Mineralogical and chemical interactions of soils eaten by chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains and Gombe Stream National Parks, Tanzania

• Verfasst von: Aufreiter, Susanne [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Wink, Michael [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Mineralogical and chemical interactions of soils eaten by chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains and Gombe Stream National Parks, Tanzania
• Verf.angabe: Susanne Aufreiter, William C. Mahaney, Michael W. Milner, Michael A. Huffman, Ronald G.V. Hancock, Michael Wink and Matthias Reich
• Jahr: 2001
• Umfang: 27 S.
• Fussnoten: Gesehen am 06.10.2017
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: Journal of chemical ecology
• Ort Quelle: New York, NY [u.a.] : Springer Science + Business Media B.V., 1975
• Jahr Quelle: 2001
• Band/Heft Quelle: 27(2001), 2, Seite 285-311
• ISSN Quelle: 1573-1561
• DOI: doi:10.1023/A:1005628405321
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• K10plus-PPN: 1564137279

Abstract

Termite mound soils eaten by chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains and Gombe National Parks, Tanzania, have mineralogical and geochemical compositions similar to many soils eaten by higher primates, but release very low levels of either toxic or nutritional inorganic elements to solution at acid pH. Comparison with control (uneaten) soils from the same areas showed lower levels of carbon and nitrogen in the eaten soils, a relationship confirmed by surface analysis. Surface analysis also revealed lower levels of iron on particle surfaces versus interiors, and higher levels of iron on ingested versus control soil particle surfaces. The soils can adsorb dietary toxins, present in the plant diet or those produced by microorganisms. Taking the toxic alkaloids quinine, atropine, sparteine, and lupanine as examples, it is evident that soils from Mahale have a very good adsorptive capacity. A new adaptive advantage of geophagy is proposed, based on the prevention of iron uptake. The behavior of the soils in vitro is consistent with the theory that geophagy has a therapeutic value for these chimpanzees.