Distribution of primates in selected forests with different protection levels in Uganda.

Abstract

Tropical forest covers an area about 6% of the earth but hold the greatest proportion of biodiversity. All living organisms require their natural habitat for survival and where the integrity has been compromised, species may decline or go extinct. Habitat protection is one way to halt destruction of habitats and promroye species survival. This study was conducted to assess the survival of primate in three forests all under different protection regimes, Kibale Forest national park and Rwengobe forest fragment in western Uganda and Mabira in the central region. The research was conducted under the assumption that the higher the protection level of the forest, the higher the tree diversity and thence the higher the primate species richness and vice versa. Plot based sampling was used to sample tree diversity and the number and species of primates within the plot was assessed to find out the species richness of primates in the forests. Results showed Mabira to have the highest tree diversity among the three sites, followed by Ngogo and Rwengobe with the least. Ngogo had the highest primate species richness followed by Rwengobe and Mabira with the least. Ngogo had the highest primate species rich richness followed by Rwengobe and Mabira with the least primate species richness. The results of this study suggest that tree species diversity is not the most significant factor affecting primate distribution among the three forests.