Etude démographique du magot (Macaca sylvanus) dans le site touristique des cascades d’Ouzoud (Maroc)
The Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) is limited to relict areas in Morocco and Algeria as isolated populations that occupy diverse habitats. This primate is categorized as endangered by the IUCN and is listed in CITES Appendix II. Deforestation, overgrazing and human interference represent the main...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Société Francophone de Primatologie
2016-09-01
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| Series: | Revue de Primatologie |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/primatologie/2593 |
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| Summary: | The Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) is limited to relict areas in Morocco and Algeria as isolated populations that occupy diverse habitats. This primate is categorized as endangered by the IUCN and is listed in CITES Appendix II. Deforestation, overgrazing and human interference represent the main causes of the decline of this species. The ecological plasticity of Barbary macaque is correlated with demographic characteristics of groups. This species represents an excellent biological indicator of the forest quality and the Barbary macaque demography can monitor the decline of this species and the degradation of its natural habitats. In Morocco, Barbary macaques live in many tourist sites. The behavior of macaques living in tourist sites is influenced by the presence of visitors providing food to them. Conservation efforts on behalf of this primate should consider the demography of groups living in tourist sites. The demography of the Barbary macaque group living in the tourist site of Ouzoud in the central High Atlas Mountains (Morocco) was studied from February 2003 to December 2008. The group size of the initial group increased from 25 to 40 individuals from February 2003 to February 2007. Between February and December 2007, the initial group was divided into two independent groups, consisting of 23 and 13 individuals. The births were the main factor of the growth of the initial group, a total of 33 infants were born in this group. During this period, three individuals were immigrated towards the initial group. On the contrary, a total of 25 individuals disappeared from the initial group. The overall and adult sex ratios of the initial group were in favor of females, and this group has sex ratios less than 0.83 during the 2003-2007 period. The overall and adult sex ratios of the new groups ranged from 0.60 to 1.00. The adult/juvenile ratio of the initial group was in favor of the adults and it ranged between 1.22 and 1.50. This ratio ranged from 1.00 to 1.09 in the two new groups. The causes of the initial group growth and fission are discussed according to several factors such as the habitat productivity, the natural and human food availability. |
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| ISSN: | 2077-3757 |