Do "savanna" chimpanzees consume C4 resources?

Journal of Human Evolution
Matt SponheimerJulia A Lee-Thorp

Abstract

Several stable carbon isotopic studies have shown that South African australopiths consumed significant quantities of C(4) resources (tropical grasses, sedges, or animals that eat those foods), but relatively little is known about the consumption of such resources by chimpanzees. Here, we present stable carbon isotopic data for 36 chimpanzee hair samples from Fongoli, one of the driest and most open areas inhabited by chimpanzees. These data suggest that the Fongoli chimpanzees consume little in the way of C(4) vegetation or animals that eat such vegetation, even though these resources are locally abundant and preferred fruits are more widely scattered than at most chimpanzee study sites. The homogeneity of the Fongoli results is especially striking and recalls the narrow isotopic distribution of stenotopic savanna mammals. This is in stark contrast to what has been observed for australopiths, which had highly variable diets and consumed about 35% C(4) vegetation on average. Carbon isotope data for modern and fossil Papio depict a dietarily variable genus with a tendency to consume C(4) vegetation. This trophic flexibility, or willingness to consume C(4) savanna resources, may make Papio a more profitable ecological analog for ...Continue Reading

Citations

Jul 16, 2010·Oecologia·Brooke E CrowleyNathaniel J Dominy
Jun 5, 2013·Primates; Journal of Primatology·Michael A SchillaciTodd M O'Hara
Jun 2, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Vicky M OelzeGottfried Hohmann
Nov 15, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Julia Lee-ThorpMichel Brunet
Dec 14, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Scott A BlumenthalThure E Cerling
Mar 27, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Geraldine E FahyChristophe Boesch
Jun 5, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Jonathan G WynnJessica N Wilson
Jun 5, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Thure E CerlingBernard A Wood
Jun 8, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Richard G Klein
May 3, 2007·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Justin D YeakelNathaniel J Dominy
Sep 22, 2010·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Julia A Lee-ThorpThure E Cerling
Sep 22, 2010·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·W C McGrew
Oct 15, 2011·Science·Peter S Ungar, Matt Sponheimer
Feb 16, 2008·Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology·Salvador Moyà-SolàSergio Almécija
Apr 5, 2014·Journal of Human Evolution·Robert C O'Malley, Michael L Power
Apr 8, 2014·Journal of Human Evolution·Robert C O'Malley, William C McGrew
Mar 5, 2016·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Sherry V Nelson, Lorenzo Rook
Oct 3, 2009·Journal of Human Evolution·Catherine C SmithDavid Pilbeam
Dec 20, 2015·American Journal of Primatology·Brooke E CrowleyMatt Sponheimer
Oct 1, 2008·Journal of Human Evolution·Darryl J de RuiterJulia A Lee-Thorp
Sep 28, 2012·American Journal of Primatology·Paul A SandbergMatt Sponheimer
Jun 26, 2012·American Journal of Primatology·Laurie J Reitsema
Jul 11, 2009·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Melanie Dammhahn, Peter M Kappeler
Oct 8, 2015·American Journal of Primatology·Scott A BlumenthalThure E Cerling
Nov 20, 2015·American Journal of Primatology·Roger Mundry, Vicky M Oelze
May 18, 2016·American Journal of Primatology·James E LoudonMatt Sponheimer
Aug 25, 2016·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Caroline A Phillips, Tamsin C O'Connell
Jul 6, 2012·Nature·Amanda G HenryLee Berger
Nov 15, 2006·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Julia Lee-Thorp, Matt Sponheimer

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.