MANGABEY (CERCOCEBUS-ALBIGENA) RANGING PATTERNS IN RELATION TO FRUIT AVAILABILITY AND THE RISK OF PARASITE INFECTION IN KIBALE NATIONAL-PARK, UGANDA

Two opposing hypotheses concerning determinants of mangabey (Cercocebu s albigena) ranging patterns have been advocated. One hypothesis sugge sts that ranging patterns of mangabeys are largely a response to fruit availability, while the other hypothesis advocates that concerns of f ruit availability are supplemented or overridden by concerns of fecal contamination and that the risk of parasite infection, especially duri ng dry weather, determines their pattern of range use. In this 9 month study of mangabeys in the Kanyawara study area of Kibale National Par k, mangabeys moved longer distances during the wet season than during the dry season. There were no seasonal differences in group spread, nu mber of 50 by 50 m quadrats used, or in quadrat overlap between sequen tial sample periods. Intensity of quadrat use was closely related to t he number of fruiting trees/lianas in the quadrats, irrespective of se ason. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that fruit ava ilability is a main factor influencing mangabey ranging patterns. The results are not consistent with the hypothesis that mangabey ranging p atterns largely reflect differential seasonal risk of parasite infecti on. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.