References on Mango

Tweheyo M.

Abstract : This thesis examines the food sources, abundance and ecology of tree fed on by chimpanzees in the Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda. Specifically, it aims to: (1) study plant phenology and plant habitats of species eaten by chimpanzees; (2) assess seasonal variation in food abundance; (3) determine the nutrient concentrations of some selected plants eaten by chimpanzees; and (4) assess the interaction between chimpanzees and other vermins with domestic crops around Budongo forest reserve. Chimpanzees spent 80% of their daytime on feeding and their diet comprised 56 plants species of which 94% were trees. Chimpanzees spend most of their feeding time on Broussonetia papyrifera, Ficus sur, F. mucuso, F. exasperata and F. variifolia. In addition to forest foods, three cultivated crops (Mangifera indica, pawpaw and sugarcane) were eaten by chimpanzees and together with selected forest foods were analysed for nutritional values. Nutritional analysis showed that flowers of B. papyrifera had the highest content of protein concentration. Flowers had higher sugar content than ripe and sub-mature fruits. Chimpanzees fed more on ripe than on sub-mature fruits probably because ripe fruits had higher sugar contents than sub-mature fruits, except F. exasperata. Fruit quantity varied significantly with tree species and season, with the fruiting peaks registered during the wet season and a period of reduced fruiting during the dry season. The combination of fig fruits and young leaves make up the most important food in the diet of chimpanzees. From the chimpanzee dung more than 78% of seeds comprised fig seeds (nutlets) during months of sampling and the rest of the diaspores were from other tree species. It is suggested that chimpanzees disperse a large number of diaspores in their dung thereby functioning as important agents in natural forest regeneration. Farmers indicated that crop raiding by primates, in particular, and wildlife in general is one of the most significant sources of forest-people conflict in Budongo; and crop loss to primates impedes local support for conservation efforts in this area. This thesis is based on 6 appended papers, 1 have been published elsewhere.