Sleep is an important and time-consuming activity, during which animals may be particularly vulnerable. Selecting a suitable sleeping site is therefore essential for an individual's fitness. Here we test the importance of antipredator and thermoregulatory hypotheses for the sleeping site preference of a nocturnal primate, the Northern lesser galago (Galago senegalensis), in Northern Tanzania. During June to August of 2015 and 2016 we conducted daily surveys of sleeping sites to record the number of galagos and their location within the sleeping tree, and used focal follows to record when galagos reached and left sleeping sites. We collected vegetation data for sleeping sites (N = 47) and matched controls, and placed data loggers in sleeping (N = 14) and control locations to compare temperature and humidity. Sleeping group sizes were similar to that of G. senegalensis in The Gambia, and the mean proportion of visits in which galagos were present at each site was 27 ± SD 25%. Galagos slept on branches (N = 29), nests (N = 6), palm leaves (N = 6), and in tree cavities (N = 1). Palm leaves have not been previously recorded as regular sleeping sites for galagos and were overrepresented relative to their occurrence in the habitat. Random forest classification analysis revealed that galagos sleep in areas with greater canopy cover and connectivity, greater mid-Extended author information available on the last page of the article level vegetation cover, higher tree density, and a greater number of Acacia trees. Sleeping locations had significantly lower mean temperatures but greater mean humidity than control locations. Our findings support predator avoidance and thermoregulation as drivers of nesting behavior. In particular, the characteristics of galago sleeping sites correspond well to those expected for protection from aerial predators, while those related to protection from terrestrial predators seem to play a minor role.

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Forest glades have conservation value for primates, with interspecies differences reported. Blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis) are forest-glade edge species, whereas Olive baboons (Papio anubis) prefer the open grassland of the glade interior. In this study, scan sampling was used to record the presence and absence of each species, group sizes and individual behaviours in three glade types in Mount Meru Game Reserve, Tanzania. Glade characteristics and primate usage for the three glade types were studied: five man-made, fifteen lower natural and five upper natural glades. During 200 (3-h morning and afternoon) observation periods, Blue monkeys and Olive baboons were observed during 43% (86/200) and 31% (62/200) of the observation periods, respectively. Blue monkeys used upper natural glades more than man-made and lower natural; Olive baboons used man-made glades more than lower and upper natural. Differences in glade type, in regard to vegetation, altitude and disturbance due to trail routes, influenced gladetype use and species behaviours. In conclusion, although the management practice of clearing in and around man-made glades provides no direct conservation value for Blue monkeys, it likely reduces overuse of natural glades and humanwildlife conflict by enhancing plant species richness and diversity important to Olive baboons.

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