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The Effect of Habitat on Density, Feeding Behaviour and Activity of Heller’s Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus arenarius): A Case Study in Arba Minch Forest, Ethiopia

Received: 23 May 2016     Accepted: 17 June 2016     Published: 3 August 2016
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Abstract

Heller’s vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus arenarius) is one of the African savannah monkeys found in East Africa including Ethiopia. This study was carried out from September 2012 to April 2013 to provide data on the effect of habitat on density, feeding and activity of the Heller’s vervet monkey in Nech Sar National Park and its adjacent areas, in Ethiopia. The study area constituted underground water forest, riverine forest, savannah bushland, bush with Eucalyptus plantation and tree dominated bushland. Five line transects of 3-4 km were made in all habitats to estimate the population density of Heller’s vervet monkey. Five selected troops were also followed using focal animal sampling to study the activity patterns and feeding behaviour. The highest population density of Heller’s vervet monkey was recorded in underground water forest and riverine forest habitats. The overall diet composition of Heller’s vervet monkey was dominated by leaves, which accounted for 37.87%. Foraging on bark, fruit and flowers constituted 21.19%, 19.56% and 13.90%, respectively. They also fed on shoots (4.70%) and unknown food items (2.78%). The activity in different troops showed significant variations in resting behaviour, whereas active behaviours did not show significant variations between the troops.

Published in International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 1, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.12
Page(s) 71-78
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2016. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Behaviour, Diet, Ecology, Effect, Heller’s Vervets, Nech Sar National Park

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    Israel Petros Menbere, Mundanthra Balakrishnan. (2016). The Effect of Habitat on Density, Feeding Behaviour and Activity of Heller’s Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus arenarius): A Case Study in Arba Minch Forest, Ethiopia. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 1(3), 71-78. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.12

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    ACS Style

    Israel Petros Menbere; Mundanthra Balakrishnan. The Effect of Habitat on Density, Feeding Behaviour and Activity of Heller’s Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus arenarius): A Case Study in Arba Minch Forest, Ethiopia. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2016, 1(3), 71-78. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.12

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    AMA Style

    Israel Petros Menbere, Mundanthra Balakrishnan. The Effect of Habitat on Density, Feeding Behaviour and Activity of Heller’s Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus arenarius): A Case Study in Arba Minch Forest, Ethiopia. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2016;1(3):71-78. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.12,
      author = {Israel Petros Menbere and Mundanthra Balakrishnan},
      title = {The Effect of Habitat on Density, Feeding Behaviour and Activity of Heller’s Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus arenarius): A Case Study in Arba Minch Forest, Ethiopia},
      journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
      volume = {1},
      number = {3},
      pages = {71-78},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20160103.12},
      abstract = {Heller’s vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus arenarius) is one of the African savannah monkeys found in East Africa including Ethiopia. This study was carried out from September 2012 to April 2013 to provide data on the effect of habitat on density, feeding and activity of the Heller’s vervet monkey in Nech Sar National Park and its adjacent areas, in Ethiopia. The study area constituted underground water forest, riverine forest, savannah bushland, bush with Eucalyptus plantation and tree dominated bushland. Five line transects of 3-4 km were made in all habitats to estimate the population density of Heller’s vervet monkey. Five selected troops were also followed using focal animal sampling to study the activity patterns and feeding behaviour. The highest population density of Heller’s vervet monkey was recorded in underground water forest and riverine forest habitats. The overall diet composition of Heller’s vervet monkey was dominated by leaves, which accounted for 37.87%. Foraging on bark, fruit and flowers constituted 21.19%, 19.56% and 13.90%, respectively. They also fed on shoots (4.70%) and unknown food items (2.78%). The activity in different troops showed significant variations in resting behaviour, whereas active behaviours did not show significant variations between the troops.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

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    AB  - Heller’s vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus arenarius) is one of the African savannah monkeys found in East Africa including Ethiopia. This study was carried out from September 2012 to April 2013 to provide data on the effect of habitat on density, feeding and activity of the Heller’s vervet monkey in Nech Sar National Park and its adjacent areas, in Ethiopia. The study area constituted underground water forest, riverine forest, savannah bushland, bush with Eucalyptus plantation and tree dominated bushland. Five line transects of 3-4 km were made in all habitats to estimate the population density of Heller’s vervet monkey. Five selected troops were also followed using focal animal sampling to study the activity patterns and feeding behaviour. The highest population density of Heller’s vervet monkey was recorded in underground water forest and riverine forest habitats. The overall diet composition of Heller’s vervet monkey was dominated by leaves, which accounted for 37.87%. Foraging on bark, fruit and flowers constituted 21.19%, 19.56% and 13.90%, respectively. They also fed on shoots (4.70%) and unknown food items (2.78%). The activity in different troops showed significant variations in resting behaviour, whereas active behaviours did not show significant variations between the troops.
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Author Information
  • Department of Ecotourism and Biodiversity Conservation, School of Biodiversity and Natural Resources, Madawalabu University, Bale Robe, Ethiopia

  • Department of Zoological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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