%0 Journal Article %A Lucchesi, Stefano %A Cheng, Leveda %A Wessling, Erin G. %A Kambale, Bienfait %A Lokasola, Albert L. %A Ortmann, Sylvia %A Surbeck, Martin %A Surbeck, Martin %+ Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Max Planck Society The Leipzig School of Human Origins (IMPRS), Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Max Planck Society Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Max Planck Society The Leipzig School of Human Origins (IMPRS), Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Max Planck Society %T Importance of subterranean fungi in the diet of bonobos in Kokolopori : %G eng %U https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-0009-017E-9 %R 10.1002/ajp.23308 %7 2021-07-26 %D 2021 %* Review method: peer-reviewed %X Nonstaple food is a food resource which sole consumption does not allow the
maintenance of regular physiological functions, thus constituting a minor portion of
an individual's diet. Many primates consume nonstaple food such as meat, insects,
and fungi. Hypotheses on the dietary importance of nonstaple food include its role
as fallback food and as source of specific nutrients. We tested these two hypotheses
by investigating mycophagy (i.e., the consumption of fungi) in a population of wild
bonobos in the Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve, DRC. Specifically, we examined the
relationship between fungus consumption and various factors relevant to bonobo
feeding ecology (i.e., fruit abundance and the consumption of other food types).
Additionally, we measured the deviation from linear travel when bonobos searched
for fungi to evaluate the nature of fungus consumption (e.g., opportunistic or tar-
geted). Lastly, we examined the nutritional content of the major fungus species
consumed (Hysterangium bonobo) to test whether this food item was potentially
consumed as source of specific nutrients. We found that bonobos spent a higher
proportion of their time feeding on fungi when fruit abundance was higher, in-
dicating that fungi were not consumed as a fallback food. Moreover, bonobos de-
viated from linear travel when visiting fungus patches more than observed when
visiting fruit patches, suggesting that they actively sought out fungi. Lastly, initial
analyses suggest that H. bonobo samples contained high concentration of sodium.
Collectively, these results suggest that subterranean fungi appear to be attractive
food source to Kokolopori bonobos, and that mycophagy may serve to supplement
nutrients, like sodium, in bonobo diet. %K apes; fallback food; nutritional content; Pan paniscus; sodium; staple food %J American Journal of Primatology %V 83 %N 9 %] e23308 %@ 0275-25651098-2345