The representativeness of the dental calculus dietary record: insights from Taï chimpanzee faecal phytoliths

In recent years, new applications of microremain dietary analysis using dental calculus as a source of dietary data on ancient human subsistence and behaviours have accelerated. The dental calculus of contemporary human and non-human populations with known diets have been used as reference datasets, including the chimpanzees of Taï National Park (Côte d'Ivoire), but explaining the preservation mechanism involved is challenged by our incomplete knowledge of the microremain content within the diets of these reference populations and our rudimentary information on microremain incorporation into dental calculus. Here, we analyse phytoliths in faecal samples to assess to what extent plant phytoliths of a diet are reflected in the dental calculus as well as in the egested faeces. In this study, we identify and document the faecal phytolith assemblages as an indicator of plant consumption in two Western chimpanzees of the Taï National Park (Côte d'Ivoire) before (wet season), during (dry season) and after (dry season) a dust-rich period. Moreover, observational dietary records of these two individuals were compiled to improve the interpretability of this dental calculus phytolith dataset. The faecal phytolith assemblages vary significantly across samples in terms of abundance and diversity. The most common phytolith morphotypes were eudicot plates, single-cell and multi-cell tracheids, monocot rugulose and echinate spheroids and, to a lesser extent, unspecified thick and thin elongates. High loads of grit and other micro-remains (e.g. diatoms) are found during the dry period. Using observational dietary records as a starting point and our faecal results as a terminus, we consider how dental calculus can accumulate phytoliths. Our findings enable identification of the phytolith morphotypes that are under-represented in dental calculus, which is highly informative for future dental calculus research strategies.

Overlooked evidence for non-juxtaposed conjunctive semantic compositionality in wild chimpanzees?

Recent discoveries of semantic compositionality in Japanese tits have enlivened the discussions on the presence of this phenomenon in animal communication. However, data on semantic compositionality in primates are lacking. In this paper, I revisit the study by Boesch [1991 (Hum Evol 6:81-89] who investigated drumming sequences by an alpha male in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) community in the Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire. A reanalysis of the data reveals that, similar to the Japanese tits, the alpha male produced conjunctively (“additively”) combined messages of travel direction change and resting period initiation. Unlike the Japanese tits, the elements of the conjunctive message were not simply juxtaposed but displayed structural reduction reminiscent of fusion in human languages. Also unlike the Japanese tits, the elements of the conjunctive message did not pass the movement test for syntactic constituents. Additionally, limited data possibly point to processes similar to reduplication in human languages.

Energetic management in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire

Socioecological theories predict that, in mammals, feeding and mating competitions affect male and female energetic conditions differently but energetic studies investigating both sexes simultaneously are rare. We investigated the effect of socioecological factors on the energetic conditions of male and female western chimpanzees, a long-lived species with high degrees of male-male competition. We used behavioural data collected on one chimpanzee community in the Taï National Park over 12 months, phenological data and urinary c-peptide (UCP) measures, a marker of energy balance. We found a positive effect of food availability on UCP levels in both sexes. Dominance rank also affected chimpanzee UCP levels. High-ranking females had higher UCP levels than low-ranking ones but only in periods when no oestrus females were present in the community. In contrast, high-ranking males had higher UCP levels than low-ranking males in the presence of oestrus females but lower UCP levels in their absence. Our results suggest that oestrus female presence lessened the competitive advantages of high-ranking females in feeding competition and that low-ranking males bore higher energetic costs related to mating competition than high-ranking ones. Yet caution should apply in interpreting these results since the statistical model was only close to significance. High-ranking male and female chimpanzees spent significantly less energy. Furthermore, all chimpanzees significantly spent less time feeding and spent more energy when food availability was high. Finally, our behavioural measure of energy intake and expenditure did not correlate with UCP levels highlighting the value of non-invasive hormonal markers for field studies. Significance statement General socioecological theories hypothesize that the social grouping dynamic and energetics of females are highly influenced by food competition, whereas in males, competition for sexual partners is more influential for these factors. Recent studies in the non-invasive physiological assessment of energy balance in primates have begun to test the implied relationship between chimpanzee socioecology and individual energetic condition, with inconsistent results. However, only a few studies have investigated this relationship concurrently for both sexes. Here, using non-invasive measures of energy balance in wild western chimpanzees, we found that the energetics of both males and females are related to ecological factors, such as food availability. However, female energy balance appears also to be related to increased male mating competition, as this can result in increased aggression directed from males to females, with apparent energetic costs for females.

Within-group spatial position and activity budget of wild sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire

Within social groups, feeding competition and predation pressure affect individual spatial position. The costs and benefits associated to each position are likely to influence the time that individuals allocate to different activities. Whether the effect of spatial positioning on activity budget differs between individuals of different sex or dominance rank remains unclear. This study aimed at investigating the effect of within-group spatial position on the activity budget of male and female sooty mangabeys. Focal behavioral observations was used to collect the individual location and behavior every 15 minutes (N=5115 locations) on 29 individuals from a wild group of sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) in the Taï National Park. The joint effect of rank, sex and spatial position on individual‟s activity budget was investigated. Females were more central in the group and both fed and rested more than males, independently of their rank. High-ranking individuals from both sexes were more likely to be central and both fed and rested longer than low-ranking ones. Females and high-ranking individuals from both sexes benefit from their social status by adopting spatial positions in the community that could influence their fitness positively. These results are discussed to improve our understanding of social dynamics in wild primates.Keywords: Spatial position, primates, socio-ecology, social dynamics.

Inventaire spécifique et caractéristiques de quelques frayères du lac de Buyo dans le Parc National de Taï (Sud-Ouest Côte d’Ivoire)

Objectifs : Des investigations ont été menées dans 11 sites du lac de Buyo situés sur le cours du fleuve Sassandra dans le Parc National de Taï (Côte d’Ivoire) en vue de connaître les espèces de poisson qui utilisent ces zones comme sites de reproduction. Méthodologie et Résultats : Dans chaque site d’échantillonnage, les variables environnementales ont été mesurées et les poissons ont été capturés à l’aide de filets maillants. Les stades de maturité sexuelle avancés ont été considérés comme critères de reconnaissance des sites de fraie. La richesse spécifique a été de 32 espèces, répartie en 13 familles et dominée par les Cichlidae (7 espèces, soit 22%). Sur la base des stades sexuels de maturité, 14 espèces, en phase de reproduction, ont été capturées dans les 11 sites d’échantillonnage. Les résultats de l’analyse des sédiments ont indiqué une prédominance de sable (>60%) dans les sites de reproduction et des valeurs optimales de température (28,52°C), de pH (6,53), de conductivité (36,50 μS/cm) et d’oxygène dissous (5,37 mg/l). Conclusion et application des résultats : La présente étude a montré que les sites échantillonnés dans le lac de Buyo situé à l’intérieur du le Parc National de Taï sont caractérisés par des sédiments sableux et constituent des frayères pour plusieurs espèces de poisson. La localisation de ces zones de reproduction représente donc un outil important pour les gestionnaires dans la conservation de la diversité piscicole du parc national de Taï. Mots clés : sites de frai, stade de maturité sexuelle, ichtyofaune, lac de barrage de Buyo. Specific inventory and characteristics of some spawning grounds of Lake Buyo in the Taï National Park (South-West Côte d'Ivoire) Abstract Objectives: Investigations were carried out in 11 sites of Lake Buyo located in the midstream of Sassandra River in Taï National Park (Côte d'Ivoire) to get to know fish species that use these areas as spawning sites. Methodology and Results: Environmental variables were measured in each sampling sites and fish were caught using gillnets. Advanced stages of sexual maturity were considered as recognition criteria of spawning areas. Specific richness was of 32 species, belonging in 13 families and dominated by Cichlidae (7 species, 22%). Based on advanced sexual maturity stages, 14 species in spawning period, were captured at the 11 sampling sites. Results of sediment analysis indicated a predominance of sand (> 60%) in spawning sites and optimal values of temperature (28.52°C), pH (6,53), conductivity (36,50 μS/cm) and dissolved oxygen (5,37 mg/l). Conclusion and application of results: The present study showed that sites sampled in Lake Buyo located within the Tai National Park are characterized by sandy sediments and constitute spawning areas for several fish species. The location of these spawning areas therefore is an important tool for managers in conserving fish diversity of Taï National Park. Keywords: spawning sites, stage of sexual maturity, Ichtyofauna, Buyo Dam Lake.