Foraging strategies of yakushima macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui )

I investigated the activity budget and diet of Yakushima macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui,)in warm temperate broad- leaved forest of Yakushima, Japan. Both time spent feeding and time spent moving varied considerably between half- months. However, total time spent in active behaviors— feeding time plus moving time— was stable. The composition of the diet also showed considerable variation between half- months. The macaques fed mainly on fruits, seeds,mature leaves, fallen seeds, flowers, and young leaves, each of which accounted for more than 30% of feeding time in at least 1 half- month. They also ate insects and fungi, but each of them comprised ≤ 25 and ≤ 8% of feeding time in any half- month, respectively. Time spent feeding on mature leaves, young leaves, flowers, or fallen seeds is positively correlated with total time feeding and is negatively correlated with time moving. In contrast, time feeding on fruits, seeds, insects or fungi is negatively correlated with time feeding and is positively correlated with time moving. Foraging on foods that have a low energy content, a high density, and a relatively even distribution— mature leaves— or that need much manipulation to be processed— flowers and fallen seeds— increased feeding time, while foraging on foods for which monkeys must search intensively in the forest— fruits, seeds, insects, and fungi— led to increased moving time. I examined foraging strategies of Yakushima macaques in terms of moving costs and the quality of food items. Regarding time feeding on fruits, which have more energy and may need less manipulation than other foods, as a benefit, and moving time as a cost, they seemed to employ a strategy that balanced the costs and benefits of foraging.     

白马雪山自然保护区响古箐滇金丝猴的食性

2008 年6 月至2009 年5 月,采用扫描瞬时取样法对云南白马雪山自然保护区响古箐滇金丝猴群的食性进行了研究。研究表明,该滇金丝猴群的食物主要由42 个科105 种植物组成。滇金丝猴全年的食物构成如下:松萝50.6% ,成熟叶16.3% ,果实/种子10.5% , 嫩叶8.4% ,竹笋7.9% , 芽3.0% , 花1.9% ,树皮/ 叶柄/茎0.8% ,真菌类0.5% 。研究还表明,滇金丝猴的食谱具有一定的季节性:即夏季取食的植物种类最多,冬季取食的植物种类最少,嫩叶是滇金丝猴春季的主要食物,而果实/ 种子在响古箐的滇金丝猴秋季食物中占有重要的比重。此外,发现竹笋是滇金丝猴夏季的主要食物资源。研究还发现,除松萝以外,对其食物贡献率最大的10科植物的比重达到39.6%,而蔷薇科的取食则高达17.57% ,表明响古箐滇金丝猴对不同种类的食物具有明显的选择性。以上结果表明,响古箐滇金丝猴的取食行为受食物资源季节性变化的影响。     

Seasonal variation of diet and food availability in a group of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys in Shennongjia Nature Reserve, China

We studied the diet and food availability of a group of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys for 14 months (July 2003 to September 2004, except for February) in the Shennongjia Nature Reserve, China. This species is primarily a lichen eater, with lichens (Usneaceae) accounting for 43.28% of feeding records (n=3,452). Other food types in the diet were young leaves (28.71%), fruits or seeds (14.57%), buds (5.36%), mature leaves (3.51%), herbs (2.09%), bark (1.36%), and flowers (1.13%). The monkeys used 23 plant species. Their diet showed a complicated seasonal variation: the monthly diet varied from primarily lichens in November-April, to a mixture of leaves and lichens in May-July, to a mixture of fruits or seeds and lichens in August-October (the latter depended on annual fruit and seed availability). The proportion of fruits or seeds in the diet was negatively correlated with that of lichens, which suggests that the monkeys prefer fruits or seeds to lichens when all of these items are available. The fruit or seed availability varied greatly between the two study years. The proportion of lichens, young leaves, flowers, and fruits or seeds in the diet was positively associated with their availability. The monkeys appeared to be selective feeders. They preferred 10 tree species for plant parts, and nine tree species for lichens. The selection index of tree species for lichens was positively related to lichen coverage per branch on tree species, demonstrating that the monkeys preferred tree species with abundant lichens, as well as dead trees for lichens. The results suggest that dead-tree harvesting in the reserve could significantly reduce the quality of habitat for these monkeys, and should therefore be prohibited. Connus controversa, Cerasus discadenia, Salix willichiana, and Malus halliana should be conserved as top priority species because the monkeys preferred them for both their vegetative parts and the lichens that grow on them.     

14C-Studies on Apple Trees. VII. The Early Seasonal Growth in Leaves, Flowers and Shoots as Dependent upon Current Photosynthates and Existing Reserves

The young leaves' consumption proper of photosynthates and their contribution to the growth of flowers, fruits and shoots by exposing spurs and shoots to ¹⁴CO₂ at the earliest stages of the growth period in apple trees (Malus X domestica) were studied. By a parallel determination of the growth intensity in various organs an attempt is made to evaluate their relative dependence on current photosynthates and on reserves from inside the tree. The proper fixation of ¹⁴C by growth in the exposed leaves is high in the earliest phases of growth. The fixation of ¹⁴C is considerable in the flowers, including the petals, immediately prior to flowering, in intensely growing fruits, and in the woody parts of the current year's shoots, when the main part of the terminal growth has been completed. Under conditions of high intensity of growth in an organ, the total fixation by growth in the parts studied may amount to as much as 80–90% of the ¹⁴C absorbed. Only in the very earliest phases of development does the growth of flowers and shoots appear to be based to a greater extent on materials supplied from reserves than from current photosynthesis. Quantitatively the greater part by far of the total new growth in fruits and shoots appears to be based on materials from current photosynthesis.     

Diet and feeding behavior of Rhinopithecus brelichi at Yangaoping, Guizhou

Expectations of increases in human population growth and accelerated habitat loss, along with the realization that efforts to provide protection for ecosystems that sustain primates have met with limited success, make it critical that conservation plans are grounded firmly in scientific observation. Studies of the diet breadth and feeding behavior of endangered species, therefore, are critical for understanding ecological adaptations and developing a conservation strategy. The diet and feeding ecology of gray snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus brelichi) were studied in the Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China. The monkeys were found to consume 107 different species of trees, shrubs, and ground plants from 58 genera and 28 families. Food items included young leaves, mature leaves, flowers, fruits/seeds, buds, and insects. Among these food items, there were at least 13 evergreen species of tree and liana, 3 species of grasses, and at least 2 kinds of invertebrates collected from decayed wood. Diet varied markedly throughout different seasons. Overall, diet composition (based on feeding records) was 15.3% buds, 25.5% young leaves, 21.8% mature leaves, 9.4% flowers, 21.6% fruits/seeds, and 6.3% other items. The monkeys feed mainly on young leaves and flowers in spring, unripe fruits/seeds and young leaves in summer, ripe fruits/seeds in autumn, and mature leaves and buds in winter. We propose that when inhabiting forests of lower elevation and greater vegetation complexity, R. brelichi is characterized by expanded diet breadth and includes a greater diversity of food types and plant species in its diet. One food type that appears critical to the diet of this species, especially during the winter, are the buds of Magnolia sprengeri. To protect this resource we advocate working with local communities to limit the collection of M. sprengeri, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine and has high economic value for people in the reserve.     

Feeding Ecology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trachypithecus pileatus</Emphasis> in India

We observed a group of capped langurs for 12 mo in the Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India. We recorded the time of feeding on different food plant species, food categories, and the feeding heights of monkeys in trees. Capped langurs spent 68% of their feeding time on leaves, 16% on flowers, and 16% on fruits. Feeding on leaves was consistently high (p < 0.01) during the year, with the highest feeding in May (85%) and the lowest in January (47%). The seasonal difference in feeding on leaves is significant (p < 0.05): it was higher in summer and during monsoon. The feeding time on flowers was maximal (35%) in March and that on fruits and seeds was minimal (38%) in January. Langurs ate 52 plant species throughout the year. The largest number of plants (6) were species of Moraceae, and langurs spent more feeding time (20%) on them alone. The number of plants eaten per month varied significantly (p < 0.05). Langurs ate Gmelina arborea, Albizzia lucida, Ficus glomereta, and Makania micrantha throughout the year. They spent 44% of their feeding time in terminal canopies and their average feeding height was 30–35 m. This is the first study to examine the feeding ecology of capped langurs and provides baseline data for the species.     

Foraging strategies of yakushima macaques(Macaca fuscata yakui)

I investigated the activity budget and diet of Yakushima macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui,)in warm temperate broad- leaved forest of Yakushima, Japan. Both time spent feeding and time spent moving varied considerably between half- months. However, total time spent in active behaviors— feeding time plus moving time— was stable. The composition of the diet also showed considerable variation between half- months. The macaques fed mainly on fruits, seeds,mature leaves, fallen seeds, flowers, and young leaves, each of which accounted for more than 30% of feeding time in at least 1 half- month. They also ate insects and fungi, but each of them comprised ≤ 25 and ≤ 8% of feeding time in any half- month, respectively. Time spent feeding on mature leaves, young leaves, flowers, or fallen seeds is positively correlated with total time feeding and is negatively correlated with time moving. In contrast, time feeding on fruits, seeds, insects or fungi is negatively correlated with time feeding and is positively correlated with time moving. Foraging on foods that have a low energy content, a high density, and a relatively even distribution— mature leaves— or that need much manipulation to be processed— flowers and fallen seeds— increased feeding time, while foraging on foods for which monkeys must search intensively in the forest— fruits, seeds, insects, and fungi— led to increased moving time. I examined foraging strategies of Yakushima macaques in terms of moving costs and the quality of food items. Regarding time feeding on fruits, which have more energy and may need less manipulation than other foods, as a benefit, and moving time as a cost, they seemed to employ a strategy that balanced the costs and benefits of foraging.     

黑线仓鼠的食物与食量

作者从1983年至1989年,在河北省三个不同的气候区,对农田中的黑线仓鼠(Cricetulus,bara-bensis)的食物与食量进行了调查。结果表明,黑线仓鼠主要取食农作物种子。同时取食草籽和根、茎、叶、花、果实及动物性食物。不同地区、不同作物地、不同季节和年度、不同性别鼠的食物差异显著。食物差异与鼠的种群繁值及数量动态有关。月夹捕率与颊囊中食物的总检出率和种子检出率正相关非常显著。直线回归方程式分别为y=38.388+2.866x n=60 r=0.343>r_(0.01)=0.325和y=29.734+2.669x r=0.394>r_(0.01360)=0.325。黑线仓鼠对食物的选择,主要受到食物质量的影响,同时也受到食物频度、作物的物候变化、动物的群落结构、种群密度、种内与种间竞争等多种因素的综合影响。在不同的时间和栖息地影响它食物选择的主要因素不同。日食量4-5g。     

Diet of the brown howler monkeyAlouatta fusca in a semi-deciduous forest fragment of southeastern Brazil

The diet of a group of six brown howlers was studied weekly during 12 months in a reserve of 250 ha of secondary, mesophytic, semi-deciduous forest. The phenology of 186 trees of 72 species and 29 families was monitored simultaneously. Scan sampling was used to record the diet from dawn until dusk on a total of 60 days of observation, yielding 718 hr of animal-observer contact and 2,943 feeding scans. The diet was composed of leaves (73%), flowers (12%), and fruits (5%), from 68 identified plant species.Celtis iguanae, Cassia ferruginea, andInga spp. were the main food sources, accounting for approximately 50% of the diet. Young leaves (59%) were preferred to mature leaves (31%), trees contributing 56% and lianas 41% of the leaf diet. The ingestion of young leaves was correlated to the availability of these items, however, the correlations were not significant for flowers and fruits. The diet was poorer in fruits and richer in young leaves of lianas in comparison to other howler monkey species studies, probably as a consequence of the liana abundance in this forest fragment.     

Diet in one group of woolly spider monkeys,or muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides)

Data on feeding behavior in one group of muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides) were collected during a 14 month study at Fazenda Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Muriquis devoted an average of 51% of their annual feeding time to leaves, 32% to fruits, and 11% to flowers. The high proportion of leaves in their diet is consistent with predictions from the energetics of body size. However, they devoted a greater proportion of their feeding time to patchy fruit and flower resources than was expected from comparisons with smaller, sympatric howler monkeys. Muriqui diet varied with the availability of preferred food types across sample months. Fruit and flower consumption corresponded to the availability and abundance of these food resources in the forest. Leaves contributed substantially to muriqui diet throughout the year but appeared to be eaten primarily to provide necessary protein and/or necessary bulk. Male and female diets differed only in the greater proportion of feeding time females devoted to flowers.