Foraging Behaviours of Non-Human Primates Frugivores in Marguba Range of Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed foraging behavious of non-human primates frugivorous in Marguba range of Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria. Three (3) tracks were selected in Marguba range of the Park. A distance of 2km on each track was covered. At both sides of each track, a plot of 100m by 100m was laid with an interval of 0.7km apart, giving a total of 6 (100x100) sample plots on each side of the tracks. The finding revealed that two (2) frugivores non-human primates species were encountered (Papioanubis and Erythrocebus patas). The population of fruit bearing plant in Ipade Aya spot showed that Nuclear latifolia and Diospyrosmes piliformis recorded the highest observation with 22.8% and 21.7% respectively, followed by Gardenia sokoemsis with 14.1% while Ficussy comorus recorded the least with 2.2%. The population of fruit bearing plant in Idi-ose track revealed that Detarium macrocarpum recorded the highest observation with 20.0%, followed by Piliostigma thonnigii and Nauclear latifolia with 14.5% and 12.7% respectively while Adansonia digitata recorded the least with 5.4%. The population of fruit bearing plants in Ajaku spot, Nauclear latifolia recorded the highest with 23.1%, followed  by Annonas enegalensis and Detarium macrcarpium with 15.4% each while the least plant are Piliostigma thonnigii and Anogeisus leiocarpus with 12.8% each. The foraging behavior of non-human primates includes shaking the tree, plugging fruit and seed directly from the plat and feeding on the ground.