University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies Legacy Theses 2000 Ecology of the Budongo forest redtail: patterns of habitat use and population density in primary and regenerating forest sites Sheppard, Donna J. Sheppard, D. J. (2000). Ecology of the Budongo forest redtail: patterns of habitat use and population density in primary and regenerating forest sites (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/17806 http://hdl.handle.net/1880/40595 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Ecology of the Budongo Forest Redtail: Patterns of Habitat Use and Population Density in Primary and Regenerating Forest Sites. Donna J Sheppard A THESIS SUBMITTED TO TIEFACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS DEPARTMENT OF ANTHFtOPOLOGY CALGARY, ALBERTA AUGUST, 2000 O Donna J Sheppard 2000 National Library Bibliothbque nationale 161 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON KIA ON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliotheque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, preter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette these sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format electronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriete du copyright in hsthesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protege cette these. thesis nor substantial extracts &om it Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de ceile-ci ne doivent itre imprimes reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. ABSTRACT Selective timber harvesting in tropical rain forests is one solution to maineg conservation objectives while at the same time providing forest resources. Quantitative studies aimed at understanding the effects of selective logging on forest ecosystems can contribute to sustainable management designs which minimise the negative impacts of habitat alteration on wildlife. Estimation of changes.in primate density and patterns of habitat use in human modified habitats are useful indicators of impact. Using a comparative model, ecological and behavioural correlates of two groups of redtail monkeys (Cercopithenrs ascanius schmidtii) inhabiting primary and regenerating forest sites in the Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda, were conducted. Observational data were collected on two groups of redtail monkeys over a six month period based on 135 horn of scan sampling data. One group ranged within an uniogged primary forest and the second group in a mixed forest selectively harvested in 1947 and 1952. Results revealed that redtail group densities were three times higher in the selectively logged habitat. Significant differences in habitat use pattems, as indicated by differences in plant diet and ranging patterns, were observed between the two study groups. Factors which best explain these differences include the higher densities of preferred redtail food trees and the increase in tree species diversity in the regenerating forest. This situation, advantageous to redtails, devebped in the logged forest due to the relatively low intensity of selective logging there and the trend towards C'ometra monodominance in the primary forest. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis would not have been possible without the support of the following people and organisations to whom I am delighted to be able to thank: I am grateful to the Ugandan Government, specifically, the National Council for Science and Technology and the Uganda Forest Department for granting me permission to conduct research within Budongo Forest, Uganda To the Budongo Forest Project and Vernon Reynolds, I am thWfor the opportunity to access the infktructure provided by the Sonso research site. This site offered me a comfortable and safe environment fiom which to conduct my research. Through the Budongo Forest Project, funding thanks go to support from the National Geographic Society (NGS),Conservation International (The Margot March Fund), the Department for International Development (DFID), and the Nonvegian Agency for Development (NORAD). A big thank you goes to Kyamanywa Julius whose knowledge of the floral community at Budongo as well as his monkey detection skills proved invaluable to me in my data collection. Much of my work would not have been possible without your expert knowledge Julius, and I thank you for your unflagging hard work and wish you well for the future. In addition, I would Like to thank all the other members of staff at the Budongo Forest Project and the many friends I made there; Odong-too Richard and Joy and the children hold a special place in my heart. Also, during my stay in Uganda, Nick and Janie Bates opened their wonderful home to me in Kampala Your generosity and sense of fun will not be forgotten. While at Kibale National Park in Uganda, invaluable research support fiom Dr. Colin Chapman helped to set my research ideas straight. Many thanks for your timely and generous advice. I would like to thank my supenisor, Dr. Jim Paterson, for initial support of my graduate work in 1997, as well as his perspective, ability to encourage me to solve my iv own queries and eternally open door. In addition, I would like to thank the other personalities in the Department of Anthropology. This includes Myrna Haglund, Jill Ogle and May Ives in the office whose continual smiles and kindness always gave me encouragement, and the other primatology professors, Dr. Pascale Sicotte and Dr. Mary McDonald Pavelka, who took the time to offer me feedback and guidance. In addition, thanks go to my committee members, Dr. Rob Longair and Dr. Usher Fleising, who took time from busy summer schedules to participate in my thesis defense. In addition, I would like to thank the Anthropology Department for financial support through the University of Calgary Thesis Research Grant, the Faculty of Graduate Studies for a Thesis Travel Grant and a Conference Travel Grant, the Calgary Zoological Society arid Brian Keating for scholarship through the Conservation Fund, and the Srnithsonian Institution and Rudy Rudran for research funding support. All of my friends have provided me never-ending support and confidence. I would especially like to acknowledge Darcia Kohuska, Debbie Reid and Karin Hoemig who inspired me with a fundraising social event prior to my departure, kept me sane with their steady stream of letters and packages while in the field, and made sure I remained financially solvent by taking care of my many business details left at home. Thanks also to Tania Saj and Kristin Grimes who offered time and energy in the reading of drafts and offered useful comments and ideas during the writing stages. Also, thanks to Kristin for copies of redtail photos taken in the Botanical Gardens in Entebbe, Uganda Also thanks go to my family. In particular, I would like to thank Scott Sheppard and family for letters! and gifts while in the field, my father, Brian Sheppard, for his ongoing interest and support, enthusiasm and scholarship, and also thanks to Don Oliver for his scholarship. Lastly, I would like to thank Kevin McCann for his constaut support throughout this project including an exploration to Budongo and his steady patience, guidance and suggestions during the writing up process. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Approval Page...........~.............m.....m......mmmm..mmmm.o.m.......o...mmm.m...mma.......mmo..... ........ ii Ab~m~t............................................................................................................ iii Aclmowledgements.. .................................................................................m.......m iv Table of Contents............................................................................................ vi List of Tabla................................................................................................... ix List of Figures.................................................................................................. xi Chapter One: ~ODUCTION Ecological Correlates. of Primate Success in Modified Habitats .................. 1 Research Objechves............... ..... ................................................................. 4 Thesis Overview ........................................................................................ 6 Chapter Two: LITERATURE REVIEW Introduction*.......... ... ........................................ .. .......................... 7 1 . Ove~ewof Primate Density and Habitat Use Studies............ ........ 9 Why Do Population Densities Change............................................ 11 Change in Primate Population as a Result of Habitat Modification.. 1 1 Habitat Modification through Selective Logging ........................... 12 Selective Logging