglodytes) from loango national park, gabon. we successfully analyzed th ...201424373257
quantity estimation and comparison in western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).we investigated the quantity judgment abilities of two adult male western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) by presenting discrimination tasks on a touch-screen computer. both gorillas chose the larger quantity of two arrays of dot stimuli. on some trials, the relative number of dots was congruent with the relative total area of the two arrays. on other trials, number of dots was incongruent with area. the gorillas were first tested with static dots, then with dots that moved within the ...201424271957
plant selection for nest building by western lowland gorillas in cameroon.we examined 834 nests built by western lowland gorillas in cameroon between july 2008 and july 2011 to identify the plant species used in their construction. preference for each plant species for nesting was assessed using a 'preference index' calculated by combining information on the occurrence of each species in the forest and in the nests. forty-six plant species representing about 15 % of the total number of species in the forest and 26 % of species used for nest building were frequently us ...201423732768
variance in the reproductive success of dominant male mountain gorillas.using 30 years of demographic data from 15 groups, this study estimates how harem size, female fertility, and offspring survival may contribute to variance in the siring rates of dominant male mountain gorillas throughout the virunga volcano region. as predicted for polygynous species, differences in harem size were the greatest source of variance in the siring rate, whereas differences in female fertility and offspring survival were relatively minor. harem size was positively correlated with of ...201424818867
ecological divergence and talar morphology in gorillas.gorillas occupy a variety of habitats from the west coast to eastern central africa. these habitats differ considerably in altitude, which has a pronounced effect on forest ecology. although all gorillas are obligate terrestrial knuckle-walking quadrupeds, those that live in lowland habitats eat fruits and climb more often than do those living in highland habitats. here we test the hypothesis that gorilla talus morphology falls along a morphocline that tracks locomotor function related to a more ...201424374860
food washing and placer mining in captive great apes.sweet potato washing and wheat placer mining in japanese macaques (macaca fuscata) are among the most well known examples of local traditions in non-human animals. the functions of these behaviors and the mechanisms of acquisition and spread of these behaviors have been debated frequently. prompted by animal caretaker reports that great apes [chimpanzees (pan troglodytes), bonobos (pan paniscus), gorillas (gorilla gorilla), and orangutans (pongo abelii)] at leipzig zoo occasionally wash their fo ...201323665925
bushmeat hunting changes regeneration of african rainforests.to assess ecological consequences of bushmeat hunting in african lowland rainforests, we compared paired sites, with high and low hunting pressure, in three areas of southeastern nigeria. in hunted sites, populations of important seed dispersers-both small and large primates (including the cross river gorilla, gorilla gorilla diehli)-were drastically reduced. large rodents were more abundant in hunted sites, even though they are hunted. hunted and protected sites had similar mature tree communit ...201323516245
the cross river gorillas (gorilla gorilla diehli) at mawambi hills, south-west cameroon: habitat suitability and vulnerability to anthropogenic disturbance.only about 300 individuals of the cross river gorilla (crg; gorilla gorilla diehli) survive today. the subspecies is endemic to approximately 12-14 sites at the cameroon-nigeria border, and is critically endangered. to understand survival prospects of the crg at mawambi hills, cameroon, a maximum entropy (maxent) distribution model was used to predict the distribution of gorillas. overall, 24% of the study area was predicted to be suitable for gorillas. the most important predictors of gorilla d ...201323307035
comparative morphology of the hominin and african ape hyoid bone, a possible marker of the evolution of speech.this study examines the morphology of the hyoid in three closely related species, homo sapiens, pan troglodytes, and gorilla gorilla. differences and similarities between the hyoids of these species are characterized and used to interpret the morphology and affi nities of the dikika a. afarensis, kebara 2 neanderthal, and other fossil hominin hyoid bones. humans and african apes are found to have distinct hyoid morphologies. in humans the maximum width across the distal tips of the articulated g ...201325078953
the effect of body orientation on judgments of human visual attention in western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).the ability to appreciate the attentional states of others is an important element used in discerning the presence of theory of mind in an individual. whether primates are able to recognize attention, and further, use such information to predict behavior, remains contentious. in this study, six western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) were tested under different conditions that aimed to investigate not only their understanding of what a human experimenter sees, but also what informatio ...201322390623
extraversion predicts longer survival in gorillas: an 18-year longitudinal study.personality plays an important role in determining human health and risk of earlier death. however, the mechanisms underlying those associations remain unknown. we moved away from testing hypotheses rooted in the activities of modern humans, by testing whether these associations are ancestral and one side of a trade-off between fitness costs and benefits. we examined personality predictors of survival in 283 captive western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) followed for 18 years. we fou ...201323222443
direct and indirect reputation formation in nonhuman great apes (pan paniscus, pan troglodytes, gorilla gorilla, pongo pygmaeus) and human children (homo sapiens).humans make decisions about when and with whom to cooperate based on their reputations. people either learn about others by direct interaction or by observing third-party interactions or gossip. an important question is whether other animal species, especially our closest living relatives, the nonhuman great apes, also form reputations of others. in study 1, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, and 2.5-year-old human children experienced a nice experimenter who tried to give food/toys to the subjec ...201322746158
analysis of western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla) specific alu repeats.research into great ape genomes has revealed widely divergent activity levels over time for alu elements. however, the diversity of this mobile element family in the genome of the western lowland gorilla has previously been uncharacterized. alu elements are primate-specific short interspersed elements that have been used as phylogenetic and population genetic markers for more than two decades. alu elements are present at high copy number in the genomes of all primates surveyed thus far. the aluy ...201324262036
sexual dimorphism in relative sacral breadth among catarrhine primates.as the sacrum contributes to the size and shape of the birth canal, the sexually dimorphic sacrum of humans is frequently interpreted within obstetric contexts. however, while the human sacrum has been extensively studied, comparatively little is known about sacral morphology in nonhuman primates. thus, it remains unclear whether sacral sexual dimorphism exists in other primates, and whether potential dimorphism is primarily related to obstetrics or other factors such as body size dimorphism. in ...201324132790
effective sociodemographic population assessment of elusive species in ecology and conservation management.wildlife managers are urgently searching for improved sociodemographic population assessment methods to evaluate the effectiveness of implemented conservation activities. these need to be inexpensive, appropriate for a wide spectrum of species and straightforward to apply by local staff members with minimal training. furthermore, conservation management would benefit from single approaches which cover many aspects of population assessment beyond only density estimates, to include for instance so ...201324101982
endowment effects in gorillas (gorilla gorilla).reports of endowment effects in nonhuman primates have received considerable attention in the comparative literature in recent years. however, little is known about the mechanisms underlying these effects. continuing to explore endowment effects across different species of primate may reveal subtle differences in behavior that can help formulate specific hypotheses about the relevant mechanisms and the social and ecological factors that have shaped them. in this study, we use a paradigm that has ...201324060245
matching based on biological categories in orangutans (pongo abelii) and a gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla).following a series of experiments in which six orangutans and one gorilla discriminated photographs of different animal species in a two-choice touch screen procedure, vonk & macdonald (2002) and vonk & macdonald (2004) concluded that orangutans, but not the gorilla, seemed to learn intermediate level category discriminations, such as primates versus non-primates, more rapidly than they learned concrete level discriminations, such as orangutans versus humans. in the current experiments, four of ...201324058886
new evidence for diet and niche partitioning in rudapithecus and anapithecus from rudabánya, hungary.rudabánya is rare among eurasian miocene fossil primate localities in preserving both a hominid and pliopithecoid, and as such provides the unique opportunity to reconstruct the nature of sympatry and niche partitioning in these taxa. rudapithecus and anapithecus have similar locomotor and positional behavior and overlapping body mass ranges. while prior analyses of molar occlusal anatomy and microwear identify rudapithecus as a soft-object frugivore, reconstructing the dietary behavior of anapi ...201324034983
bilateral asymmetry of humeral torsion and length in african apes and humans.few studies have directly compared human and african ape upper limb skeletal asymmetries despite the potential such comparisons have for understanding the origins of functional lateralization in humans and non-human primates. here, we report the magnitude and direction of asymmetries in humeral torsion and humeral length in paired humeri of 40 gorilla gorilla, 40 pan troglodytes and 40 homo sapiens. we test whether absolute and directional asymmetries differ between measurements, species and sex ...201323942111
assessment of landscape-scale distribution of sympatric great apes in african rainforests: concurrent use of nest and camera-trap surveys.information on the distribution and abundance of sympatric great apes (pan troglodytes troglodytes and gorilla gorilla gorilla) are important for effective conservation and management. although much research has been done to improve the precision of nest-surveys, trade-offs between data-reliability and research-efficiency have not been solved. in this study, we used different approaches to assess the landscape-scale distribution patterns of great apes. we conducted a conventional nest survey and ...201323907925
manual pressure distribution patterns of knuckle-walking apes.differences in how the hands of gorillas and chimpanzees contact the ground while knuckle walking have been noted but generally not quantified. it is widely believed that gorillas maintain a pronated arm and contact the ground with digits 2-5 consistently, while chimpanzees have variable arm position and digit contact. to further test these generalizations, distribution of pressure across the manus, peak digital pressures, and hand position were quantified using a pressure mat in eight captive c ...201323907752
alzheimer's disease pathology in the neocortex and hippocampus of the western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla).the two major histopathologic hallmarks of alzheimer's disease (ad) are amyloid beta protein (aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (nft). aβ pathology is a common feature in the aged nonhuman primate brain, whereas nft are found almost exclusively in humans. few studies have examined ad-related pathology in great apes, which are the closest phylogenetic relatives of humans. in the present study, we examined aβ and tau-like lesions in the neocortex and hippocampus of aged male and female weste ...201323881733
postnatal temporal bone ontogeny in pan, gorilla, and homo, and the implications for temporal bone ontogeny in australopithecus afarensis.assessments of temporal bone morphology have played an important role in taxonomic and phylogenetic evaluations of fossil taxa, and recent three-dimensional analyses of this region have supported the utility of the temporal bone for testing taxonomic and phylogenetic hypotheses. but while clinical analyses have examined aspects of temporal bone ontogeny in humans, the ontogeny of the temporal bone in non-human taxa is less well documented. this study examines ontogenetic allometry of the tempora ...201323868175
male genetic structure and paternity in western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).the male dispersal patterns of western lowland gorillas (wlgs, gorilla gorilla gorilla) are not well understood. to determine whether most silverbacks stay close to their relatives, we analyzed autosomal and y-chromosomal microsatellites (strs) in wild wlgs at moukalaba, gabon. we obtained str genotypes for 38 individuals, including eight silverbacks and 12 adult females in an approximately 40 km(2) area. among them, 20 individuals were members of one identified group (group gentil; gg), includi ...201323868171
observational monitoring of clinical signs during the last stage of habituation in a wild western gorilla group at bai hokou, central african republic.anthropozoonotic disease transmission to great apes is a critical conservation concern, and has raised ethical doubts regarding ape habituation. we monitored over a 3-year period clinical signs within a group of wild western gorillas (g. gorilla) undergoing habituation at bai hokou, central african republic. the majority of observations consisted of singular coughs and sneezes among the gorillas. these were the only clinical signs that significantly and positively increased over the years. no ch ...201323736676
gorilla mothers also matter! new insights on social transmission in gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) in captivity.the present paper describes two distinct behaviors relating to food processing and communication that were observed in a community of five separately housed groups of lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) in captivity during two study periods one decade apart: (1) a food processing technique to separate wheat from chaff, the so-called puff-blowing technique; and (2) a male display used to attract the attention of visitors, the so-called throw-kiss-display. we investigated (a) whether the be ...201324312184
unusual turner syndrome mosaic with a triple x cell line (47,x/49,xxx) in a western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla).a 29-yr-old female western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla) was evaluated for low fertility and a midterm abortion. laboratory testing included karyotyping, which revealed an unusual mosaicism for turner syndrome with triple x (47,x/49,xxx). this appears to be the first report of turner syndrome in a great ape. in humans, turner syndrome occurs in approximately 1 in 3,000 females, with half of those monosomic for the x chromosome. a small proportion is mosaic for a triple x cell line (3 ...201324450068
evaluating echocardiogram and indirect blood pressure results in male western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) during three phases of an anesthetic protocol.until the majority of the great ape population is trained for conscious cardiac evaluations, most individuals will require general anesthesia to perform echocardiograms. within the veterinary community, concern exists that certain anesthetic protocols may exacerbate or artificially induce signs of cardiac disease. because of potential cardiovascular effects, medetomidine has generally been used cautiously in patients with cardiac disease. the combination of ketamine and medetomidine is frequentl ...201324450045
long-term monitoring of microsporidia, cryptosporidium and giardia infections in western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) at different stages of habituation in dzanga sangha protected areas, central african republic.infectious diseases pose one of the greatest threats to endangered species, and a risk of gastrointestinal parasite transmission from humans to wildlife has always been considered as a major concern of tourism. increased anthropogenic impact on primate populations may result in general changes in communities of their parasites, and also in a direct exchange of parasites between humans and primates.201323951255
rna-dna differences in human mitochondria restore ancestral form of 16s ribosomal rna.rna transcripts are generally identical to the underlying dna sequences. nevertheless, rna-dna differences (rdds) were found in the nuclear human genome and in plants and animals but not in human mitochondria. here by deep sequencing of human mitochondrial dna (mtdna) and rna, we identified three rdd sites at mtdna positions 295 (c-to-u), 13710 (a-to-u, a-to-g) and 2617 (a-to-u, a-to-g). position 2617, within the 16s rrna, harbored the most prevalent rdds (more than 30% a-to-u and ~15% a-to-g of ...201323913925
enamel microwear texture properties of igf 11778 (oreopithecus bambolii) from the late miocene of baccinello, italy.late miocene oreopithecus bambolii has been posited as a folivore from its pronounced molar shearing crests. however, scanning electron microscopy yields conflicting results with one study of oreopithecus showing folivory and another indicating a coarser diet was consumed. to address this debate, the dietary proclivities of the well-known igf 11778 oreopithecus bambolii specimen are reconstructed by comparing the enamel texture properties of this specimen to extant alouatta palliata (n = 11), ce ...201323833018
close association between paralogous multiple isomirs and paralogous/orthologues mirna sequences implicates dominant sequence selection across various animal species.micrornas (mirnas) are crucial negative regulators of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. next-generation sequencing technologies have identified a series of mirna variants (named isomirs). in this study, paralogous isomir assemblies (from the mirna locus) were systematically analyzed based on data acquired from deep sequencing data sets. evolutionary analysis of paralogous (members in mirna gene family in a specific species) and orthologues (across different animal species) mirna ...201323856130
distribution of a community of mammals in relation to roads and other human disturbances in gabon, central africa.we present the first community-level study of the associations of both roads and other human disturbances with the distribution of mammals in gabon (central africa). our study site was in an oil concession within a littoral mosaic landscape. we conducted surveys along 199 line transects and installed camera traps on 99 of these transects to document mammal presence and abundance. we used generalized linear mixed-effect models to document associations between variables related to the ecosystem (l ...201323410077
applying clinically proven human techniques for contraception and fertility to endangered species and zoo animals: a review.reversible contraception that does not alter natural behavior is a critical need for managing zoo populations. in addition to reversible contraception, other fertility techniques perfected in humans may be useful, such as in vitro fertilization (ivf) or oocyte and embryo banking for endangered species like amphibians and mexican wolves (canis lupus baileyi). furthermore, the genetics of human fertility can give a better understanding of fertility in more exotic species. collaborations were estab ...201324437091
occurrence and molecular analysis of balantidium coli in mountain gorilla (gorilla beringei beringei) in the volcanoes national park, rwanda.cysts morphologically resembling balantidium coli were identified in the feces of a mountain gorilla (gorilla beringei beringei). confirmatory pcr and sequencing revealed two distinct b. coli-specific sequences (its-1, sub-types a0 and b1). this represents the first report of b. coli in this species, raising the possibility of infection from a reservoir host.201324502743
a genome-wide survey of genetic variation in gorillas using reduced representation sequencing.all non-human great apes are endangered in the wild, and it is therefore important to gain an understanding of their demography and genetic diversity. whole genome assembly projects have provided an invaluable foundation for understanding genetics in all four genera, but to date genetic studies of multiple individuals within great ape species have largely been confined to mitochondrial dna and a small number of other loci. here, we present a genome-wide survey of genetic variation in gorillas us ...201323750230
ontogenetic changes in limb bone structural proportions in mountain gorillas (gorilla beringei beringei).behavioral studies indicate that adult mountain gorillas (gorilla beringei) are the most terrestrial of all nonhuman hominoids, but that infant mountain gorillas are much more arboreal. here we examine ontogenetic changes in diaphyseal strength and length of the femur, tibia, humerus, radius, and ulna in 30 virunga mountain gorillas, including 18 immature specimens and 12 adults. comparisons are also made with 14 adult western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla), which are known to be mor ...201324129040
estrogenic plant foods of red colobus monkeys and mountain gorillas in uganda.phytoestrogens, or naturally occurring estrogen-mimicking compounds, are found in many human plant foods, such as soybeans (glycine max) and other legumes. because the consumption of phytoestrogens may result in both health benefits of protecting against estrogen-dependent cancers and reproductive costs of disrupting the developing endocrine system, considerable biomedical research has been focused on the physiological and behavioral effects of these compounds. despite this interest, little is k ...201222460223
genetic characterization of simian foamy viruses infecting humans.simian foamy viruses (sfvs) are retroviruses that are widespread among nonhuman primates (nhps). sfvs actively replicate in their oral cavity and can be transmitted to humans after nhp bites, giving rise to a persistent infection even decades after primary infection. very few data on the genetic structure of such sfvs found in humans are available. in the framework of ongoing studies searching for sfv-infected humans in south cameroon rainforest villages, we studied 38 sfv-infected hunters whose ...201223015714
apes (gorilla gorilla, pan paniscus, p. troglodytes, pongo abelii) versus corvids (corvus corax, c. corone) in a support task: the effect of pattern and functionality.apes (gorilla gorilla, pan paniscus, p. troglodytes, pong abelii) and corvids (corvus corax, c. corone) are among the most proficient and flexible tool users in the animal kingdom. although it has been proposed that this is the result of convergent evolution, little is known about whether this is limited to behavior or also includes the underlying cognitive mechanisms. we compared several species of apes (bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans) and corvids (carrion crows and common raven ...201222545765
teasing apart the contributions of hard dietary items on 3d dental microtextures in primates.3d dental microtexture analysis is a powerful tool for reconstructing the diets of extinct primates. this method is based on the comparison of fossils with extant species of known diet. the diets of primates are highly diversified and include fruits, seeds, grass, tree leaves, bark, roots, tubers, and animal resources. fruits remain the main component in the diets of most primates. we tested whether the proportion of fruit consumed is correlated with dental microtexture. two methods of microtext ...201222705031
ubiquitous hepatocystis infections, but no evidence of plasmodium falciparum-like malaria parasites in wild greater spot-nosed monkeys (cercopithecus nictitans).western gorillas (gorilla gorilla) have been identified as the natural reservoir of the parasites that were the immediate precursor of plasmodium falciparum infecting humans. recently, a p. falciparum-like sequence was reported in a sample from a captive greater spot-nosed monkey (cercopithecus nictitans), and was taken to indicate that this species may also be a natural reservoir for p. falciparum-related parasites. to test this hypothesis we screened blood samples from 292 wild c. nictitans mo ...201222691606
species association of hepatitis b virus (hbv) in non-human apes; evidence for recombination between gorilla and chimpanzee variants.hepatitis b virus (hbv) infections are widely distributed in humans, infecting approximately one third of the world's population. hbv variants have also been detected and genetically characterised from old world apes; gorilla gorilla (gorilla), pan troglodytes (chimpanzee), pongo pygmaeus (orang-utan), nomascus nastusus and hylobates pileatus (gibbons) and from the new world monkey, lagothrix lagotricha (woolly monkey). to investigate species-specificity and potential for cross species transmiss ...201222432021
no evidence for transmission of antibiotic-resistant escherichia coli strains from humans to wild western lowland gorillas in lopé national park, gabon.the intensification of human activities within the habitats of wild animals is increasing the risk of interspecies disease transmission. this risk is particularly important for great apes, given their close phylogenetic relationship with humans. areas of high human density or intense research and ecotourism activities expose apes to a high risk of disease spillover from humans. is this risk lower in areas of low human density? we determined the prevalence of escherichia coli antibiotic-resistant ...201222492436
genetic diversity of north american captive-born gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) are designated as critically endangered and wild populations are dramatically declining as a result of habitat destruction, fragmentation, diseases (e.g., ebola) and the illegal bushmeat trade. as wild populations continue to decline, the genetic management of the north american captive western lowland gorilla population will be an important component of the long-term conservation of the species. we genotyped 26 individuals from the north americ ...201223403930
human-associated staphylococcus aureus strains within great ape populations in central africa (gabon).the risk of serious infections caused by staphylococcus aureus is well-known. however, most studies regarding the distribution of (clinically relevant) s. aureus among humans and animals took place in the western hemisphere and only limited data are available from (central) africa. in this context, recent studies focused on s. aureus strains in humans and primates, but the question of whether humans and monkeys share related s. aureus strains or may interchange strains remained largely unsolved. ...201223398468
a new isolation with migration model along complete genomes infers very different divergence processes among closely related great ape species.we present a hidden markov model (hmm) for inferring gradual isolation between two populations during speciation, modelled as a time interval with restricted gene flow. the hmm describes the history of adjacent nucleotides in two genomic sequences, such that the nucleotides can be separated by recombination, can migrate between populations, or can coalesce at variable time points, all dependent on the parameters of the model, which are the effective population sizes, splitting times, recombinati ...201223284294
ecological volatility and human evolution: a novel perspective on life history and reproductive strategy.humans are characterized by a suite of traits that seem to differentiate them profoundly from closely related apes such as the gorilla, chimpanzee, and orang-utan. these traits include longevity, cooperative breeding, stacking of offspring, lengthy maturation, and a complex life-course profile of adiposity. when, how, and why these traits emerged during our evolutionary history is currently attracting considerable attention. most approaches to life history emphasize dietary energy availability a ...201223280924
molecular anthropology and the subversion of paleoanthropology: an example of "the emperor's clothes" effect?although the birth of "molecular systematics" may date to the turn of the twentieth century, the discipline did not gain momentum until the 1960s, when most paleoanthropologists believed that humans were distantly related to a great ape group (chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan), within which the african apes were most closely related. from the beginning, interpretation of molecular data, initially protein immunoreactivity, conflicted with the interpretation of morphological data by favoring a human ...201223272601
comparison of laryngeal mask airway use with endotracheal intubation during anesthesia of western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).the laryngeal mask airway is an alternative to endotracheal intubation that achieves control of the airway by creating a seal around the larynx with an inflatable cuff. this study compared use of the laryngeal mask airway with endotracheal intubation in anesthetized western lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla). eight adult gorillas were immobilized for routine and diagnostic purposes for a total of nine anesthetic events. during each anesthetic event, gorillas were either intubated (n = 4; ...201223272342
placental invasion, preeclampsia risk and adaptive molecular evolution at the origin of the great apes: evidence from genome-wide analyses.recent evidence from chimpanzees and gorillas has raised doubts that preeclampsia is a uniquely human disease. the deep extravillous trophoblast (evt) invasion and spiral artery remodeling that characterizes our placenta (and is abnormal in preeclampsia) is shared within great apes, setting homininae apart from hylobatidae and old world monkeys, which show much shallower trophoblast invasion and limited spiral artery remodeling. we hypothesize that the evolution of a more invasive placenta in th ...201223266291
morphological evolution through integration: a quantitative study of cranial integration in homo, pan, gorilla and pongo.morphological integration refers to coordinated variation among traits that are closely related in development and/or function. patterns of integration can offer important insight into the structural relationship between phenotypic units, providing a framework to address questions about phenotypic evolvability and constraints. integrative features of the primate cranium have recently become a popular subject of study. however, an important question that still remains under-investigated is: what ...201222178399
Unusual feeding behavior in wild great apes, a window to understand origins of self-medication in humans: Role of sociality and physiology on learning process.Certain toxic plants are beneficial for health if small amounts are ingested infrequently and in a specific context of illness. Among our closest living relatives, chimpanzees are found to consume plants with pharmacological properties. Providing insight on the origins of human self-medication, this study investigates the role social systems and physiology (namely gut specialization) play on learning mechanisms involved in the consumption of unusual and potentially bioactive foods by two great a ...201221888922
Cross-species transmission of simian foamy virus to humans in rural Gabon, central Africa.In order to characterize simian foamy retroviruses (SFVs) in wild-born nonhuman primates (NHPs) in Gabon and to investigate cross-species transmission to humans, we obtained 497 NHP samples, composed of 286 blood and 211 tissue (bush meat) samples. Anti-SFV antibodies were found in 31 of 286 plasma samples (10.5%). The integrase gene sequence was found in 38/497 samples, including both blood and tissue samples, with novel SFVs in several Cercopithecus species. Of the 78 humans, mostly hunters, w ...201222072747
adrenal androgen production in catarrhine primates and the evolution of adrenarche.adrenarche is a developmental event involving differentiation of the adrenal gland and production of adrenal androgens, and has been hypothesized to play a role in the extension of the preadolescent phase of human ontogeny. it remains unclear whether any nonhuman primate species shows a similar suite of endocrine, biochemical, and morphological changes as are encompassed by human adrenarche. here, we report serum concentrations of the adrenal androgens dehydroepiandrosterone (dhea) and dehydroep ...201222271526
testing the oxidative stress hypothesis of aging in primate fibroblasts: is there a correlation between species longevity and cellular ros production?the present study was conducted to test predictions of the oxidative stress theory of aging assessing reactive oxygen species production and oxidative stress resistance in cultured fibroblasts from 13 primate species ranging in body size from 0.25 to 120 kg and in longevity from 20 to 90 years. we assessed both basal and stress-induced reactive oxygen species production in fibroblasts from five great apes (human, chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, and orangutan), four old world monkeys (baboon, rhesus ...201222219516
olfactory discrimination in the western lowland gorilla, gorilla gorilla gorilla.the olfactory abilities of great apes have been subject to little empirical investigation, save for a few observational reports. this study, using an habituation/dishabituation task, provides experimental evidence for a core olfactory ability, namely, olfactory discrimination, in the gorilla. in experiment 1, six zoo-housed western lowland gorillas were individually presented with the same odour on four trials, and with a novel odour on the fifth trial. odours (almond and vanilla) were presented ...201222261746
suspected macular degeneration in a captive western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla).the case of a 31-year-old captive female western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla) with decreased near vision but good distance vision is presented. examination of the fundus revealed drusen-like bodies in the macula presumably because of an age-related macular degeneration (amd).201222702721
the mid-face of lower pleistocene hominins and its bearing on the attribution of sk 847 and stw 53.sk 847 and stw 53 have often been cited as evidence for early homo in south africa. to examine whether midfacial morphology is in agreement with these attributions, we analyze euclidean distances calculated from 3-d coordinates on the maxillae of sk 847 and stw 53, as well as australopithecus africanus (sts 5, sts 71), paranthropus robustus (sk 46, sk 48, sk 52, sk 83), early homo (knm-er 1813, knm-er 1805, knm-er 3733, knm-wt 15000), p. boisei (knm-er 406, knm-wt 17000, knm-wt 17400), gorilla g ...201222695253
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