The Impact of Forest Disturbance on the Seasonal Foraging Ecology of a Critically Endangered African Primate

Forest loss and fragmentation threaten many primates globally, and often leads to a reduction in food resources. During a 22 ‐ mo period, the foraging ecology of the critically endangered kipunji R ungwecebus kipunji was studied in the heterogeneous R ungwe– L ivingstone forests, southwest T anzania, to identify periods of possible ecological stress, fallback foods used by the species, and the impact of forest disturbance on feeding resources. The studied group had a wide diet and was predominantly frugivorous. Fruit consumption was driven by fruit availability which peaked during the wet season, and dipped during the driest months. During this period, two fallback foods: mature leaves and pith were widely consumed, with M acaranga capensis an essential fallback species. α diversity and evenness of diet was remarkably similar across months, but there was high β diversity in diets at the cusp of wet and dry seasons, and during periods of low fruit availability. This suggests considerable dietary adaptability to fluctuating resources, which may act to buffer against further forest disturbance. Tree species associated with relatively undisturbed forest were significantly more important in the diet, especially in the dry season, than those of disturbed forests. Regeneration of key trees (determined through counting of seedlings and saplings in plots) appeared healthy except in two important F icus species. Conservation management, while focusing on promoting old growth forest, should also consider populations of some important pioneer tree species such as M acaranga capensis both inside the forest and in any reforestation schemes outside the species’ current area of occupancy.