title: Nutritional significance of the selective ingestion of Albizia zygia gum exudate by wild chimpanzees in Bossou, Guinea.
abstract: The selective ingestion of plant gum exudates by chimpanzees has been frequently observed at various study sites. At Bossou, Guinea, chimpanzees also frequently ingest Albizia zygia gum exudate. A functional explanation for this behavior is lacking, so we evaluated its possible contribution of energy in the form of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) as well as minerals. An in vitro fermentation study of A. zygia gum using the fecal bacteria of a Bossou chimpanzee showed that carboxylic acids were produced with a 6-hr lag phase up to 44 mmol/l by 18 hr of incubation. Acetate was the most abundant acid produced, followed by lactate and propionate. The energy supplied from the fermentation of a piece of gum exudate (20-30 g) was negligible in comparison with the estimated daily energy requirements of chimpanzees in the wild. However, A. zygia gum exudate (20-30 g) can supply sufficient amounts of calcium, manganese, magnesium, and potassium to fulfill the daily requirements for these minerals in chimpanzees.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Science, Kyoto Prefectural University, Japan. k-ushida@kpu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ushida
authors.forename: Shiho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Gaku
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ohashi
mesh_terms: D031289:Albizzia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005285:Fermentation; D005518:Food Preferences; D016701:Guinea; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012116:Resins, Plant