Activity budget and habitat use in the Nicobar long-tailed macaque Macaca fascicularis umbrosus

Time-activity budget and pattern of habitat use are basic tools to understand an animal’s interaction with its environment. We studied a primarily commensal group of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis umbrosus) with 22 individuals in the Great Nicobar Island of India at Campbell Bay. Data on the frequency and duration of different activities were collected through scan sampling and ad libitum notes. We recorded the geo-coordinates of the visually approximated group center using a handheld GPS receiver (Garmin GPS Map 76csx) every 30 min to assess the ranging patterns. The group spent more time resting, followed by feeding, social behaviours, movement, foraging, and scouting. The time spent on various activities did not vary at different times of the day and showed no seasonal variations. The macaques fed mostly on the cultivated fruits. Although the total home range size was 66ha, the most frequently used area was only 6 ha. The macaques ranged over a larger area in the dry season than in the wet season. All these patterns show that the behaviour of the study group was typical of that of the commensal macaques of other species.