Gibbon & siamang densities

and forest structure at Sikundur

Group density estimates for white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) and siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus) and a quantitative analysis of the vegetative characteristics of the Sikundur Field Site

Habitat disturbance within Indonesia is largely an artifact of industrial activities, such as logging. Logging creates critical problems for arboreal animals, such as gibbons, as it creates gaps within the canopy and results in fragmented forests. A direct consequence of fragmentation for arboreal primates is increased energy expenditure as the direct route of travel is impeded by the presence of gaps in the canopy; this is especially a problem for arboreal species that depend on suspensory locomotion like gibbons and siamangs.

Objectives

To quantify differences in gibbon densities and tree density, size and connectivity across 3 different soil types (plains, flood plains, hills) within the Sikundur area.