Cover Image

Abstract

COVER PHOTO: The Ugandan red colobus (Piliocolobus tephrosceles) is an endangered primate native to Uganda and Tanzania. The feeding behavior of these folivorous, group-living, and mostly arboreal monkeys was studied using a unique dataset collected between 2006 and 2016 in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Lauer et al. (Ecosphere, Volume 16, Issue 1, Article e70162, doi: 10.1002/ecs2.70162) demonstrated that red colobus monkeys clearly chose young leaves over other plant parts in their diet. At the level of individual food items (defined by plant part and species), they fed on many different foods, though their diet was dominated by a few key items. The study also revealed a positive association between the protein-to-fiber ratio and the consumption frequency of different food items. Developing a robust understanding of food choices and nutritional goals can inform conservation efforts by guiding habitat protection and restoration strategies toward critical resources. Photo credit: Patrick Lauer.