Population Size And Behavioral Ecology Of Bale Monkey (chlorocebus Djamdjamensis) In Human-dominated Landscapes Of Sidama Highlands Southern Ethiopia

Bale monkeys (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) are endemic, bamboo specialists, restricted to a narrow geographic range in the Ethiopian highlands currently recognized as vulenerable speceis by IUCN. The study was conducted to investigate the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation on behavioral ecology and population size by comparing two groups of Bale monkeys in relatively continuous Garamba Forest and fragmented Afursa Forest in human-dominated Sidama highlands. Phenological pattern was assessed within each group’s home range to investigate the overall vegetation composition and temporal changes in food availability. Phenological data was analyzed from eight plant species: five trees, two shrubs and one bamboo. Total count method was used to estimate the population size of Bale monkeys. Data on activity budget, feeding ecology, and ranging ecology of the two groups of Bale monkeys were quantified using scan sampling method. Ranging ecology data were analyzed using a combination of ArcGIS and Home Range Tools. Plant species with DBH ≥ 10 cm in the range of Garamba Forest group (G) had higher stem density (768 stems/ha) than Afursa Forest (A) (624 stems/ha). Plant species diversity and evenness were lower and dominance was higher in Garamba Forest than in Afursa Forest. There were statistical differences in food availability indices of young leaves (P

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