Tropical Rainforest Project |
K-Selected species: CHimpanzee
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Name: Chimpanzee (Pan Troglodytes)
Also Known As: Chimps
Group: Army
Type: Mammal
Diet: Omnivore
Size: Grow up to 5.6 Feet
Red List Category: Endangered a4cd
Community Description- Chimpanzees live in scattered groups ranging from about 15 to 80 members in each. Males can leave and rejoin these groups freely, and each group has a dominant group leader, with subsequent group members who have some level of authority.
Population Description- The population of Chimpanzees has decreased substantially in the past few centuries. Chimpanzees live in scattered groups, and in some areas are very scarce and in other areas they are abundant.
Population Size- Between 150,000 and 250,000 left on Earth.
Population Density- Chimps are generally scattered and only dense in particular areas. They are not as dominant and present as they once were.
Population Distribution- Approximately 130,000-170,000 in Africa
Population Sex Ratio- The sex ratio most Chimpanzee communities is relatively female based.
Population Age Structure- There are more young chimpanzees than old due to high mortality rates in the wild, but Chimpanzees live to 40 or 45 on average but can live into their 50s and sometimes even their 60s.
Density-Dependent Factors- Ability to hunt in packs and ability to feed young chimpanzees.
Density-Independent Factors- The amount of food available in a certain area and the amount of forest as shelter.
Limiting Resources- Chimpanzee's thrive off of fruit and leaves, but also rely on hunting inferior species in packs as a form of food. Certain groups of chimpanzee's may consume up to a ton of meat annually.
Carrying Capacity (K)- The carrying capacity of Chimps is pretty large as Tropical Rainforests have a lot of energy to offer to them. However, populations are no longer thriving due to environmental change such as deforestation and pollution.
Intrinsic Growth Rate- The intrinsic growth rate for Chimpanzees is pretty low as they function in smaller organized groups and too many Chimpanzees would not be managable.
Resource Partitioning- Chimps usually don't compete with other animals for plant foods as there is such an abundance available to them, but they do compete with other major predators in the Rainforest for meat from smaller monkeys or rodents
Influence Of Latitude, Time, Habitat, Size, and distance From Other Communities- Chimpanzees live in Rainforests within 30 degrees North or South of the Equator where there is heavy rainfall and a temperate climate. This provides them with a nuetral environment filled with plantlife and fruits for them to eat.
Competition Interactions- Chimps compete with other primates and other large predators for territory.
Predation Interactions- Chimpanzees hunt in packs and use their brute force to kill inferior animals. They use the meat as a source of food but also as tools in some cases. Chimpanzees also use certain tools such as twigs and rocks to excavate anthills and eat the ants within them. Leopards have been known to hunt chimps and cause a large increase in their mortality rates.
Mutualism Interactions- Chimps eat fruits and nuts and can redistribute seeds to the soil through their waste where they can grow.
Commensalism Interactions- Chimps eat leaves off of trees and build nests in trees, and do not really harm or provide benefit to these trees.
Parasitism Interactions- Just like humans, Chimpanzees are susceptible to many parasites, and a common parasite that affects them is the parasite fauna which feeds off of gastrointestinal organs.
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Survivorship Curve- Chimps have a type 1 survivorship curve.
Yellow: Western chimpanzee distribution
Green: Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee distribution
Purple: Central chimpanzee distribution
Blue: Eastern chimpanzee distribution
Yellow: Western chimpanzee distribution
Green: Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee distribution
Purple: Central chimpanzee distribution
Blue: Eastern chimpanzee distribution