Activity patterns of yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) in the amboseli National Park, Kenya

Although males and females spend approximately equal proportions of time in each of the activity states, the distributions of the durations of activity bouts show significant intersexual differences in central tendency and dispersion that are consistent with a model of inter sexual differences in overall foraging strategies.

Abstract

Quantitative data on the ways in which adult yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) distribute their time among various activities are presented. Baboons spend approximately three-quarters of their time feeding or moving. Interseasonal variability in the proportions of time spent feeding and socializing is statistically significant, as are individual differences in the proportions of time spent feeding and moving. Although males and females spend approximately equal proportions of time in each of the activity states, the distributions of the durations of activity bouts show significant intersexual differences in central tendency and dispersion that are consistent with a model of intersexual differences in overall foraging strategies. Consistent diurnal patterns are conspicuously absent, and the relationship between this finding and other ecological variables is discussed.