Orangutan Foraging Strategies in a Degraded Landscape
Author Information
Author(s): Campbell-Smith Gail, Campbell-Smith Miran, Singleton Ian, Linkie Matthew
Primary Institution: Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent
Hypothesis
How do wild Sumatran orangutans adapt to living in an isolated agroforest landscape?
Conclusion
Orangutans have modified their behavior and diet to coexist with humans in a degraded landscape.
Supporting Evidence
- Females raided cultivated fruits more than males.
- Orangutans shifted their diet from fruits to bark when cultivated resources were unavailable.
- Crop-raiding was more frequent in the first year of the study compared to the second year.
Takeaway
Orangutans are changing their eating habits to include more farm fruits when their usual food is not available, which helps them live near people.
Methodology
The study involved focal animal sampling over two years to observe feeding behavior and dietary composition of orangutans in an agroforest.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from observer effects and reliance on local farmers for orangutan sightings.
Limitations
The study was limited to a specific agroforest area and may not represent orangutan behavior in other environments.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on 16 identified orangutans, including 8 adults, 5 adolescents, and 3 infants.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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