A new diet on the menu: yellow baboon foraging on cassod tree (senna siamea), a trypsin inhibitor legume
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Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation
Abstract
Cassod (Senna Siamea) which belongs to the
family Fabaceae is the fast-growing
leguminous tree with prolific seed
production. The tree contains trypsin
inhibitor proteins which are potentially
deleterious to monogastric animals. Feeding
behaviour of yellow baboons has been
extensively studied in the savannah
environment of East Africa. However, none
of the study has reported on yellow baboon
foraging on Senna siamea, this is the first
study reporting on its consumption by yellow
baboons in East Africa. We used focal
animal sampling to collect data on yellow
baboons’ consumption of Senna siamea.
Finding from the study indicated that, seeds
were the only food parts consumed by yellow
baboons from Senna siamea; and they were
consumed more in the late dry season and
never in the wet season. Seeds were
consumed either unprocessed or processed
by removing the seed coat. Consumption of
proceed seeds were done more by adult
females and sub adult males (small bodied
individuals) than adult males. It is considered
that the climatic changes witnessed around
the globe might have provided baboons with
wider food choices options and adaptation.
Therefore, more studies on baboons’ dietary
choices are important for the understanding
of their complex ecological adaptations
Description
Journal article
Keywords
Baboons, Selective omnivorous, Dietary breadth, Protease, Fallback food, Dry season diet, Foraging strategy