![]() ![]() Received: MaAccepted: Published: July 9, 2014Ĭopyright: © 2014 Klailova, Lee. PLoS ONE 9(7):Įditor: Roscoe Stanyon, University of Florence, Italy The importance of olfaction to ape social communication may be especially pertinent in Central African forests where limited visibility may necessitate increased reliance on other senses.Ĭitation: Klailova M, Lee PC (2014) Wild Western Lowland Gorillas Signal Selectively Using Odor. Silverbacks appear to use odor as a modifiable form of communication where odor acts as a highly flexible, context dependent signaling mechanism to group members and extra-group units. Odor strength also varied according to the focal silverback's strategic responses during high intensity inter-unit interactions. Extreme silverback odor was predicted by the presence and intensity of inter-unit interactions, silverback anger, distress and long-calling auditory rates, and the absence of close proximity between the silverback and mother of the youngest infant. Measured through a human pungency scale, we determined the factors that predicted extreme levels of silverback odor for one wild western lowland gorilla ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla) group silverback. If gorilla scent is used as a signaling mechanism instead of only a sign of arousal or stress, odor emission should be context specific and capable of variation as a function of the relationships between the emitter and perceiver(s). We present the first study of wild gorilla chemo-communication and the first analysis of olfactory signaling in relation to arousal levels and odor strength in wild apes. ![]() Apart from one study on wild chimpanzee sniffing, our understanding is limited to anecdotes. ![]() The use of odor cues in wild ape social communication has been only rarely explored. Despite mounting evidence for social chemo-signaling in humans, the extent to which it modulates behavior is debated and can benefit from comparative models of closely related hominoids. ![]() The chemical sense is the oldest sense and is shared by all organisms including bacteria. Unlike their eastern cousins, western gorillas are hunted for bushmeat, and in recent years the spread of the Ebola virus has devastated the gorilla population.Mammals communicate socially through visual, auditory and chemical signals. But as the logging industry engulfs the forest, bringing roads, hunters and disease, the western lowland gorillas’ long-term future has been thrown into uncertainty. Until recently, conservationists were less concerned about the long-term future of the western lowland gorilla as their vast forest home created a natural boundary between them and their human neighbours. Habitat loss, hunting for bushmeat, disease (especially the Ebola virus), logging, mining Widespread throughout west and central Africa They also eat leaves, shoots, bark, ants and other insects. Like all gorillas, they are largely herbivorous, but western gorillas are particularly fond of fruit, which makes up most of their diet when available. Western lowland gorillas live in family groups led by a dominant silverback, but unlike eastern gorillas, the group will often split up during the day, coming back together at night to nest. They often have much redder or greyer fur, adult males have striking chestnut fur on their head and neck, and the characteristic fur on their back extends further down their thighs giving them a more full-bodied silver look. Western lowland gorillas are smaller than their eastern cousins – although adult males can still weigh up to 180kg (28st 4lb). Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic ![]()
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