Facial asymmetry tracks genetic diversity among Gorilla subspecies

Mountain gorillas are particularly inbred compared to other gorillas and even the most inbred human populations. As mountain gorilla skeletal material accumulated during the 1970s, researchers noted their pronounced facial asymmetry and hypothesized that it reflects a population-wide chewing side preference. However, asymmetry has also been linked to environmental and genetic stress in experimental models. Here, we examine facial asymmetry in 114 crania from three Gorilla subspecies using 3D geometric morphometrics. We measure fluctuating asymmetry (FA), defined as random deviations from perfect symmetry, and population-specific patterns of directional asymmetry (DA). Mountain gorillas, with a current population size of about 1000 individuals, have the highest degree of facial FA (explaining 17% of total facial shape variation), followed by Grauer gorillas (9%) and western lowland gorillas (6%), despite the latter experiencing the greatest ecological and dietary variability. DA, while significant in all three taxa, explains relatively less shape variation than FA does. Facial asymmetry correlates neither with tooth wear asymmetry nor increases with age in a mountain gorilla subsample, undermining the hypothesis that facial asymmetry is driven by chewing side preference. An examination of temporal trends shows that stress-induced developmental instability has increased over the last 100 years in these endangered apes

Social Perceptions of Forest Ecosystem Services in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The forests of the Albertine Rift are known for their high biodiversity and the important ecosystem services they provide to millions of inhabitants. However, their conservation and the maintenance of ecosystem service delivery is a challenge, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our research investigates how livelihood strategy and ethnicity affects local perceptions of forest ecosystem services. We collected data through 25 focus-group discussions in villages from distinct ethnic groups, including farmers (Tembo, Shi, and Nyindu) and hunter-gatherers (Twa). Twa identify more food-provisioning services and rank bush meat and honey as the most important. They also show stronger place attachment to the forest than the farmers, who value other ecosystem services, but all rank microclimate regulation as the most important. Our findings help assess ecosystem services trade-offs, highlight the important impacts of restricted access to forests resources for Twa, and point to the need for developing alternative livelihood strategies for these communities

Medicinal plants of the mountain region of Kahuzi-Biega in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Uses, accessibility and consensus among traditional therapists

peer reviewedFor ethnobotanists, aspects such as the influence of a plant's accessibility on its frequency of use, consensus among traditional therapists over the relationships between plants and diseases and the degree of fidelity to a plant for a given category of ailments are essential to assess a medicinal tradition, but difficult to interpret. We explored these aspects through a study based on semi-structured interviews with 88 traditional therapists from the Batwa, Havu, Shi and Tembo communities near the montane forests of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, in South Kivu Province in eastern DRC. Our survey showed that 77 plant species are used to treat pathologies grouped into 18 categories of ailments, the most frequent being digestive disorders and infections. Leaves and bark are the parts most frequently used, usually in recipes involving a single plant and mainly prepared as aqueous solutions. Although there is a positive correlation between the accessibility of plants and the frequency of their use (H = 17.64; p < 0.001), some less accessible forest plants have very high use frequencies. Consensus between traditional therapists is high overall, especially for musculo-skeletal disorders (= 0.83) and infections (= 0.80). Although the degree of fidelity to a plant for a given category of ailments is low overall, it is always high for at least one plant in all categories. Our results, although exploratory, suggest that certain medicinal traditions are well rooted in the region's local communities. This assumes a good local knowledge of medicinal plants, intergenerational transmission of that knowledge and a degree of cooperation between traditional therapists. Further studies are needed to assess these different aspects with greater precision

Medicinal plants of the mountain region of Kahuzi-Biega in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Uses, accessibility and consensus among traditional therapists

peer reviewedFor ethnobotanists, aspects such as the influence of a plant's accessibility on its frequency of use, consensus among traditional therapists over the relationships between plants and diseases and the degree of fidelity to a plant for a given category of ailments are essential to assess a medicinal tradition, but difficult to interpret. We explored these aspects through a study based on semi-structured interviews with 88 traditional therapists from the Batwa, Havu, Shi and Tembo communities near the montane forests of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, in South Kivu Province in eastern DRC. Our survey showed that 77 plant species are used to treat pathologies grouped into 18 categories of ailments, the most frequent being digestive disorders and infections. Leaves and bark are the parts most frequently used, usually in recipes involving a single plant and mainly prepared as aqueous solutions. Although there is a positive correlation between the accessibility of plants and the frequency of their use (H = 17.64; p < 0.001), some less accessible forest plants have very high use frequencies. Consensus between traditional therapists is high overall, especially for musculo-skeletal disorders (= 0.83) and infections (= 0.80). Although the degree of fidelity to a plant for a given category of ailments is low overall, it is always high for at least one plant in all categories. Our results, although exploratory, suggest that certain medicinal traditions are well rooted in the region's local communities. This assumes a good local knowledge of medicinal plants, intergenerational transmission of that knowledge and a degree of cooperation between traditional therapists. Further studies are needed to assess these different aspects with greater precision

Characterization of traditional healers in the mountain forest region of Kahuzi-biega, South-kivu, DR Congo [Caractérisation des tradipraticiens de la région de forêt montagneuse de Kahuzi-Biega, sud-Kivu, RD Congo]

Description of the subject. Several ethnobotanical studies have demonstrated links between traditional medicine practices and the ethnicity and geographical location of healers, while many others have concluded the opposite. This study deals with the typology of traditional healers in the mountain region of Kahuzi-Biega. Objectives. The goal is to understand whether the typology of traditional healers is related to their inter-ethnic and inter-zonal differences, based on diseases treated and plants used. Method. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted using the “PSSVV” method. This involved 88 traditional healers recognized as “specialists” in 33 villages adjacent to the forest of Kahuzi-Biega, in DR Congo. Multivariate analysis (clustering, ordination, Mantel test, IndVal) were applied to establish typologies of traditional healers. Results. Multivariate analyses showed that ethnicity and geographical location did not explain the practices and knowledge of healers. However, by using the IndVal method, differences were observed in their degree of specialization. Non-specialized healers (70%) could be distinguished from specialized healers (30%). Two clear groups of specialists emerged; those who treat bone trauma and those who treat obstetric-gynecological complaints. The Mantel correlation test revealed a positive association (r = 0.134, p < 0.05) between the “healers-plants” and “healers-diseases” matrices. This indicates that healers who treat similar diseases use similar herbs. Both typologies have shown their preferences for forest species (81%), especially trees (51%). Conclusions. This exploratory study suggests that traditional healers are characterized based on their specializations. This result helps in creating strategies to preserve local traditional knowledge and apply it to the conservation of species. © 2016, FAC UNIV SCIENCES AGRONOMIQUES GEMBLOUX. All rights reserved

Projecting the impact of an ebola virus outbreak on endangered mountain gorillas.

Ebola virus is highly lethal for great apes. Estimated mortality rates up to 98% have reduced the global gorilla population by approximately one-third. As mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are endangered, with just over 1000 individuals remaining in the world, an outbreak could decimate the population. Simulation modeling was used to evaluate the potential impact of an Ebola virus outbreak on the mountain gorilla population of the Virunga Massif. Findings indicate that estimated contact rates among gorilla groups are high enough to allow rapid spread of Ebola, with less than 20% of the population projected to survive at 100&nbsp;days post-infection of just one gorilla. Despite increasing survival with vaccination, no modeled vaccination strategy prevented widespread infection. However, the model projected that survival rates greater than 50% could be achieved by vaccinating at least half the habituated gorillas within 3&nbsp;weeks of the first infectious individual

Facial asymmetry tracks genetic diversity among Gorilla subspecies

Mountain gorillas are particularly inbred compared to other gorillas and even the most inbred human populations. As mountain gorilla skeletal material accumulated during the 1970s, researchers noted their pronounced facial asymmetry and hypothesized that it reflects a population-wide chewing side preference. However, asymmetry has also been linked to environmental and genetic stress in experimental models. Here, we examine facial asymmetry in 114 crania from three Gorilla subspecies using 3D geometric morphometrics. We measure fluctuating asymmetry (FA), defined as random deviations from perfect symmetry, and population-specific patterns of directional asymmetry (DA). Mountain gorillas, with a current population size of about 1000 individuals, have the highest degree of facial FA (explaining 17% of total facial shape variation), followed by Grauer gorillas (9%) and western lowland gorillas (6%), despite the latter experiencing the greatest ecological and dietary variability. DA, while significant in all three taxa, explains relatively less shape variation than FA does. Facial asymmetry correlates neither with tooth wear asymmetry nor increases with age in a mountain gorilla subsample, undermining the hypothesis that facial asymmetry is driven by chewing side preference. An examination of temporal trends shows that stress-induced developmental instability has increased over the last 100 years in these endangered apes