Minerals in the Foods Eaten by Mountain Gorillas (Gorilla beringei)

Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, primarily obtain minerals from herbaceous leaves, which form the bulk of their diet. However, less commonly eaten foods were found to be higher in specific minerals, suggesting these items may play a crucial role in meeting gorillas' mineral requirements. A principal component analysis revealed little correlation among minerals in different food items, indicating that mountain gorillas likely increase dietary diversity to ensure they acquire a full range of essential minerals. The study highlights the importance of understanding mineral bioavailability and its implications for gorilla health, emphasizing the need for further research to assess whether suboptimal mineral balance in their diet could have adverse consequences.

Cancelliere, E. C., DeAngelis, N., Nkurunungi, J. B., Raubenheimer, D., & Rothman, J. M. (2014). Minerals in the Foods Eaten by Mountain Gorillas (Gorilla beringei). PLoS ONE, 9(11), e112117. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0112117