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Relationship between chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes ) density and large, fleshy‐fruit tree density: Conservation implications
Author(s) -
Balcomb Sophia R.,
Chapman Colin A.,
Wrangham Richard W.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
american journal of primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1098-2345
pISSN - 0275-2565
DOI - 10.1002/1098-2345(200007)51:3<197::aid-ajp4>3.0.co;2-c
Subject(s) - troglodytes , national park , nest (protein structural motif) , habitat , pongidae , ecology , biology , geography , biochemistry
Conservation efforts to protect chimpanzees in their natural habitat are of the highest priority. Unfortunately, chimpanzee density is notoriously difficult to determine, making it difficult to assess potential chimpanzee conservation areas. The objective of this study was to determine whether chimpanzee density could be predicted from the density of trees that produce large, fleshy fruits. Using chimpanzee nest counts from six sites within Kibale National Park, Uganda, collected during a year‐long study, a predictive trend was found between chimpanzee nest density and large, fleshy‐fruit tree density. This relationship may offer a quick, reasonably reliable method of estimating potential chimpanzee densities in previously unsurveyed habitats and may be used to evaluate the suitability of possible re‐introduction sites. Thus, in conjunction with other survey techniques, such as forest reconnaissance, it may provide an effective and efficient means of determining appropriate chimpanzee habitat in which to allocate conservation efforts. Am. J. Primatol. 51:197–203, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.