Stress, Energetics and the Costs of Reproduction in Wild Chimpanzees

野生黑猩猩的压力、能量和繁殖成本

• 批准号: 0849380
• 负责人: Martin Muller
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: University of New Mexico
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-09-15 至 2012-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0849380&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Stress; Energetics; Costs; Reproduction; Wild

Stress, Energetics and the Costs of Reproduction in Wild ChimpanzeesObtaining accurate, regular assessments of energetic condition is a major challenge in studies of wild mammals. For behavioral ecologists, it is particularly important to record non-invasive measures of condition that impact neither behavior nor energy budgets. Preliminary research indicates that urinary C-peptide, a byproduct of insulin production, is a reliable and sensitive indicator of energy balance in apes. This study will employ non-invasive urine sampling to understand variation in energetic condition in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii). Measurements of both C-peptide and cortisol (a stress hormone) will be used to quantify the independent effects of energetic and social stress on chimpanzee growth, reproduction and health.The research exploits a unique 14-year dataset of urine samples and behavioral and ecological data from the Kanyawara chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Together with new, targeted observations, these data will test hypotheses about social dominance and the costs of reproduction. For females, the study will examine such costs over the reproductive cycle, with attention to differences between females living in rich and poor habitats. For male chimpanzees, the study will examine the impact of mating competition on energy budgets and health. The study tests the hypothesis that competition results in increased stress for dominant animals, reflecting the substantial energy costs of male reproduction. Results will shed light on the potential constraints on acquisition and maintenance of high status in this and other species. The broader impacts of this study will contribute to understanding the causes and consequences of energetic and social stress thus furthering conservation goals, particularly when ape populations visited by tourist groups can be regularly monitored. The project will support Ugandan field assistants, a post-doc, and at least one US graduate student. As a long-term research presence, the Kibale Chimpanzee Project will continue to support broader activities in chimpanzee conservation and community development.

野生黑猩猩的压力、能量学和繁殖成本获得准确、定期的能量状况评估是野生哺乳动物研究中的一个主要挑战。对于行为生态学家来说，记录既不影响行为也不影响能量预算的非侵入性条件测量尤为重要。初步研究表明，尿C肽是胰岛素产生的副产物，是猿类能量平衡的可靠而敏感的指标。本研究将采用非侵入性尿液采样，以了解野生黑猩猩（Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii）能量状况的变化。对C-肽和皮质醇（一种应激激素）的测量将用于量化能量和社会压力对黑猩猩生长、繁殖和健康的独立影响。这项研究利用了乌干达基巴莱国家公园Kanyawara黑猩猩14年来独特的尿液样本和行为及生态数据集。这些数据将与新的、有针对性的观察结果一起，检验关于社会支配地位和生殖成本的假设。对于雌性来说，这项研究将审查生殖周期中的这种成本，并注意生活在富裕和贫穷栖息地的雌性之间的差异。对于雄性黑猩猩，这项研究将研究交配竞争对能量预算和健康的影响。这项研究验证了竞争导致优势动物压力增加的假设，反映了雄性繁殖的大量能量成本。结果将揭示收购和维护高地位的潜在限制，在这个和其他物种。这项研究的更广泛的影响将有助于了解精力和社会压力的原因和后果，从而促进保护目标，特别是当旅游团访问的猿种群可以定期监测。 该项目将支持乌干达现场助理，博士后和至少一名美国研究生。作为一个长期的研究项目，Kibale黑猩猩项目将继续支持黑猩猩保护和社区发展方面更广泛的活动。