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Comparing methods for assessing chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) party size

observations, camera traps, and bed counts from a savanna–woodland mosaic in the Issa Valley, Tanzania


Description

Studying animal grouping behavior is important for understanding the causes and consequences of sociality and has implications for conservation. Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) party size is often assessed by counting individuals or extracted indirectly from camera trap footage or the number of nests. Little is known, however, about consistency across methods for estimating party size. We collected party size data for wild chimpanzees in the Issa valley, western Tanzania, using direct observations, camera traps, and nest counts over six years (2012–2018).