The Availability and Distribution of Fruit and Non-Fruit Plant Resources in Bwindi: their Influence on Gorilla Habitat Use and Food Choice

Abstract

Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) are the largest extant apes, whose 2 species and 4 subspecies are all highly endangered. Relatively little is know about the mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), which are thought to be distinct from the Virunga populations. This study, focussing on the Kyagurilo research group, sought to investigate the diet and food resources of Bwindi’s gorillas, to better understand the relationship between gorillas and their habitat. Specifically, it aimed to document their diet, determine spatial and temporal availability of plant resources within their home range, measure and map home range size, measure daily journey length and analyse how spatial and temporal variation in diet influenced gorilla ranging patterns, habitat use and food choice, then compare these with other gorilla populations at different ecological sites.