Population dynamics of western gorillas at Mbeli Bai

Robbins AM, Manguette ML, Breuer T, Groenenberg M, Parnell RJ, Stephan C, Stokes EJ, Robbins MM (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

PLoS ONE Public Library of Science

Book Volume: 17

Pages Range: e0275635-

Journal Issue: 10

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275635

Abstract

Long-term studies of population dynamics can provide insights into life history theory, population ecology, socioecology, conservation biology and wildlife management. Here we examine 25 years of population dynamics of western gorillas at Mbeli Bai, a swampy forest clearing in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, the Republic of Congo. The Mbeli population more than doubled from 101 to 226 gorillas during the study. After adjusting for a net influx of gorillas into the study population, the increase represents an inherent growth rate of 0.7% per year, with 95% confidence limits between -0.7% and 2.6%. The influx of gorillas mainly involved immigration of individuals into existing study groups (social dispersal), but it also included the appearance of a few previously unknown groups (locational dispersal). The average group size did not change significantly during the study, which is consistent with the possibility that western gorillas face socioecological constraints on group size, even when the population is increasing. We found no significant evidence of density dependence on female reproductive success or male mating competition. The distribution of gorillas among age/sex categories also did not change significantly, which suggests that the population had a stable age structure. Our results provide evidence of population stability or growth for some western gorillas (albeit within a small area). The results highlight the value of law enforcement, long-term monitoring, and protected areas; but they do not diminish the importance of improving conservation for this critically endangered species.

Authors with CRIS profile

Claudia Stephan Lehrstuhl für Entwicklungsbiologie

Involved external institutions

Nouabalé-Ndoki Foundation CG Congo (CG) Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Robbins, A.M., Manguette, M.L., Breuer, T., Groenenberg, M., Parnell, R.J., Stephan, C.,... Robbins, M.M. (2022). Population dynamics of western gorillas at Mbeli Bai. PLoS ONE, 17(10), e0275635-. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275635

MLA:

Robbins, Andrew M., et al. "Population dynamics of western gorillas at Mbeli Bai." PLoS ONE 17.10 (2022): e0275635-.

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