Forest fragmentation and the distribution, abundance and conservation of the Tana river red colobus ( Procolobus rufomitratus)

• Published in: Biological conservation 2004-06, Vol.118 (1), p.67-77
• Main Authors: Mbora, David N.M., Meikle, Douglas B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Habitat quality and fragmentation; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Primates; Procolobus rufomitratus; Red colobus; Tana river
• ISSN: 0006-3207; 1873-2917
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2003.07.009

Evidence suggests that habitat heterogeneity, disturbance, disease, predation and food resources influence primate population abundance. However, few studies have focused on what habitat factors determine the probability that a primate species will occur in a habitat fragment. We analysed forest habitat and colobus population attributes to determine factors that influenced occurrence and abundance of the critically endangered Tana River red colobus. The probability of colobus inhabiting forests was positively related to the relative amount of habitat edge and canopy tree species composition. Most of the variance in the density of colobus monkeys was explained by basal area of food trees (per ha), basal area per food tree, density of food trees, and basal area per tree for all trees. We conclude that effective conservation of primates in fragmented habitats may require strategies that consider factors that influence both the occurrence of a species and its relative abundance.