Foraging in a 3-D world: the influence of body size and sex on vertical and horizontal foraging behaviour of yellow baboons
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Date
2022
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation
Abstract
Foraging is among complex animal
behaviours, which involve making decisions
on what and where to forage, so as to
maximize nutritional gain and reduce
predation risk. In ungulates, it is known to
also be influenced by sexual size
dimorphism, however, this is not clear in
sexually size dimorphic yellow baboon.
Using focal animal sampling techniques, we
collected data from habituated troops of
yellow baboons to test whether body size
and/or sex has influence on their use of
vertical and horizontal strata when foraging.
Results showed that, yellow baboons foraged
more frequently on the ground up to 1 m than
beyond this height. However, adult females
foraged on the ground significantly more
frequently than adult and subadult males.
While, adult and subadult males used higher
canopy beyond 2 m, more frequently than
adult females. Moreover, adult females and
subadult males foraged more frequently at
the troop centre than adult males. This study
concludes that sex and to some extent body
size significantly influence foraging
decisions of yellow baboon in the use of
vertical and horizontal strata. Detailed
understanding of spacing behaviour of
baboons is recommended as it is important towards better understanding f
their complex social life
Description
Journal article
Keywords
3-D foraging., Terrestrial behaviour, Feeding behaviour, Yellow baboons, Feeding concentric theory