Forest fragmentation and primates' survival status in non‐reserved forests of the ‘Kampala area’, Uganda

Previous primate studies have concentrated on the effects of forest disturbance on primate populations residing mainly in natural forest reserves. The present study was conducted in 20 non‐reserved forest patches in the ‘Kampala area’, a forest‐savanna‐agricultural mosaic, to investigate the effects of forest fragmentation on the distribution and survival status of arboreal primates in the patches. Mpanga Forest Reserve, as the nearest to the forest patches, was used as a control. Primate census data revealed that the black‐and‐white colobus ( Colobus guereza ) was restricted in its distribution while redtail monkeys ( Cercopithecus ascanius schmidti ) were cosmopolitan. There was no significant relationship between forest patch size and red‐tail population size, number of groups and group density decreased. Of the trees sampled, 70% were food species while 30% were nonfood species. Basal area of food tree species significantly increased with forest patch size ( R 2 = 0.5885) but its relationship with red‐tail population size and group density ( B = −0.42784, R 2 = 0.18305, P > 0.05) was not significant.