Diurnal Activity Patterns And Feeding Habits Of Free-Ranging Colobus Monkey (Colobus guereza Ruppell1835) In Kafa Biosphere Reserve, Southwest Ethiopia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20372/p2r2n896Keywords:
Activity patterns, diet composition, feeding habits, habitat type, seasonality.Abstract
Understanding primate behavioral ecology is essential for developing effective conservation strategies and promoting sustainable forest management. This study investigated the diurnal activity patterns and feeding habits of free-ranging Colobus guereza in Kafa Biosphere Reserve (KBR), southwestern Ethiopia, during 2021. Data were collected in both dry and wet seasons using a scan sampling method, which involved instantaneous behavioral observations of visible individuals at fixed intervals. Focal groups included individuals of different sex and age classes, and observations were conducted systematically throughout the study periods to capture seasonal variation. Each scan lasted 5–10 minutes, yielding a total of 1,303 scans in the dry season and 1,191 scans in the wet season. Behavioral data were categorized into feeding, resting, and traveling activities. A Chi-square test of independence was applied to assess associations between activity type and habitat type within each season, while the Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel test was used to control for seasonal effects. Results indicated that C. guereza allocated the largest proportion of its daily activity budget to resting (45.3%), followed by feeding (42%). Significant differences in activity patterns were observed among sex and age classes (p < 0.05). Adult females spent more time feeding and resting compared to adult males, sub-adults, and juveniles, whereas younger individuals engaged more frequently in play behavior. Dietary analysis identified 13 tree species, with Milletia ferruginea (33%), Sapium ellipticum (25%), and Olea welwitschii (24%) as the most frequently consumed. Seasonal variation significantly influenced diet composition (p < 0.05), with increased consumption of leaves and flowers during the dry season and leaves and fruits during the wet season. Overall, the distribution and persistence of C. guereza in Kafa Biosphere Reserve are closely linked to food resource diversity and habitat integrity. The findings highlight the ecological flexibility and apparent resilience of Colobus guereza in the Kafa Biosphere Reserve; however, this resilience should not be interpreted as immunity to environmental change. They also emphasize the critical importance of conserving forest ecosystems to sustain primate populations in Ethiopia.
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