Thermal adaptation and the potential anticipation of overnight weather in the nesting decisions of chimpanzees

Journal article

Animals employ behavioral strategies to buffer environmental stress, yet it remains unclear whether such adjustments reflect reactive responses to current conditions or proactive anticipation of conditions yet to come. Nest building by great apes provides an ideal context in which to examine this distinction because nests function both as sleeping platforms and thermoregulatory structures. We investigated the nesting behavior of eastern chimpanzees in relation to fine-scale microclimatic variation. We recorded in situ measurements of temperature, humidity, wind speed, and rainfall at the time of nest construction and during the subsequent overnight period. Then, we modeled how these microclimatic factors influenced the nesting site selection, nest structure, nest insulation, and the characteristics of the nesting tree. Chimpanzees preferentially constructed nests in warmer, less windy microclimates, built thicker and deeper nests under cooler or wetter conditions, and selected taller trees with denser canopy cover prior to rainy nights. Across analyses, models that incorporated overnight weather consistently outperformed those that incorporated weather variables at the time of nest construction, indicating that nesting decisions align more closely with overnight conditions than with conditions at the time of nest building. This outcome is consistent with the possibility that chimpanzees adjust nest-building behavior in relation to expected overnight thermal conditions, potentially using proximate cues, although it does not provide conclusive evidence of anticipatory decision-making. These findings suggest flexible thermoregulatory responses and possible integration of environmental cues in nesting decisions, offering new insight into the cognitive foundations of behavioral adaptation under variable climatic conditions.

Authors: Al-Razi, H; Muhayeyezu, F; Mulindahabi, F; Niyigaba, P; Bantlin, DA

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Cell Press
• Journal: Current Biology
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 2662-2672
• Place of publication: England
• Publication date: 2026-04-28
• Acceptance date: 2026-04-03
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2026.04.005
• EISSN: 1879-0445
• ISSN: 0960-9822
• Pmid: 42054998
• Language: English