Assessing Abundance and Activity Patterns for the Angolan Black and White Colobus Monkey (Colobus angolensis palliatus) in Udzungwa Mountains National Park.

Joseph, Gabriel (2023) Assessing Abundance and Activity Patterns for the Angolan Black and White Colobus Monkey (Colobus angolensis palliatus) in Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This study investigated the abundance and activity patterns of Colobus angolensis palliatus in Udzungwa Mountains National Park (UMNP). Seven one-kilometre point-transects were set at the study area, three in disturbed and four in undisturbed sites. A group of C.a. palliatus at Sonjo transect, intermingled between disturbed and undisturbed areas, was selected to study activity patterns across age and sex groups. The C.a. palliatus were significantly abundant (t=5.75; p=0.0135) in undisturbed sites. Overall, C.a. palliatus spent the most time (30.6%) resting, feeding (28.5%), moving (26.2%), and socialising (14.7). Whereas males spent much of their time by 0.3%, 0.8% and 1.0% in feeding, resting, and moving,respectively. Females spent more time, by 5.7%, in socialising than males. The resting, moving and socialising activities differed significantly (p<0.05) across age groups. The adults spent much of their time resting (8.4%) and feeding (8.1%); sub-adults spent much of their time resting (7.8%) and feeding (7.0%). Juveniles spent much of their time resting (7.0%) and moving (6.6%); infants much of their time was spent socialising (6.2%), resting (6.2%) and moving (6.1%). The ANOVA results for activities across age groups differed significantly: Feeding (F=53.88, p<0.05); Resting (F=43.47, p<0.05); Moving (F=53.39, p<0.05); Socializing (F=118.2, p<0.05. The lower C. a. palliatus abundance in disturbed sites was attributable to low food availability and habitat degradation. The overall variations in activity patterns across age and sex groups were attributable to energy conservation strategies and body size. Increasing conservation efforts in disturbed areas in UMNP was recommended to improve C.a. palliatus population sustainability. Keywords: C. a. palliatus, disturbance, Habitat, Udzungwa Mountain National Park

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