Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation of Boutourlini’s Blue Monkey (Cercopithecus mitis boutourlinii) in the Jibat Forest, Ethiopia

Dereje, Tesfaye (2010) Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation of Boutourlini’s Blue Monkey (Cercopithecus mitis boutourlinii) in the Jibat Forest, Ethiopia. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

Boutourlini’s blue monkey (Cercopithecus mitis boutourlinii) is listed as a vulnerable sub-species, which is endemic to south western parts of Ethiopia. This study was carried out from July 2009 to April 2010 to provide data on the habitat use, feeding behaviour, activity and ranging patterns of C. mitis boutourlinii blue monkey in the Jibat Forest. Jibat forest constitutes different habitat types including tree and bamboo dominated forests and bushlands with the surrounding farmlands. Study on two selected groups (Group I and II) of the monkey was carried out in different habitat types. Activity pattern, feeding ecology and ranging behaviour were studied with 15 minutes interval scan sampling. Vegetation composition in the home range was determined by quadrat sampling method. The majority of their activity time was spent in feeding 49.9 % and 47.3% by Group I and Group II, respectively; followed by moving (20.14%) and resting (20.57%) by Group I. Group II spent 16.26% of total time moving and 22.5% resting. Monkeys of Group I spent 9.4% of their time for socializing while Group II spent 13.9%. The time spent in other activities was very limited (<1%) in both groups. The overall diet composition of Boutourlini’s blue monkey was dominated by fruits, which accounted for 52.5% in Group I. Foraging on animal preys and young leaves constituted 14.7% and 11.1% of their time, respectively. They also feed on shoots (8.7%), flowers (7.3%), mature leaves (3.1%), bark (1.7%), seeds (0.6%) and other parts (0.4%). Monkeys in the Group II spent more time (29.8%) feeding on shoots. This group also spent 17.1% of their time feeding on young leaves, 17.0% on fruits, 13.1% on animal preys, 9.6% on seeds, 6.8% on flowers, 4.4% on mature leaves, 1.5% on bark, 0.7% on other plant parts and 0.1% on stem. A total of 24 and 33 plant species were consumed by Group I and II, respectively. Home range size was 72 ha for Group I and 61.2 ha for Group II. Anthropogenic effects were widely observed as a threat.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Uncontrolled Keywords: Boutourlini’s blue monkey, diet, habitat preference, home range, Jibat Forest.
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions: Africana
Depositing User: Selom Ghislain
Date Deposited: 04 Oct 2018 11:32
Last Modified: 04 Oct 2018 11:32
URI: http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/5913

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