Ecological Partitioning of Cercopithecus campbelli, C. petaurista, and C. diana in the Taï Forest

Abstract

I determined the degree of ecological partitioning among 3 species of guenons (Cercopithecus campbelli, C. petaurista, and C. diana) in the Taï Forest, Côte d'Ivoire and used the partitioning data to understand competitive relationships among them. Over a 13-mo period, I measured ecological partitioning in terms of food and canopy stratum use for 2 habituated groups of each guenon species and also collected data on food availability. I found that the study species diverged primarily in food items consumed and vertical strata occupied. Cercopithecus petaurista ate much more foliage than the other species did and used mostly the middle strata (5-20 m). Cercopithecus diana ate primarily fruit and used mostly the upper strata (>20 m). Cercopithecus campbelli ate mostly fruit together with large amounts of animal matter and primarily occupied the ground and low strata (<5 m). Of the specific pairs, the diets of Cercopithecus campbelli/C. diana overlapped the most overall and decreased during the season of low fruit availability. Cercopithecus campbelli and C. diana age/sex classes also overlapped more than the age/sex classes of other species pairs. The results suggest that the potential for competition was more intense for Cercopithecus campbelli/C.diana relations than it is for other species pairs. I compare my results from Taï with those from other primate and guenon communities and demonstrate that 530 Buzzard dietary overlaps and seasonal dietary divergence are lower in Taï than in most other guenon communities.

Anti-predator strategies of free-ranging Campbell's monkeys

“…All seven groups consisted of one adult male, 3 to 7 adult females, and 5 to 7 juveniles and infants. Among Taï forest guenons, Campbell's monkeys spend the highest amount time in the understory below 5 m with 15% of their daily activities on the ground (McGraw, 2000;Buzzard, 2006; 21 months of observation by KO). At the time of the study, human observers had visited the two habituated groups regularly for over eight years (e.g., Buzzard, 2004).…”

Socioecology, predation, and cognition in a community of West African monkeys

“…[24][25][26][27][28] Fleshy fruits preferred by guenons are high quality and of limited availability, not abundant enough to support large aggregations of individuals. Consequently, these fruits are worth defending.…”

“…Diana monkeys consistently dominate the other guenon species, particularly Campbell's monkeys, with which dietary overlap is greatest. 26 Although sooty mangabeys are also highly frugivorous, these papionins feed on hard, bitter fruits acquired from the forest floor. Intra-group feeding competition is comparatively low.…”

Dietary Variation in Diana Monkeys (Cercopithecus diana): The Effects of Polyspecific Associations

“…Within the study grid of the Taï Monkey Project (TMP), Diana monkeys regularly interact with groups of Cercopithecus petaurista and Cercopithecus campbelli [Wolters and Zuberbühler 2003;Buzzard 2004Buzzard , 2006Buzzard , 2010. In addition, the western subspecies of putty-nosed monkey (Cercopithecus nictitans stampflii) is found at low densities in northern sections of the Taï National Park where they overlap with Diana monkeys outside the TMP study grid [Galat and Galat-Luong, 1985;Oates, 1988;Eckardt and Zuberbühler, 2004].…”

“…Despite significant niche overlap, Diana monkeys and the other Taï guenons regularly form polyspecific associations of various durations [Wolters and Zuberbüh-ler, 2003;Eckardt and Zuberbühler, 2004;Buzzard, 2006Buzzard, , 2010. Diana monkeys have been shown to competitively exclude the other guenon species, consistently consuming more fruit than their congeners (even when fruit is scarce) and spatially displacing other guenon taxa while shifting their strata use only minimally [Eckardt and Zuberbühler, 2004;Buzzard, 2006Buzzard, , 2010.…”