Chimpanzee
Pan troglodytes
A Rain Forest Is The Original Habitat of the Chimpanzee
A humid and deciduous rain forest in mid-central Africa near the Congo River is the original habitat for a Chimpanzee and is a perfect home for them.
New Habitat - Open Range Zoo in Rockville, MD
Below is a drawing of the Chimpanzee in the new habitat with trees, plants, rocks, a rabbit and ants. Four Native plants include a Chestnut Oak Tree, Deerberry Tree, May Apple Tree, and a Black Rasberry Tree. These should provide fruit and shelter for the Chimpanzee in its new habitat in Rockville, MD. Below the drawing are 2 physical and 2 behavioral adaptations of the Chimpanzee that have been identified.
Physical Adaptation # 1 - Chimpanzees Have Longer Arms Than Legs
Chimps have long arms so they can swing from tree to tree. Also, this adaptation is a positive effect in the new habitat because it helps them travel and move easier. I will add lots of tall trees with branches.
Physical Adaptation # 2 -Chimpanzees Have Thumbs and Big Toes
The Chimpanzee has opposable thumbs and big toes, almost like four hands. They use them to grab branches in trees and to hold things. These physical features are very helpful to gather food and will be a positive effect in the new habitat. They are similar to human hands and feet. I will provide bananas and native fruit producing trees so they can pick up their food. Trees with branches are needed when they climb. I can also add things they can hold and play with.
Behavioral Adaptation #1- Chimpanzees build nests in high trees
Chimpanzees build nests in high trees with leaves twigs to protect them from predators. They live in the tall trees. This adaptation has a positive effect in the new habitat as they can build a nest to sleep in and protect themselves. I will provide tall trees with lots of leaves, branches, and twigs to make nests. They also use the tall trees to swing to and from each other and to travel.
Behavioral Adaptation #2 - CHimpanzees Make Tools Out of stones, grass stems and twigs to get food
Chimpanzees will need lots of rocks and twigs, large sticks, and tall grass. The chimpanzees can make tools to help them find food, like nuts, with these materials which will have a positive effect in the new habitat. I will add lots of rocks and twigs and keep the grass long.
Chimpanzee Food Web including 10 other organisms
Other organisms in the Chimpanzee Food Web include: Leopard, Lion, Monkey, Rabbit, Fruit, Nuts, Grasshoppers, Ants, Termites, Plants
Energy Pyramid
Impact of introducing the Chimpanzee to the producers and/or physical landscape
The Chimpanzee will rely a lot on the Producers in the new environment. The Chimpanzee eats plants and lives in the trees. They eat lots of fruit and nuts which grow on trees. Their favorite food is bananas. There aren't any banana trees in Rockville, MD, so they most likely will have to eat fruit from other local trees, like the apple and berry trees. There will need to be lots of plants and trees in the open range zoo. When the weather gets colder in the winter and the plants and fruits are not growing, it will be harder for the Chimpanzee to find food. Also when the temperature gets colder in the winter, the water source could freeze up and they might not have any water to drink. It likely will be too cold for them to stay warm and their hair may not be enough to keep them warm. The rainforest is about 70 degrees F on average, but doesn't experience very cold winters like we usually have in Rockville, MD. The average temperature in Rockville, MD is 54.6 degrees, but it will get below freezing (32 degrees F) and that will probably be too cold for the Chimpanzee to survive. There will need to be an indoor facility in the open range for the chimp to live in the cold months, or the Chimpanzees would have to be moved south for the winter to another open range zoo.
The Chimpanzee is on the Endagered Species List
The Chimpanzee is endangered due to the habitat destruction, hunting of them and disease. Their forest (habitat) is threatened with logging. Destruction of the trees impacts the animals in Africa. Humans are also hunting Chimpanzees for meat and also using the chimps for research. When the Chimpanzee comes into contact with humans, there is an increase in the threat of diseases. All of of these facts are reasons why the Chimpanzee is on the endangered species list.