Chimpanzee feeding ecology and fallback food use in the montane forest of Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda

Eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, exhibit distinct feeding patterns influenced by seasonal fluctuations in food availability. Unlike lower-elevation forests, where figs are a minor component of the diet, chimpanzees here rely heavily on figs, particularly Ficus lutea, and consume flowers at seasonally high rates. Terrestrial herbaceous vegetation serves as a consistent 'filler' fallback food (FBF). This study, primarily using observational data with support from fecal analyses, reveals that higher-elevation montane forests, characterized by lower productivity and resource diversity, significantly shape chimpanzee foraging behavior. These findings contrast sharply with those from lower-altitude sites, highlighting the unique ecological dynamics of montane environments.

Matthews, J. K., Ridley, A., Niyigaba, P., Kaplin, B. A., & Grueter, C. C. (2019). Chimpanzee feeding ecology and fallback food use in the montane forest of Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda. American Journal of Primatology, 81(4). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.22971