Temporal dynamics of nutrition, parasitism, and stress in colobus monkeys: implications for population regulation and conservation.

The need to develop conservation plans calls for the ability to identify ecological factors that influence population density. Because stress is known to affect fecundity and mortality, increasing stress may provide a warning of potential population declines. We examined the effects of temporal variation in nutrition and parasitism on stress in endangered red colobus monkeys in Kibale National Park, Uganda.

Controversy over the application of current socioecological models to folivorous primates: Colobus vellerosus fits the predictions.

We explore the applicability of the current socio-ecological model to characterize the social structure of Colobus vellerosus, a folivorous primate. The current socio-ecological model predicts that female social relationships should respond in predictable ways to food abundance and distribution and associated competitive regimes. It appears to successfully explain variation in social structure in some primate species; however, recent research indicates that several folivorous or folivore-frugivorous species seem to be exceptions.

Do food availability, parasitism, and stress have synergistic effects on red colobus populations living in forest fragments?

Identifying factors that influence animal density is a fundamental goal in ecology that has taken on new importance with the need to develop informed management plans. This is particularly the case for primates as the tropical forest that supports many species is being rapidly converted. We use a system of forest fragments adjacent to Kibale National Park, Uganda, to examine if food availability and parasite infections have synergistic affects on red colobus (Piliocolobus tephrosceles) abundance.

Comparison of habitat quality and diet of Colobus vellerosus in forest fragments in Ghana.

The forest fragments surrounding the Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (BFMS) in central Ghana shelter small populations of Colobus vellerosus. Little is known about these populations or the ability of the fragments to support them, despite the fact that these fragments represent potentially important habitat for the colobus in this region. We compared the diet of three groups of C.

Male takeover in Colobus vellerosus at Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, central Ghana.

We describe a case of male takeover in the ursine black-and-white colobus (Colobus vellerosus). In April 2001, an all-male group attacked and eventually invaded our uni-male study group. Aggression increased following the takeover and the former resident male, severely wounded, became peripheral.