Blue monkeys' utilization of five tree species in relation to the abundance of each tree species : teclea nobilis, Elaeodendron buchananii, Species 1, Grewia bicolor and Ficus sycamorus
This paper is a part of a larger study with the purpose of investigating foraging behaviour and feeding preferences of blue monkeys' (Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni) in the study area. The study took place in the Sabaringo forest just north of the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, where a group of...
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| Formato: | L3 |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés sueco |
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SLU/Dept. of Animal Environment and Health (until 231231)
2008
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| Materias: |
| _version_ | 1855571750264242176 |
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| author | Ahlbäck, Lina |
| author_browse | Ahlbäck, Lina |
| author_facet | Ahlbäck, Lina |
| author_sort | Ahlbäck, Lina |
| collection | Epsilon Archive for Student Projects |
| description | This paper is a part of a larger study with the purpose of investigating foraging behaviour and feeding preferences of blue monkeys' (Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni) in the study area. The study took place in the Sabaringo forest just north of the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, where a group of 50 blue monkeys live. In July 2006 the foraging and positioning preferences of lactating and non-lactating females regarding the different tree species in the forest were studied by a group of other Swedish students. To determine if these trees are rejected or preferred, a total inventory of the trees in the area was carried out by me and a fellow student in March 2007. We compared our results with previously collected data of the preferences of the monkeys. My thesis focuses on five of the ten most preferred trees whereas the other five are discussed in the corresponding paper by Kempe. A total of 10 260 trees were counted and 50 different species could be identified. The most common of my focal tree species was Teclea nobilis making up 35 % of the total number of trees but used for positioning only 15 % of the observation time. The species that were used for feeding in the highest extent was Grewia bicolor, especially by the lactating females who often ate the fruits from it. In relation to the percentage of the forest biomass that this species made up (calculated from its stem area) it was eaten from almost six times more than expected from its abundance. Ficus sycamorus had an even higher ratio between occurrence and usage as food, more than 1:30 counted by number of trees or stems. Because it is one of the largest trees, the number was much lower (about seven) counted by area cover. The species only contributed to approximately 0.2 % of the number of trees or stems and a little over 1 % of the total biomass counted by stem area. In addition to these three species Elaeodendron buchananii and an unclassified species (Species 1) were also studied in detail and are presented in this paper. |
| format | L3 |
| id | RepoSLU10778 |
| institution | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences |
| language | Inglés swe |
| publishDate | 2008 |
| publishDateSort | 2008 |
| publisher | SLU/Dept. of Animal Environment and Health (until 231231) |
| publisherStr | SLU/Dept. of Animal Environment and Health (until 231231) |
| record_format | eprints |
| spelling | RepoSLU107782017-11-24T12:03:14Z Blue monkeys' utilization of five tree species in relation to the abundance of each tree species : teclea nobilis, Elaeodendron buchananii, Species 1, Grewia bicolor and Ficus sycamorus Blå markattas nyttjande av fem trädarter i förhållande till förekomsten av varje trädart : teclea nobilis, Eleaodendron buchananii, Species 1, Grewia bicolor och Ficus sycamorus Ahlbäck, Lina cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni blue monkey sabaringo forest foraging positioning tree abundance This paper is a part of a larger study with the purpose of investigating foraging behaviour and feeding preferences of blue monkeys' (Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni) in the study area. The study took place in the Sabaringo forest just north of the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, where a group of 50 blue monkeys live. In July 2006 the foraging and positioning preferences of lactating and non-lactating females regarding the different tree species in the forest were studied by a group of other Swedish students. To determine if these trees are rejected or preferred, a total inventory of the trees in the area was carried out by me and a fellow student in March 2007. We compared our results with previously collected data of the preferences of the monkeys. My thesis focuses on five of the ten most preferred trees whereas the other five are discussed in the corresponding paper by Kempe. A total of 10 260 trees were counted and 50 different species could be identified. The most common of my focal tree species was Teclea nobilis making up 35 % of the total number of trees but used for positioning only 15 % of the observation time. The species that were used for feeding in the highest extent was Grewia bicolor, especially by the lactating females who often ate the fruits from it. In relation to the percentage of the forest biomass that this species made up (calculated from its stem area) it was eaten from almost six times more than expected from its abundance. Ficus sycamorus had an even higher ratio between occurrence and usage as food, more than 1:30 counted by number of trees or stems. Because it is one of the largest trees, the number was much lower (about seven) counted by area cover. The species only contributed to approximately 0.2 % of the number of trees or stems and a little over 1 % of the total biomass counted by stem area. In addition to these three species Elaeodendron buchananii and an unclassified species (Species 1) were also studied in detail and are presented in this paper. Detta arbete är en del av en större studie med syfte att undersöka den blå markattans (Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni) beteendemönster och födoval inom studiens område. Studien gjordes i Sabaringoskogen strax norr om Masai Mara National Reserve i Kenya där en flock på omkring 50 blå markattor lever. I juli 2006 har lakterande och icke-lakternade honors val av trädarter, för att äta från eller vistas i, studerats av en grupp svenska studenter. För att avgöra ifall vissa träd valdes bort eller favoriserades gjordes en totalinventering av skogsbeståndet av mig och en annan student i mars 2007. Resultatet jämfördes med data över blå markattans preferenser av trädarter för vistelse och föda. Mitt arbete fokuserar på fem av de mest prefererade trädarterna, medan de andra fem diskuteras i ett motsvarande arbete av Kempe. Totalt räknades 10.260 träd i området och 50 olika arter kunde artbestämmas. Den vanligaste av mina trädarter var Teclea nobilis som utgjorde 35 % av totala antalet räknade träd, däremot användes det av aporna för vistelse endast under 15 % av observationstiden. Den art som användes främst för att ätas från var Grewia bicolor, särskilt av de lakterande honorna som gärna åt dess frukter. I relation till den del av skogen biomassa som arten utgjorde (beräknat från stamarean) så åts den från nästan sex gånger mer än väntat. Ficus sycamorus hade en ännu högre relationskvot mellan förekomst och användning som föda, över 30 räknat på antal träd eller grenar. Då det är ett av de största träden blev det en betydligt lägre siffra (omkring sju ggr) räknat på yta. Trädet utgjorde endast ca 0,2 % av antalet träd och grenar i skogen och lite över 1 % av biomassan räknat på stamyta. Förutom dessa tre arter studerades även Elaeodendron buchananii och en oidentifierad art (Species 1) i detalj och tas upp i detta arbete. SLU/Dept. of Animal Environment and Health (until 231231) 2008 L3 eng swe https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/10778/ |
| spellingShingle | cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni blue monkey sabaringo forest foraging positioning tree abundance Ahlbäck, Lina Blue monkeys' utilization of five tree species in relation to the abundance of each tree species : teclea nobilis, Elaeodendron buchananii, Species 1, Grewia bicolor and Ficus sycamorus |
| title | Blue monkeys' utilization of five tree species in relation to the abundance of each tree species : teclea nobilis, Elaeodendron buchananii, Species 1, Grewia bicolor and Ficus sycamorus |
| title_full | Blue monkeys' utilization of five tree species in relation to the abundance of each tree species : teclea nobilis, Elaeodendron buchananii, Species 1, Grewia bicolor and Ficus sycamorus |
| title_fullStr | Blue monkeys' utilization of five tree species in relation to the abundance of each tree species : teclea nobilis, Elaeodendron buchananii, Species 1, Grewia bicolor and Ficus sycamorus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Blue monkeys' utilization of five tree species in relation to the abundance of each tree species : teclea nobilis, Elaeodendron buchananii, Species 1, Grewia bicolor and Ficus sycamorus |
| title_short | Blue monkeys' utilization of five tree species in relation to the abundance of each tree species : teclea nobilis, Elaeodendron buchananii, Species 1, Grewia bicolor and Ficus sycamorus |
| title_sort | blue monkeys' utilization of five tree species in relation to the abundance of each tree species : teclea nobilis, elaeodendron buchananii, species 1, grewia bicolor and ficus sycamorus |
| topic | cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni blue monkey sabaringo forest foraging positioning tree abundance |