Samenvatting

The critically endangered western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) once occurred in 12 West African countries. However, increasing anthropogenic factors have caused a dramatic decline in the species’ habitat and population. This dramatic decline raises fears that the species may become extinct in the coming decades unless measures are taken to safeguard its survival. One of such measures is the prioritization of the western chimpanzee’s habitat. Knowledge of the species’ food sources and their availability may further help this prioritization. Therefore, the future aim is to close the knowledge gap on phenology patterns of chimpanzee fodder trees. The present aim of this study is to find a method that is suitable to monitor the phenology of chimpanzee foddertrees in the Boé Sector of Guinea-Bissau. This sector is believed to be home to at least 710 chimpanzees in a savannah-forest mosaic habitat. In total, ten commonly used phenology monitoring methods were found, compared and rated. The first selection process assessed whether these methods were suitable for the aim of the study and environment of the Boé Sector. Six of the ten commonly used methods were found to be applicable in the Boé Sector.