Strata Use by Sympatric Macaques (Macaca assamensis and M. Mulatta) in Nagarjun Forest of Shivapuri - Nagarjun National Park, Kathmandu, Nepal
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Zoology
Abstract
Using different habitat is a niche partitioning mechanism utilized by the primates. The use of
forest strata by non-human primates is greatly dependent on the age, sex and the activities being
performed. Limited studies have explored forest strata use pattern in macaques. This study
aimed to compare the diurnal activity budget and forest strata use of Assamese macaques
(Macaca assamensis) and rhesus macaques (M. mulatta) in Nagarjun Forest of ShivapuriNagarjun
National
Park,
Kathmandu.
Further
it
tested
the
difference
in
strata
use
brought
by
the
age-sex
difference
and
the
behavioral
activities.
The
study
was
carried
out
from
September
2022
to
March
2023.
The
behavior
recorded
included
(a)
feeding,
(b)
moving
(c)
resting,
and
(d)
socializing.
Data on the behavior of the macaques were collected using the focal animal
sampling method. For the forest strata use, instantaneous scan sampling was carried out at
every 10 minute interval recording macaques’ sex, the height of the forest strata, and their
behaviors on each observation. The data for Assamese macaque groups was collected for three
consecutive days of every study week before switching to data collection for rhesus macaque
groups. Analysis of the data was done using One-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test and MannWhitney
U test. The Assamese macaques spent majority of the diurnal time in the trees.
Assamese macaques used arboreal strata significantly more (88.4%) whereas rhesus macaques
were seen significantly more on the ground (62.72%). The use of strata for different age-sex
group and behavioral activity vary significantly for both Assamese and rhesus macaques.
Assamese macaques showed preference for ground while feeding and strata between 5–15 m
for other behaviors. Rhesus macaques performed feeding, resting, moving and socializing
behavior significantly more on the ground. This study showed that there is significant
difference in the forest strata use between the sympatric Assamese macaques and rhesus
macaques of Nagarjun Forest.