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conferenceseries LLC Ltd
3rd International Conference on
3rd International Conference on
Ecology, Ecosystem and Conservation Biology
Microbial Ecology & Eco Systems
&
March 18-19, 2019 | Chicago, USA
Find More Information @ MARCH 2019 Conference Series LLC Ltd
JOURNAL OF ECOSYSTEM& ECOGRAPHY 2019, VOLUME 9 | DOI: 10.4172/2157-7625-C1-044 SCIENTIFIC TRACKS | DAY 1
Assessement of the nest
and feeding ecology
of the sympatric cross
river gorilla and
nigeria cameroon
chimpanzee in tofala
hill wildlife sanctuary
Enokenwa Allen Tabi
Environment and Rural
Development Foundation,
Cameroon
Preliminary studies of Cross
River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla
diehli) and Nigeria-Cameroon
Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes
ellioti) have been going on
in Tofala area since 2004.
These studies were mostly
focused on determining the
distribution of these two
great apes species in the
area. Reliable information
on the ecology of wild Cross
River gorilla and Nigeria
Cameroon chimpanzee is still
scarce. Such information can
provide insights into great
ape cognition and evolution
and can provide valuable data
to guide conservation efforts
for remaining populations.
The aim of this study was to
make an assessment of the
nesting and feeding ecology of
Cross River gorilla and Nigeria
Cameroon chimpanzee in
Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary.
This study was conducted
from November 2015 to
August 2016. 55 kilometers
reconnaissance (recce) walks
and twelve camera traps
functioning for1242 trap days
(November 2015 to April
2016) were used to determine
the nesting and feeding
ecology of these great apes
species. The study area was
randomly stratified into 1km
by 1km grids with laid down
recce of different lengths in
the center of the grids, and
camera traps planted along
animal trails in the grids. The
following data were collected;
GPS coordinate of great apes
nest, vegetation type, species,
slope, canopy type, food
type, nest sites, nest type,
undergrowth of vegetation and
elevation and photos of great
apes from camera traps. Data
were analyzed using Microsoft
Excel. Results revealed that
slope, vegetation and canopy
cover have great influence
on the ecology of great apes.
55.06% of nests and 60% of
feeding signs for chimpanzee
and, 61.5% of nests and
65.6% of feeding signs for
gorilla were distributed
across steep slopes. 56.2%
of chimpanzee and 38.5% of
gorilla nest were constructed
in undergrowth made of small
trees and lianas respectively.
40% of chimpanzee and
79.9% of gorilla feeding
signs were distributed in
bushes of secondary forest.
56.2% of chimpanzee nest
sites were constructed in
very close canopy cover and
40% of feeding signs were
distributed in open canopy
cover. Similarly, the majority
of gorilla nest (76.9%) were
constructed under very
close canopy and feeding
signs (51.1%) were found in
open canopy. Aframomum
sp was the most frequently
encountered food remains for
both chimpanzee and gorilla
and can be considered as the
most stable diet for great apes
in the area. Chimpanzee fed
on giant snails, mongoose,
and porcupine. Though this
study presents foundational
research on the nesting and