Utilization of Selected Browses Species by Primates in Four Locations of Obudu Cattle Ranch, Cross Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examines the extent and intensity of lopping as well as their relation to free size in Becheve Nature Research (BNR), Golf Course Range (GCR), Beau Range (BR), and Ikwette Range (IR) all located at Obudu Cattle Ranch, Cross River State, Nigeria. Four species, Afzelia africana, Daniellia oliveri, Pterocarpus erinaceous and Ficus thoningii. were chosen for the study. The vegetation study and results indicate varying degrees of utilization between the locations of the tree species. The crown condition had difference between the locations of the tree species. The frequency of crown condition is higher in BNR and Ikwette Range. The BNR had the highest frequency of woody plant that provide primate food with value 0.52 while Golf Course range, Beau range, Ikwette range has 0.32, 0.30, and 0.27 use value respectively. The human use value is more in Golf Course Range with 0.324 and very minimal in BNR with 0.29. The mean crude fiber (CF) content of the four plants (11.52%) is low. In conclusion, the spatial distribution of food strongly influences primates’ patterns of movement.

Keywords: Utilization, browse species, human use, Obudu Cattle Ranch