Genetic Monitoring of Wild Central Chimpanzees
Author Information
Author(s): Arandjelovic Mimi, Head Josephine, Rabanal Luisa I., Schubert Grit, Mettke Elisabeth, Boesch Christophe, Robbins Martha M., Vigilant Linda
Primary Institution: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Hypothesis
The resulting paternally inherited haplotypes should be the same or similar within groups, while differing between groups.
Conclusion
Genetic capture-recapture methods can provide valuable information on chimpanzee population size and structure with minimal disturbance to the animals.
Supporting Evidence
- Of the 444 samples, 46% yielded sufficient quantities of DNA for genotyping analysis.
- Using genetic capture-recapture, we estimate that 283 chimpanzees inhabited the research area.
- Genetic information suggested the occurrence of repeated cases of intergroup violence.
Takeaway
Scientists studied chimpanzee poop to figure out how many chimpanzees live in a park without bothering them.
Methodology
Collected wild chimpanzee faecal samples for genetic capture-recapture analyses over four years.
Potential Biases
Potential misidentification of samples and low extraction success rates.
Limitations
Poor amplification success rate limited the number of recaptures and precision of estimates.
Participant Demographics
Chimpanzees from a 132 km2 area of Loango National Park, Gabon.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
208–316
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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