Work

An ecological basis for large group size in Colobus angolensis in the Nyungwe Forest, Rwanda

Year: 2001

Type: article

Abstract: Angolan black‐and‐white colobus monkeys (Colobus angolensis, Sclater 1980) in the Nyungwe Forest Reserve, Rwanda, are anomalous compared with conspecifics and congeners elsewhere, because they form exceptionally large groups, in excess of 300 individuals, and because of their unusually high consumption of mature leaves (∼40% of annual diet). Site factors at the Nyungwe Forest in southern Rwanda are believed to contribute to the unusual socio‐ecology of the C. angolensis residing there. Foremost, the forest provides an abundance of mature leaves that are higher in nutritional quality (protein : fibre) compared with mature leaves analysed at other African sites. The combination of a cool high elevation locale, and a relatively open canopy, may contribute to the production of high quality mature leaves at ground level and in the canopy at the Nyungwe Forest. We believe that the almost unrestricted availability of acceptable foods for Nyungwe's folivorous colobines minimizes the potential for exploitation competition for food, and is a key factor in allowing them to form exceptionally large groups.

Source: African Journal of Ecology

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2001.00276.x

Authors: Cheryl Fimbel, Amy Vedder, Ellen Dierenfeld, Felix Mulindahabi

Institution: Wildlife Conservation Society

Language: English

Topic: Primate Behavior and Ecology

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: United States Agency for International Development, Wildlife Conservation Society, Ministry of Environment