Utilization of different habitatsin Colobus angolensis palliatus in the forests of Diani Beach, Kenya

Abstract: The Angolan black and white colobus monkey (Colobus angolensis palliatus) is an arboreal primate that inhabits coastal forest fragments on the south cost of Kenya and is consequently vulnerable to forest fragmentations. The study was carried out in March and April 2011 in Diani Beach in Kenya where two of the largest populations of the species are distributed. This study is a pilot study to test methods for a Master’s thesis. The aim was to investigate any variations in use of two habitats of C.a. palliatus and the forests of Diani Beach.The study focused on four troops of monkeys in two forests using instantaneous sampling method with one minute intervals. Two troops inhabited a pristine forest while the two other a degraded forest. During this period, 104 hours of behavioural data were collected. The monkeys’ behaviour, their position trees or positions on other substrate as well the height when on trees, were recorded for two focal animals at a time in each troop. Recordings of used tree species, food items as well as GPS positions were also made.The monkey preferred top canopies (>10 m) and mid canopies (5-10 m) in the two forests. In the pristine forest the troops were mostly observed in top canopies, while in the degraded forest the troops utilized mid canopies more frequently. All of the troops except from one were seen occasionally feeding and resting on ground. The retrieved GPS points were used to estimate the troops’ home range areas, with sizes ranging between 0.022 km2 and 0.061 km2.The methods used in this study was applicable for this research aim, even though the methods in some aspects made comparison with other field studies of primates difficult.