Production, seasonality and management of chimpanzee food trees in Budongo Forest, Uganda
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Date
2007
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
African journal of ecology
Abstract
This study monitored the phenology of fruit and leaf of 575
chimpanzee food trees (40 species belonging to fifteen
families) in the Budongo Forest Reserve (Uganda) from
June 1999 to June 2006. We also monitored the phenology
of all fig species in the study area. Fruit quantity varied
significantly between species and seasons, with peak during
wet season (April–June). The number of tree species in
fruit correlated positively with rainfall and was higher
during rainy season than dry season. Ficus species had
exceptionally high fruit quantities ranging from 400 to
650,000 fruits per tree in a single production period. Leaf
flushing peaked during late dry season and early wet
season (February–April). Mature leaves were available at
all seasons, even when young leaves were emerging. Only
Ficus sur, Broussonetia papyrifera and Celtis gomphophylla
had fruits throughout the year, and six species did not
produce fruits during the study period. Of the twelve species
that fruited between 40 and 58 months, three are very
important timber species and seven were once killed with
arboricides. We conclude that the long-term survival of
chimpanzees in tropical forests requires conservation of
their food trees.
Description
Keywords
Budongo, Chimpanzee food, Conservation, Human disturbances
Citation
Tweheyo, M., & Babweteera, F. (2007). Production, seasonality and management of chimpanzee food trees in Budongo Forest, Uganda. African journal of ecology. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2007.00765.x