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- Sex-mediated gene flow in grayfoot chacma baboons (Papio ursinus griseipes) in Gorongosa National Park, MozambiquePublication . Silva, Maria Joana Ferreira da; Tralma, Paula; Colmonero-Costeira, Ivo; Cravo-Mota, Mariana; Farassi, Rassina; Hammond, Philippa; Lewis-Bevan, Lynn; Bamford, Marion K.; Biro, Dora; Lüdecke, Tina; Mathe, Jacinto; Bobe, René; Capelli, Cristian; Martínez, Felipe I.; Carvalho, SusanaDispersal behavior influences gene flow and the spatial distribution of genetic diversity, which is crucial for a species' evolutionary trajectory and population persistence under environmental changes. We used gene flow as a proxy to investigate dispersal patterns in the grayfoot chacma baboon (Papio ursinus griseipes) in Gorongosa National Park (GNP), central Mozambique. The baboons inhabit a mosaic landscape with a seasonally variable environment. Thirty-two years ago, GNP was the epicenter of a major war that severely reduced apex predators, resulting in limited mammalian predation on baboons. We aimed to characterize genetic diversity, examine the extent and direction of sex-biased gene flow at different time frames and investigate changes in population size and recent migration events. We collected 121 non-invasive DNA samples and analyzed uni- and bi-parentally inherited markers, comprising mitochondrial DNA, autosomal and Y-linked microsatellites, at two geographic locations (GNP and Catap & uacute; Forest Reserve) 150 km apart. We observed high genetic diversity and no evidence of a recent population decline. We identified six mitochondrial haplotypes, including a genetically distinct one in Catapu Forest Reserve. We found molecular evidence for historical and current male-mediated gene flow and female philopatry. Our results highlight the resilience of dispersal patterns in Papio sp. in diverse and seasonally variable ecosystems which have been disturbed by anthropogenic activities.
- West side story: regional inter‐troop variation in baboon bark‐stripping at gorongosa national park, MozambiquePublication . Biro, Dora; Muschinski, Jana; Hammond, Philippa; Bobe, René; Bamford, Marion K.; Capelli, Cristian; de Oliveira Coelho, João; Farassi, Rassina; Lüdecke, Tina; Martinez, Felipe I.; Silva, Maria Joana Ferreira; Carvalho, Susana; Mathe, JacintoObjectives: Baboons possess sophisticated physical and social cognitive abilities; hence, the lack of evidence to date of largescale behavioral variation in these primates is puzzling. Here we studied a candidate for such variation—the stripping of bark from Acacia robusta trees for consumption of the sap and soft tissue underneath—in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. Materials and Methods: We surveyed an area inhabited by ~60 troops of chacma baboons, recording the availability and characteristics of the target trees, as well as the presence or absence of bark-stripping at 45 habitat plots distributed across a grid covering an area of ~300km2. Results: Camera traps confirmed the presence of baboons at all habitat plots, and we identified regional clumping in the distribution of the behavior, a pattern consistent across two consecutive years. Proportion and mean height/width of A. robusta did not predict whether bark-stripping behavior was present at a given site, nor did broader ecological variables such as habitat type and distance to the nearest water source. However, stripping sites had significantly higher numbers of A. robusta than non-stripping sites, and within a given bark-stripping site, baboons preferred to strip taller and wider trees among those available. Discussion: The prominent geographical clustering we uncovered may have been driven by opportunity (i.e., the prevalence of A. robusta at a given site), but is also consistent with a possible (non-mutually exclusive) cultural interpretation. We propose avenues for future research on Gorongosa's baboons to better quantify the relative contributions of ecology, genetics, and social.
- West Side Story: regional inter‐troop variation in baboon bark‐stripping at gorongosa national park, MozambiquePublication . Biro, Dora; Muschinski, Jana; Hammond, Philippa; Bobe, René; Bamford, Marion K.; Capelli, Cristian; de Oliveira Coelho, João; Farassi, Rassina; Lüdecke, Tina; Martinez, Felipe I.; Silva, Maria Joana Ferreira; Mathe, Jacinto; Carvalho, SusanaObjectives: Baboons possess sophisticated physical and social cognitive abilities; hence, the lack of evidence to date of large-scale behavioral variation in these primates is puzzling. Here we studied a candidate for such variation—the stripping of barkfrom Acacia robusta trees for consumption of the sap and soft tissue underneath—in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.Materials and Methods: We surveyed an area inhabited by ~60 troops of chacma baboons, recording the availability andcharacteristics of the target trees, as well as the presence or absence of bark-stripping at 45 habitat plots distributed across a gridcovering an area of ~300 km 2 .Results: Camera traps confirmed the presence of baboons at all habitat plots, and we identified regional clumping in the distri-bution of the behavior, a pattern consistent across two consecutive years. Proportion and mean height/width of A. robusta did notpredict whether bark-stripping behavior was present at a given site, nor did broader ecological variables such as habitat type anddistance to the nearest water source. However, stripping sites had significantly higher numbers of A. robusta than non-strippingsites, and within a given bark-stripping site, baboons preferred to strip taller and wider trees among those available.Discussion: The prominent geographical clustering we uncovered may have been driven by opportunity (i.e., the prevalenceof A. robusta at a given site), but is also consistent with a possible (non-mutually exclusive) cultural interpretation. We proposeavenues for future research on Gorongosa's baboons to better quantify the relative contributions of ecology, genetics, and social.