Nutritional Composition of Plant Materials Consumed by Baboon (Papio Anubis) and Tantalus Monkeys (Chlorocebus Tantalus) in Yankari Game Reserve, Nigeria

Abstract

The variation in the plant materials and nutritional values of the materials consumed by Baboons (Papio anubis) and Tantalus monkeys (Chlorocebus tantalus) over the wet and dry seasons in nine communities surrounding Yankari Game reserve were evaluated. Feeding animals were observed to keep records of plant species and plant part (such as fruits, seeds, leaves, shoots) consumed by the animals. The protein (nitrogen), ash and fibre contents of the plant parts were assessed. Macro and micro nutrients tested for in each sample are Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Manganese, Copper, Iron, Phosphorus and Zinc by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Irrespective of the study sites and the season of the year, these non-human primates were primarily frugivorous. The food materials eaten by Baboon and Tantalus monkey in the study sites show that both animals feed on Tamarindus indica, Zea mays, Diospyros mespiliformis, Grasshopper and other insects. Vittelaria paradoxum and Kigelia africana was only consumed by baboons. There were variations in the plant parts consumed by both animals in the two seasons of the year. Baboons consumed more of the seeds of Zea mays while Tantalus monkeys consumed more of the shoots. The nutrient composition varied significantly (P 0.05) with plants species. Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Sodium were the most dominant macro nutrients of the food plants in that decreasing order of magnitudes. The micro nutrients such as Iron, Manganese, Copper, and Zinc also show a remarkable trend with Iron and Manganese having higher concentration than Zinc, Phosphorus and Copper.