Patterns of frugivory of the Budongo Forest chimpanzees, Uganda
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Date
2005
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Journal of Ecology
Abstract
Frugivory patterns of the chimpanzees in the Budongo
Forest Reserve, Uganda were studied between June 2000
and August 2001. Chimpanzee feeding habitats, movement,
group size and food eaten were assessed using focal
and scan sampling. It was found that fruits were scarce
during the dry season, when chimpanzees appeared and
moved in large groups over long distances and raided
farms at the forest edge. Chimpanzee movement out of the
forest to forage was influenced by seasonal fluctuations in
availability of preferred foods as some cultivated crops are
perennial. Presence of chimpanzees in a specific feeding
habitat was related to the availability of edible fruits both
within and between months, suggesting that the presence
of food may influence chimpanzee movement patterns.
Therefore, a good understanding of patterns of frugivory is
essential for making informed decisions about conservation
of chimpanzees and other frugivores like birds and
monkeys in Budongo as different forest habitats are under
varying human pressure because of logging and other
forms of utilization.
Description
Keywords
Chimpanzee group size, Feeding habitats, Movements, Seasons
Citation
Tweheyo, M., & Lye, K. A. (2005). Patterns of frugivory of the Budongo Forest chimpanzees, Uganda. African Journal of Ecology, 43(4), 282-290.