Author:
Lacroux Camille,Pouydebat Emmanuelle,Rossignol Marie,Durand Sophie,Aleeje Alfred,Asalu Edward,Chandre Fabrice,Krief Sabrina
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundEvery evening, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) build a sleeping platform so called “nest” by intertwining branches of tree. Most of chimpanzees’ communities studied have a preference for tree species in which they nest. As female mosquitoes are feeding on the blood of their host at nighttime, chimpanzees may prevent being disturbed and bitten by mosquitoes by selecting tree species having properties to repel them.MethodsTo test the hypothesis that chimpanzees choose tree species for their aromatic properties, data related to 1,081 nesting trees built between 2017 and 2019 in the Sebitoli community of Kibale National Park (Uganda) were analysed. The 10 most used trees were compared to the 10 most common trees in the habitat that were not preferred for nesting. Leaves from the 20 trees species were collected and hydro-distillated to obtain essential oils and one of the by-products for behavioural bioassays against females of the African mosquito,Anopheles gambiae.ResultsSebitoli chimpanzees showed tree preferences: 10 species correspond to more than 80% of the nesting trees. Out of the essential oil obtained from the 10 nesting trees, 7 extracts for at least one concentration tested showed spatial repellency, 7 were irritant by contact and none were toxic. In the other hand, for the abundant trees in their habitat not used by chimpanzees, only 3 were repellent and 5 irritants.Discussion and conclusionThis study contributes to evidence that chimpanzees, to avoid annoying mosquitoes, may select their nesting trees according to their repellent properties (linked to chemical parameters), a potential inspiration for human health.
Funder
La Phocéenne de Cosmétique
Association Nationale de la Recherche et de la Technologie
Centre Méditerranéen de l’Environnement et de la Biodiversité
Fondation Ensemble
Fondation pour la Nature et l’Homme
Fondation Prince Albert II
Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial
Great Apes Conservation Project
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Parasitology
Cited by
4 articles.
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