Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T17:13:36.624Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A case study of a plant-animal relationship: Cola lizae and lowland gorillas in the Lopé Reserve, Gabon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Caroline E. G. Tutin ,
Elizabeth A. Williamson ,
M. Elizabeth Rogers  and
Michel Fernandez
Caroline E. G. Tutin
Affiliation:
Centre International de Recherches Médicates de Franceville, BP 769, Franceville, Gabon C.I.R.M.F. and Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Scotland
Elizabeth A. Williamson
Affiliation:
Centre International de Recherches Médicates de Franceville, BP 769, Franceville, Gabon Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Scotland
M. Elizabeth Rogers
Affiliation:
Centre International de Recherches Médicates de Franceville, BP 769, Franceville, Gabon Department of Zoology, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
Michel Fernandez
Affiliation:
Centre International de Recherches Médicates de Franceville, BP 769, Franceville, Gabon C.I.R.M.F. and Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Scotland
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The frails of Cola lizae, an endemic tree with a limited geographical distribution, have been a major food source for lowland gorillas in the Lopé Reserve during part of each year over a six-year period. Faecal analysis indicated that 11,000-18,000 Cola seeds km-2 were deposited by gorillas during the 4-month season in 1989. Gorillas are the only important dispersers of this species: other primates consume the succulent mesocarp, but do not swallow the large seed; elephants do not eat Cola fruits. Observations of Cola seeds in gorilla faeces showed a very high germination rate and, despite initial high mortality, 18% of seedlings still survived six months after deposition. Survival of seedlings was significantly better in faeces left at nest-sites than in other areas of the forest: 40% of seedlings were viable at nest-sites six months after deposition. This suggests that the open areas of forest, preferred by gorillas as nest-sites, are advantageous to the propagation of this species.

Keywords

ColafrugivoryGabonlowland gorillaGorilla ggorillaplant-animal interactionsseed dispersalseedling survival
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , May 1991 , pp. 181 - 199
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

LITERATURE CITED

Alexandre, D. Y. 1978. Le role disscminateur des elephants en forêt de Tai, Cote-d'Ivoire. La Terre el la Vie 32:47–72.Google Scholar
Chivers, D. J. & Hladik, C. M. 1984. Diet and gut morphology in primates. Pp 213–230 in Chivers, D. J., Wood, B. A. & Bilsborough, A. (eds). Food acquisition and processing in primates. Plenum Press, New York. 576 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Estrada, A. & Coates-Estrada, R. 1984. Fruit ealing and seed dispersal by howling monkey (Aloualta palliata) in the tropical rain forest of Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. American Journal of Primatotogy 6:77–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Estrada, A. & Coates-Estrada, R. 1986. Frugivory in howling monkeys (Aloualta palliata) at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico: dispersal and fate of seeds. Pp. 94–104 in Estrada, A. & Fleming, T. H. (eds). Frugivores and seed dispersal. Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dortrecht. 392 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Galdikas, B. M. F. 1982. Orang-utan as seed-dispersers at Tanjung Puting, central kalimantan: implications for conservation. Pp. 285–298 in Boer, L. E. M. de (ed.). The orang ulan, its biology and conservation. Boston Hingham, The Hague. 353 pp.Google Scholar
Garber, P. A. 1986. The ecology of seed dispersal in two species of Callitrichid primates (Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis). American Journal of Primatology 10:155–170.Google Scholar
Gautier-Hion, A. 1984. La dissemination des graines par les cercopithecides forestier Africans. Revue d'Ecologie (Terre et Vie) 39:159–165.Google Scholar
Gautier-Hion, A., Duplantier, J. -M., Quris, R., Feer, F., Sourd, C., Decoux, J. -P., Dubost, G., Emmons, L., Erard, C., Hecketsweiler, P., Moungazi, A., Roussilhon, C. & Thiollay, J. -M. 1985. Fruit characters as a basis of fruit choice and seed dispersal in a tropical forest vertebrate community. Oecologia 65:324–337.Google Scholar
Halle, N. 1987. Cola lizae N. Hallé (Sterculiaecea) Nouvelle espece du Moyen Ogooue (Gabon). Adansonia 3:229–237.Google Scholar
Herrera, C. M. 1986. Vertebrate-dispersed plants: why they don't behave the way they should. Pp. 5–18 in Estrada, A. & Fleming, T. H. (eds). Frugivores and seed dispersal. Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht. 392 pp.Google Scholar
Hladik, C. M. & Hladik, A. 1967. Observations sur le role des primates dans la dissémination des vegetaux de la forêt gabonaise. Biologia Gabonica 3:43–58.Google Scholar
Howe, H. F. 1980. Monkey dispersal and waste of a neotropical fruit. Ecology 61:944–959.Google Scholar
Howe, H. F. & Vande Kerckhove, G. A. 1979. Fecundity and seed dispersal of a tropical tree. Ecology 60:180–189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ibikunle, B. O. & Mackenzie, J. A. 1974. Germination of kola (Cola nitida (Vent) Schott Endl). Turrialba 24:187–192.Google Scholar
Idani, G. 1986. Seed dispersal by pygmy chimpanzees (Pan paniscus): a preliminary report. Primates 27:411–447.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Janson, C. H. 1983. Adaptation of fruit morphology to dispersal agents in a neotropical forest. Science 219:187–189.Google Scholar
Janzen, D. H. 1970. Herbivores and the number of tree species in tropical forests. American Naturalist 104:501–528.Google Scholar
Janzen, D. H. 1983. Seed and pollen dispersal by animals: convergence in the ecology of contamination and sloppy harvest. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 20:103–113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lieberman, D., Hall, J. B., Swaine, M. D. & Lieberman, M. 1979. Seed dispersal by baboons in the Shai Hills, Ghana. Ecology 60:65–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lieberman, M. & Lieberman, D. 1986. An experimental study of seed ingestion and germination in a plant-animal assemblage in Ghana. Journal of Tropical Ecology 2:113–126.Google Scholar
Lieberman, D., Lieberman, M. & Martin, C. 1987. Notes on seeds in elephant dung from Bia National Park, Ghana. Biolropica 19:365–369.Google Scholar
Miege, J., Miege, M. N. & Richti, A. 1970. Etude biologique et biochimique du liquide conienu dans les fruits de deux espèces de Cola. Archives des Sciences 23:151–195.Google Scholar
Milton, K. 1984. The role of food-processing factors in primate food choice. Pp. 249–279 in Rodman, P. S. – Cant, J. G. H. (eds). Adaptations for foraging in nonhuman primates. Columbia University Press, New York. 351 pp.Google Scholar
Ogutuga, D. B. A. 1975. Chemical composition and potential commercial uses of kola nut, Cola nitida, Vent. (Schott & Endlicher) Ghana Journal Agricultural Science 8:121–125.Google Scholar
Rogers, M. E. 1989. The feeding ecology oflowland gorillas in Gabon. Anthroquest 39:12–14.Google Scholar
Rogers, M. E., Williamson, E. A., Tutin, C. E. G. – Fernandez, M. 1988. Effects of the dry season on gorilla diet in Gabon. Primate Report 22:25–33.Google Scholar
Rogers, M. E., Maisels, F., Williamson, E. A., Fernandez, M. & Tutin, C. E. G. 1990. The diel of gorillas in the Lopé Reserve, Gabon: a nutritional analysis. Oecologia 84:326–339.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schaller, G. B. 1963. The mountain gorilla: ecology and behavior. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. 431 pp.Google Scholar
Takasak.I, H. 1983. Seed dispersal by chimpanzees: a preliminary note. African Study Monographs 3:105–108.Google Scholar
Tutin, C. E. G. & Fernandez, M. 1984. Nationwide census of gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) populations in Gabon. American Journal of Primatology 6:313–336.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tutin, C. E. G. & Fernandez, M. 1985. Foods consumed by sympatric populations of Gorilla gorilla gorilla and Pan troglodytes troglodytes in Gabon: some preliminary data. International Journal of Primatology 6:27–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tutin, C. E. G. & Fernandez, M. 1987. Sympatric gorillas and chimpanzees in Gabon. Anlhroquest 37:3–6.Google Scholar
Tutin, C. E. G., Fernandez, M., Rogers, M. E. R. & Williamson, E. A. In preparation. A preliminary analysis of ihe social structure of lowland gorillas in the Lopé Reserve, Gabon. For the Proceedings of the XIIth Congress of the International Primatologicai Society.Google Scholar
Van Der Pijl, L. 1972. Principles of dispersal in higher plants. (2nd edition) Springer Verlag, Berlin, 162 pp.Google Scholar
Wheelwright, N. & Orians, G. 1982. Seed dispersal by animals: contrasts with pollen dispersal, problems of terminology, and constraints on coevolution. American Naturalist 119:402–413.Google Scholar
Williamson, E. A. 1988. Behavioural ecology of western lowland gorillas in Gabon. PhD thesis, University of Stirling, Scotland. 169 pp.Google Scholar
Williamson, E. A., Tutin, C. E. G., Rogers, M. E. & Fernandez, M. 1990. Composition of the diet of lowland gorillas at Lopé in Gabon. American Journal of Primatology 21:265–277.Google Scholar