测距动力学是不同的社会生态因素如何影响生物体的空间决策和空间使用策略的物理和行为表示。西部低地大猩猩(Gorillagorillagorilla)是一个模型物种,可以根据该物种内部社会生态因素的自然变化以及与山地大猩猩的对应物进行比较来研究空间动态的驱动因素。在这项研究中,我们评估了资源季节性和社会动态对家庭范围大小变化的影响,利用率,在刚果共和国北部的8年研究期间,多个大猩猩组之间的组间重叠。这项研究表明,西部低地大猩猩的家园范围可以与山地大猩猩相媲美,而不是像以前想象的那样普遍更大的家庭范围,而且随着时间的推移,家庭范围是稳定的。空间使用变化的最大来源是群体间家庭范围重叠的程度。研究组没有显示种内范围大小的变化,也没有显示出关于水果资源季节性的组间重叠的变化。但是所有小组都表现出每月范围和核心区域随着小组规模的扩大,群体内饲养竞争的匹配预测。这些发现突出了群体间关系对空间使用的潜在影响,并促使进一步研究社会动态在测距策略中的作用。在这项研究中,与以前意识到的相比,我们发现大猩猩的测距行为具有更大的可变性和灵活性,这与改善比较研究和代表这些濒危灵长类动物提供保护策略有关。
Ranging dynamics are physical and behavioral representations of how different socioecological factors affect an organism\'s spatial decisions and space use strategies. Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are a model species to investigate the drivers of spatial dynamics based on both the natural variation in socioecological factors within the species and compared with their mountain gorilla counterparts. In this study, we evaluate the influences of resource seasonality and social dynamics on variation in home range size, utilization, and intergroup overlap among multiple gorilla groups over an 8-year study period in the northern Republic of Congo. This study shows that western lowland gorillas can have small home ranges comparable to mountain gorillas, rather than universally larger home ranges as previously supposed, and that home ranges are stable through time. The largest source of variation in space use was the degree of intergroup home range overlap. The study groups did not demonstrate intraspecific variation in range size nor changes in intergroup overlap with respect to seasonality of fruit resources, but all groups demonstrated expansion of monthly range and core area with group size, matching predictions of intragroup feeding competition. These findings highlight the potential impact of intergroup relationships on space use and prompt further research on the role of social dynamics in ranging strategies. In this study, we reveal a greater degree of variability and flexibility in gorilla ranging behavior than previously realized which is relevant to improving comparative studies and informing conservation strategies on behalf of these endangered primates.