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Quadratic relationships between group size and foraging efficiency in a herbivorous primate
Cyril C Grueter1,2,3,4, Andrew M Robbins5, Didier Abavandimwe6
1Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany. cyril.grueter@uwa.edu.au.
Scientific Reports
|November 15, 2018
Summary
Group size impacts mountain gorilla foraging efficiency. Intermediate groups traveled more and ate less, while the largest group showed improved foraging, possibly due to competition advantages.
Area of Science:
- Primate Ecology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Feeding competition significantly influences foraging efficiency, a key factor in the social structure of gregarious species.
- Understanding the relationship between group size and foraging is crucial for primate social organization and ecological dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how varying group sizes affect daily travel distances, activity budgets, and energy intake in mountain gorillas.
- To determine the non-linear relationship between group size and foraging efficiency in this primate species.
Main Methods:
- Data collection spanned 16 months, involving measurements of daily travel distances in five groups, activity budgets of 79 gorillas across nine groups, and energy intake for 23 adult females in three groups.
- Statistical analyses were employed to correlate group size with travel behavior, time allocation, and energy assimilation.
Main Results:
- Travel distances and time spent traveling generally increased with group size, suggesting intragroup feeding competition.
- However, the largest group exhibited decreased travel and higher energy intake rates, indicating enhanced foraging efficiency.
- The largest group also displayed reduced home range overlap, potentially linked to male mating competition and avoidance strategies.
Conclusions:
- Intermediate-sized gorilla groups demonstrated the lowest foraging efficiency.
- The study reveals a complex, non-linear relationship between group size and foraging efficiency in mountain gorillas.
- Ecological factors, such as intergroup contest competition and mating competition, play a significant role in shaping foraging strategies and social dynamics.
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