Article
Details
Citation
Williamson EA, Tutin CEG, Rogers ME & Fernandez M (1990) Composition of the diet of lowland gorillas at Lope in Gabon. American Journal of Primatology, 21 (4), pp. 265-277. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.1350210403
Abstract
This report describes the composition of the diet of lowland gorillas, Gorilla gorilla gorilla, at Lop¨¦ in central Gabon. This population inhabits mature evergreen tropical forest and is not habituated to human observers. Data were collected during 6 years of an ongoing long-term study, from feeding-trails and by direct observation, but mostly by fecal analysis. Gorillas ate 182 plant foods from 134 species and 36 families. The fruit diet was diverse: 95 species were consumed, most with succulent pulp, and some immature seeds were eaten. Fruit remains were recorded in 98% of dung. Vegetative parts of Aframomum and Marantaceae formed staple foods, as they were abundant, accessible, and available year-round. Soil and social insects were also ingested; remains of weaver ants were recorded in one third of feces. More foods have been recorded for gorillas at Lop¨¦ than elsewhere and this is the most frugivorous population studied so far.
Keywords
; Gorilla Gabon; Gorilla behavior; Gorilla Food preferences
Journal
American Journal of Primatology: Volume 21, Issue 4
| Status | Published |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 31/12/1990 |
| Publication date online | 03/06/2005 |
| URL | |
| Publisher | Wiley-Liss / American Society of Primatologists |
| ISSN | 0275-2565 |
| eISSN | 1098-2345 |
People (1)
Honorary Professor, Psychology