Researchers stunned to discover cause of change in chimpanzee mating behavior: 'Rarely been demonstrated before'
A recent study on chimpanzees in Taï National Park in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, revealed that chimpanzees are losing traditions of male mating gestures. This coincides with declining chimpanzee populations due to human activity, according to an article posted to Phys.org. The loss of traditional chimpanzee social and cultural behaviors within groups may never be recovered even if population numbers return to healthier states.
Like other wildlife species, including koalas and polar bears, chimpanzees are threatened by habitat loss. Human activity — such as deforestation from logging, mining, and agriculture — destroys chimpanzee habitats. As a result, chimpanzees are forced into small areas of the forest where they are more vulnerable to poaching (to be kept as exotic pets or used as bushmeat, as the International Fund for Animal Welfare reported).
They are also forced to resort to alternative food sources, such as bat guano, which could increase the risk of communicable diseases and reduce the population.
Male chimpanzees use specific mating request gestures, such as the "knuckle knock" or "heel click," to signal to female chimpanzees that they are ready for reproductive activities.
According to the recent chimpanzee study, chimpanzees in the North group used the "knuckle knock" widely before the year 2004. But North group male chimpanzees have not used the "knuckle knock" gesture in over 20 years now.
This may be due to the loss of male chimpanzee role models who would otherwise carry on the traditional mating request gesture. In 2008, the last adult male chimpanzee of the North group was killed by a poacher, the study found, wiping out any male role models to teach younger generations the local group's traditional signal.
Studying the development of communicative gestures within groups and between neighboring groups, the study authors found that variance in mating gestures and signals indicated "socially learned dialects in chimpanzees, evidence that has rarely been demonstrated before," senior author Catherine Crockford said, per Phys.org.
Chimpanzees are listed as endangered species under the Intentional Union for the Conservation of Nature, according to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation. Declining chimpanzee populations could mean the risk of losing these species forever, disrupting the balance of local ecosystems and potentially leading to further species extinctions.
The recent study also revealed that the effects of a dip in population may be long-lasting even if the decline is temporary. For example, though North group male chimpanzee numbers have "returned to levels comparable to when the gesture was last observed," the gesture has not returned, the study found. The behavior has been lost for the entire group.
Conservation groups like the World Wildlife Fund are working to establish protected areas in parts of Africa where chimpanzees naturally roam and live. Advocates are also petitioning government stakeholders and training law enforcement officers to disrupt the chimpanzee poaching trade, the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance reported.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Researchers make troubling discovery about dangerous health issue with bus stops: 'Like an oven'
While transportation accounts for over 20% of planet-warming pollution, public transit reduces it and provides a more affordable and safe alternative for commuting. More than two-thirds of public transit users walk to transit stations, according to the American Public Transportation Association, but extreme temperatures can make getting to these stations difficult. Shelters at transit stations are designed to protect users from extreme temperatures and weather. However, a study at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston discovered some of these shelters worsen the problem, increasing temperatures and transit users' risk for heat stress. The study measured wet bulb globe temperature –– which combines air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation –– in shaded and unshaded areas at bus stops in Houston. While shade reduced WBGT, one type of shelter increased temperatures. The ground in this type of shelter, when unshaded, was about 5 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than the ground outside the shelter, the researchers discovered. These types of shelters contained aluminum frames and translucent acrylic walls, which "trapped radiation inside the shelter" and made them "like an oven," researcher Kevin Lanza said, per Hot temperatures at bus stops increase bus riders' risk for heat stress, which includes "a combination of factors, not just the temperature," according to Lanza, and can develop into life-threatening heat stroke.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Scientists investigate little-known side effect of next-gen power plants: 'So important'
In a study from the University of California, Davis published in Nature Water, scientists explained how floating solar projects impact birds and other wildlife, as explained in a summary published on Since 71% of the Earth is covered by water, placing solar panels on bodies of water is becoming a popular way to increase affordable energy projects without displacing land use. However, few studies have been done about how solar panels on water, or floating photovoltaics, affect aquatic wildlife. According to the National Audubon Society, more than 33% of bird populations in the U.S. are at high or moderate conservation concern. "Habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and urbanization is arguably the biggest threat to birds, along with climate change," said Virginia Tech associate professor in the College of Natural Resources and Environment Ashley Dayer in a school press release. "That's why it's so important to understand how waterbirds are going to respond to floating solar and if there is the possibility for conservation concessions at new floating solar facilities," said Elliott Steele, a UC Davis Wild Energy Center postdoctoral scholar who co-authored the study, per the summary. "We want to advance clean energy while promoting healthy, functional environments," Steele continued. "Achieving this balance requires that we rigorously study and understand how wildlife responds to floating solar so we can ensure that negative impacts are avoided and potential ecological benefits are realized." In the study, UC Davis scientists investigated how floating photovoltaic projects could impact birds. They documented a wide diversity of birds and their interactions with floating solar panels, as well as human interactions with wildlife on solar panels, sometimes trying to deter them. "We immediately knew this was a very important interaction, especially given the precipitous decline in waterbird numbers globally," said UC Davis professor Rebecca R. Hernandez in the summary. "We leveraged our team's expertise in ecology and energy system science to identify risks and solution pathways such that waterbirds and floating PV can coexist." "While we're at this critical threshold of renewable energy development, we want to put more thought into the design that can benefit birds and other wildlife as we go forward," said UC Davis Ph.D. candidate Emma Forester, per The scientists concluded that more research needs to be done to further explore how waterbirds interact with floating solar panels, as well as the effects they have on each other. What's the biggest obstacle stopping your organization from using solar panels? They're too expensive Don't know where to start They're an eyesore We already use solar panels Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. According to the summary, the authors have continued studying this in the field, noticing "black-crowned night herons resting on a floating solar structure before dawn, double-breasted cormorants jockeying for a favorable site, black phoebes nesting under panels, and more." Solar panels can help decrease harmful planet-warming pollution from other energy sources, like coal and natural gas, which contribute to loss of habitat for waterbirds. However, solar panels do take up land. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, it would take up to 0.8% of the entire area of the United States to meet our energy needs. With floating solar panels, scientists could create solar systems that don't destroy habitats. Incorporating solar panels onto bodies of water or in farm systems could have added benefits, including water retention and space savings. Fortunately, scientists have noticed positive interaction with water birds and floating solar panels so far. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Residents endure brutal conditions as record-breaking temperatures soar to 125 degrees: 'Extremely vulnerable'
May sizzled in the Middle East as the United Arab Emirates set back-to-back records for heat. The mercury climbed to an incredible 51.6 degrees Celsius (nearly 125 degrees Fahrenheit) on May 24 in Sweihan, a town in the Al Ain Region of the United Arab Emirates, according to an AFP report. It was only about 0.7 degrees Fahrenheit lower than the hottest temperature recorded in the UAE since tracking began in 2003. The temperature of 51.6 degrees Celsius in Sweihan and a measurement of 50.4 degrees Celsius (about 122.7 degrees Fahrenheit) in Abu Dhabi a day earlier both eclipsed the previous UAE record for May of 50.2 degrees Celsius (about 122.4 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the AFP report, which contains meteorology office information. It's been a brutal year for extreme temperatures in the Middle East. The UAE also reported an average daily high of 42.6 degrees Celsius (about 109 degrees Fahrenheit) in April, a new record for the month. A 2022 Greenpeace report titled "Living on the Edge" warned of the dangerous impact extreme heat would have on six countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. That report said the region was "extremely vulnerable" to the effects of an overheating planet, per Individual temperature records do not indicate a trend on their own, but taken in the broader context of average warming over time, they can highlight a larger concern. A recently released World Meteorological Organization report has forecasted continuing record-high global temperatures. "There is an 80% chance that at least one year between 2025 and 2029 will be warmer than the warmest year on record (currently 2024)," the report noted. "And there is an 86% chance that at least one year will be more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level." This underscores how close the world is to breaching — at least for a single-year average — the long-term 1.5-degree Celsius target limit for warming established by the Paris Agreement, a global pact of 195 nations. The WMO's warning shouldn't surprise anyone, since Earth has been running a fever for over a decade. Last year added to a streak: Each of the last 11 years ranks among the hottest ever recorded, and since only 2012, the U.S. has seen its eight warmest years, as Climate Central reported. As NASA noted, "Scientific evidence continues to show that human activities (primarily the human burning of fossil fuels) have warmed Earth's surface and its ocean basins, which in turn have continued to impact Earth's climate." Therefore, one way to try to avoid the worst effects of extreme heat is to seek alternatives to burning fuels for energy. Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. There have been promising new developments in the solar industry. For example, scientists in Japan have developed an all-organic material that could revolutionize solar panels — they are working on making solar panels not only more efficient, but also more eco-friendly. An international team of scientists is also collaborating to pave the way for more efficient thin-film solar panel technology. Thin film solar has been described as "the future of the solar industry" by the American Solar Energy Society because it's cheaper to make, uses fewer materials, and is easy to manufacture. Installing solar panels with a battery can help protect your home against blackouts and extreme weather while slashing your dependence on dirty energy — and in many cases, reducing your energy bill to nearly zero. With EnergySage, you can compare trusted installers and save up to $10,000 on solar installation. Embracing renewable energy sources like solar can help cool our planet by curbing harmful carbon pollution. Other ways to help the world and your wallet include replacing an old HVAC system with a heat pump and opting for an induction stove instead of a conventional range. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
