Abundance and Morphology of Japanese Mulberry Trees in Response to the Distribution of Japanese Macaques in Snowy Areas

One of the rare documented cases of an antagonistic primate–plant interaction is selective foraging by Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) on the bark or buds of Japanese mulberry trees (Morus bombycis) in cool-temperate forests. We examined how this selective foraging behavior influences the growth and development of mulberry trees in a large geographic space with different environmental conditions by selecting study areas in northern Japan. We found that the foraging caused potentially fatal damage to 5%–10% of the mulberry trees and led to dwarfing of the tree morphology. However, the stem density of the monitored mulberry trees was the highest in the area with a long history of occupancy by macaque groups; moreover, the foraging commonly resulted in compensatory plant growth by increasing shoot number. These findings indicate that the macaque–mulberry relationship is not always antagonistic. Sufficient snow cover could be a key environmental factor to establish this non-antagonistic interaction by suppressing the negative influence of macaques as a destructive herbivore and improving their positive influence as a skilful gardener. Finally, we performed decision tree modeling based on the J48 algorithm to investigate geographic variation in mulberry abundance and morphology in response to the distribution of macaques. We developed an explicit tree model with reasonable predictive performance that not only enables a better understanding of primate–plant interactions but also provides information regarding the time of occupancy by Japanese macaques in a given area based on the abundance and morphology of mulberry trees. This result indicated that the observation of preferred tree species could be an indirect measure that reliably indexes macaque habitat use.     

Toucans (Ramphastos ambiguus) facilitate resilience against seed dispersal limitation to a large‐seeded tree (Virola surinamensis) in a human‐modified landscape

Large‐seeded plants may suffer seed dispersal limitation in human‐modified landscapes if seed dispersers are absent or unable to disperse their seeds. We investigated dispersal limitation for the large‐seeded tree Virola surinamensis in a human‐modified landscape in southern Costa Rica. During two fruiting seasons, we monitored crop size, seed removal rates, the number of fruiting conspecifics within 100 m, and feeding visitation rates by frugivores at trees located in high and low forest disturbance conditions. Seed removal rates and the total number of seeds removed were high regardless of the disturbance level, but these parameters increased with tree crop size and decreased with the number of fruiting V. surinamensis trees within a 100 m radius. Trees at low disturbance levels were more likely to be visited by seed dispersers. Black mandibled toucans (Ramphastos ambiguus) and spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) were the most important seed dispersers, based on visitation patterns and seed removal rates. Spider monkey feeding visits were more frequent at high disturbance levels, but the monkeys preferentially visited isolated trees with large yields and surrounded by a low number of fruiting Virola trees within 100 m. Toucan visitation patterns were not constrained by any of the predictors and they visited trees equally across the landscape. We suggest that isolated and highly fecund Virola trees are an important food resource for spider monkeys in human‐modified landscapes and that toucans can provide resilience against seed dispersal limitations for large‐seeded plants in human‐modified landscapes in the absence of hunting.     

Secondary buds in Scots pine trees infested with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gremmeniella abietina</Emphasis>

In winter 2000–2001, there was a serious outbreak of Gremmeniella abietina Morelet in southeastern Norway. During the outbreak, we noted that injured Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris L.) developed secondary buds in response to the fungus attack, and we decided to study the relationship between injury, appearance of secondary buds and recovery of the trees thereafter. For this purpose, 143 trees from 10 to 50 years of age were chosen and grouped into crown density classes. Injury was assessed in detail, and buds were counted before bud burst in the spring of 2002. In addition, a subset of 15 trees was followed through the summer of 2002 to assess recovery. All injured trees developed secondary buds, with a clear overweight of dormant winter buds in proportion to interfoliar buds. Healthy control trees did not develop secondary buds at all. The secondary buds appeared predominantly on the injured parts of the tree; interfoliar buds in particular developed just beneath the damaged tissue. Most of the secondary buds died during the winter of 2001–2002, mainly because the fungus continued to spread after the first outbreak. Many of the remaining buds developed shoots with abnormal growth during the summer. Secondary buds may help trees to recover from Gremmeniella attacks, but this strategy may fail when the fungus continues to grow and injure the newly formed buds and shoots.     

Relationship between reproductive behavior and new shoot development in 5-year-old branches of olive trees (Olea europaea L.)

The development of new shoots plays a central role in the complex interactions determining vegetative and reproductive growth in woody plants. To explore this role we evaluated the new shoots in the olive tree, Olea europaea L., and the effect of fruiting on new shoot growth and subsequent flowering. Five-year-old branches served as canopy subunits in order to obtain a global, whole-tree view of new shoot number, size and morphological origin. The non-bearing trees had many more shoots than the fruit-bearing trees, and a greater number of longer shoots. In both bearing conditions, however, the majority of shoots were less than 4 cm long, with shoots of progressively longer lengths present in successively decreasing frequencies. Six major shoot types were defined on the basis of apical or lateral bud origin and of parent shoot age. On fruit-bearing trees, the new shoots originated predominantly from the shoot apex, while on non-fruiting trees, they formed mainly from axillary buds, but in both cases, they tended to develop on younger parent shoots. The previous bearing condition of the tree was the main determinant for subsequent inflorescence development, which was independent of both shoot type and length. Thus, reproductive behavior strongly affected both the amount and type of new branching, but subsequent flowering level was more influenced by previous bearing than by the potential flowering sites on new shoots.     

Preformed and neoformed extension of shoots and sylleptic branching in relation to shoot length in Tsuga canadensis

Summary Shoot systems developed over 3 successive years were investigated on 55 understorey Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. trees. Paired comparisons of preformed-leaf content of terminal buds and numbers of leaves produced on new shoots showed that neoformed leaves were produced in large numbers. Parent-shoot character was not useful in predicting numbers of preformed leaves, was better related to total leaves produced, but left the majority of the variation unexplained. This reflected the capacity of any terminal bud to produce a shoot with more or less neoformation, depending on conditions for growth. All shoots over 6 cm long produced sylleptic shoots that bore from two to many leaves and were arranged in a mesitonic pattern along the parent. Some of the longer sylleptic shoots produced lateral buds or second-order sylleptic shoots. Monopodial second-year extensions of sylleptic-shoot axes followed an acrotonic pattern, as did proleptic shoots from the few lateral buds borne on the parent shoots. Such lateral buds were more frequent on shorter parent shoots: they typically occurred near the proximal and distal ends. Duration of shoot extension was positively correlated with shoot length: terminal buds became evident as shoot extension neared cessation.     

Diet and activity budget of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhinopithecus roxellana</Emphasis> in the Qinling Mountains,China

We collected data on diet and daytime activity budget, and investigated the phenology of food trees and food abundance for a group of Rhinopithecus roxellana on the East Ridge of Yuhuangmiao in the Qinling Mountains from November 2001 to December 2003. We calculated the seasonal activity budget using data collected by scan sampling from 84 full-day observations (winter 16, spring 18, summer 28, autumn 22 days). During scan sampling we recorded behavioral states, and the food items and species consumed. The subjects consumed 84 plant species, including trees and shrubs of 29 families, and lichens. Food species varied seasonally. The overall diet of R. roxellana consisted of 29.4% fruit/seeds, 29.0% lichens, 24.0% leaves, 11.1% bark, 4.2% buds, 1.3% twigs and 1.0% unidentified items. Because the abundance of different food items varied seasonally, the monkeys had to shift their major food items seasonally. The annual activity budget of R. roxellana was 36.2% time spent resting, 35.8% feeding, 22.9% moving, and 5.1% other behavior. Seasonal changes in activity budget were observed. R. roxellana spent more time moving in autumn, when the quality of the food might be highest, and least time moving in winter when the food quality might be lowest. Thus, this type of monkey has a passive foraging strategy.     

An ecological study of Hanuman langurs,Presbytis entellus

A troop of 23 Hanuman langurs was studied for a year in the dry deciduous forest at Dharwar, South India. The size of the territory and the home range of the troop was reduced due to a new-group formation during the period of this study, but the area size per each member of the troop did not change much. No distinct seasonal use of different parts of the range was observed. There was a tendency toward increased activities, especially feeding, toward the evening. However, feeding was frequently observed during the daytime. The langurs ate leaves, stalks, shoots, buds, flowers, and the fruit of many plant species, and they well utilized the common and abundant species in the area as food. The langurs spent 20% to 40% of the daytime on the ground. And they moved longer distances on the ground than they did in trees. When feeding on the ground, they changed food plants more frequently, moving more often and longer distances, than when feeding in trees. The home range of the langur troop overlapped with that of a troop of bonnet monkeys, but the relations between the two species were rather peaceful.The field work on which this report is based was financed by a Rockefeller Foundation grant, RF 60229, for the study on the behavior of Indian monkeys.     

Willow bud and shoot foraging by ptarmigan in relation to snow level in NW Finnish Lapland

Willow buds and twigs compose the main part of the willow ptarmigan’s (Lagopus lagopus) diet during winter. This study evaluated how position of willow ramets in relation to snow level affects the browsing of willow ptarmigan in NW Finland. Ramet position in relation to snow level affected the browsing intensity of willow ptarmigan: 5% of shoots were cut and more than 8% of buds were eaten by willow ptarmigan when ramet was staked at the maximum snow level, whereas ramets bent down were unbrowsed and browsing of ramets staked upright was negligible. Browsing significantly decreased the number of vegetative buds and catkins. The results show that snow level and ramet characteristics are important determinants of willow ptarmigan foraging.     

Foraging ecology of the mountain monkey (Cercopithecus l'hoesti): implications for its evolutionary history and use of disturbed forest

We present the first systematic field study on the feeding ecology of the mountain monkey (Circopithecus l'hoesti), a semi-terrestrial guenon. We compare our results with findings from a concurrent study of blue monkeys (C. mitis doggetti, which have an overlapping home range) conducted over ten months in the Nyungwe Forest Reserve, Rwanda. The mountain monkeys spent 35% of observation time feeding on terrestrial herbaceous vegetation. Thirty-five fruit and seed species comprised 42% of their diet, and invertebrates composed 9%. They spent 38% of observation time on the ground and 27% of observation time in canopy trees. Individuals were observed for equivalent proportions of time foraging on the ground for herbs and in canopy trees for fruits. Although mountain monkeys primarily foraged in undisturbed open areas, they also used disturbed open habitats for this purpose. Synthesizing our results with Pleistocene forest history and C. l'hoesti evolutionary history, we suggest that, although these monkeys readily use disturbed forest for herb foraging, they are a forest-adapted species which has adopted a terrestrial lifestyle to exploit the abundant herb layer common to montane forests.     

Predation by squirrel monkeys and double-toothed kites on tent-making bats

Central American squirrel monkeys (Saimiri oerstedi) appear to recognize the modified leaves that phyllostomid bats utilize for diurnal roost sites. The monkeys visually and manually search these bat tents for both bats and insects. Adult males are the most successful at capturing bats. Nonvolant juvenile bats are more vulnerable to monkey predation than are adults. Bats that escape monkey predation frequently are captured by doubletoothed kites (Harpagus bidentatus) that tend foraging troops of monkeys. Predation by squirrel monkeys, coupled with that of double-toothed kites, may be a significant source of mortality for tent-making bats.     

Establishment of juvenile-like shoot cultures and plantlets from 4–16 year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees

A method was developed for the establishment of shoot cultures from Douglas-fir trees selected for outstanding growth and form in a 12-year-old genetic test. Vegetative buds from the lower crown were sterilized and grafted in vitro onto juvenile clonal rootstock. The rootstocks were produced from adventitious buds induced on cotyledons, and were maintained through micropropagation. Buds that established grafts slowly elongated into shoots, which were harvested and multiplied through micropropagation. Grafts often grew several new shoots which in turn could be harvested. In 1987, 2830 buds were grafted from 18 superior trees. Twenty nine grafts (1%) produced shoots which established 11 of the 18 trees in culture. Their appearance and behavior in vitro became more juvenile over 1–3 years, as indicated by shoot and needle morphology, disappearance of episodic growth pattern, increase in multiplication rates, and ability of needles to produce adventitious buds.The five most prolific of the 11 clones were given a pre-rooting treatment and planted in soil under fog. The success of rooting and subsequent establishment in soil varied from 5 to 17% depending on clone. In contrast, trees multiplied in vitro for 1–2 years longer showed soil establishment rates from 8–60%. This technique allows establishment, multiplication, and maintenance in vitro of cultures from high value Douglas-fir genotypes. Such cultures may serve as a starting point for further research on rejuvenation and cloning.     

Effects of ants on the foraging of birds in spruce trees

I experimentally excluded ants from randomly selected spruce trees Picea abies near colonies of the wood ant Formica aquilonia. Foraging activity of birds in these trees was then compared to the foraging activity of birds in neighboring spruce trees, where ants were allowed to continue foraging. Birds which foraged in the foliage showed the effects of competition with ants: they visited the trees without ants more frequently, and for longer periods. In addition, the insects and spiders that they utilized as food were more abundant in the foliage of trees without ants. Cone-foraging birds, however, which fed on seeds in cones at the tops of the trees, did not show a preference for trees without ants. The differences of tree usage between foliage-gleaning and coneforaging birds can be explained by alteration of the birds' food supply by wood ants: ants did not feed on seeds in cones, and so did not compete with cone-foraging birds. However, foraging wood ants did feed on arthropods living in the foliage, thus reducing the amount of food available to birds there.     

Exploring New Areas: How Important is Long-Term Spatial Memory for Mangabey (<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Lophocebus albigena johnstonii</Emphasis>) Foraging Efficiency?

Studies of primate foraging efficiency during the exploration of new areas can provide important insights into the adaptive value of long-term spatial memory. After 6 yr of observation of a group of gray-cheeked mangabeys (Lophocebus albigena johnstonii) in Kibale National Park, Uganda, we observed exploration of a new area, followed 7 mo later by a group split. We recorded their ranging and foraging behavior for 22 mo after the first exploration. Controlling for weather variables, we found that mangabeys moved longer daily travel distances, explored more area per day, and had larger group spreads in the new area compared to the old area in both parent and daughter groups. The increase in search swath in the new area likely enabled the monkeys to counteract their lack of knowledge of food locations in the new area, as the efficiency in finding fruit in general did not differ between the old and new areas. We did, however, find a lower efficiency in finding fruit from preferred fig trees whose edibility could not be assessed by visual cues in the new area. Fig finding efficiency remained lower, even when we controlled for potential differences in fig density. In addition, mangabeys traveled and foraged less often on the ground in the new compared to the old area. However, when the monkeys became more familiar with the new area, terrestrial behavior increased. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that when monkeys move into an area in which they have no experience, an absence of knowledge acquired via long-term spatial memory decreases their foraging efficiency.     

Magellanic woodpecker ( Campephilus magellanicus) abundance and foraging in Tierra del Fuego, Chile

The Magellanic woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus) is a vulnerable and poorly studied bird in the sub-antarctic deciduous and evergreen beech (Nothofagus) forests of South America. On Tierra del Fuego island (Chile), we compared Magellanic woodpecker abundance and its foraging habitat in two forest types: pure N. pumilio and mixed forests composed by N. pumilio and N. betuloides, including managed and non managed stands. At a regional scale, abundance of woodpeckers was greater in landscapes including both forest types than in pure N. pumilio landscapes. When both forest types occurred together, woodpecker abundance did not differ between them. The number of trees with foraging signs was correlated with Magellanic woodpecker abundance and was also associated with N. betuloides and snag densities, but was not affected by forest management. Occurrence of pecking on foraging trees was greater in mixed Nothofagus than pure N. pumilio stands. Woodpeckers foraged disproportionately more on larger diameter and more decayed trees. Moreover, trees used for foraging were positively correlated with canopy cover and snag density and were negatively correlated with distance to nearby peatlands and beaver ponds. Direct observation revealed that the flying distance between trees was negatively correlated with proportion of trees with foraging signs. Woodpeckers chose trees that were visited before, suggesting a pattern of tree recognition within foraging territories.Communicated by F. Bairlein     

Bud and shoot structure may relate to the distribution area of South American Proteaceae tree species

The capacity of preformation and neoformation and the structure of winter buds are vegetative attributes that may vary between plant species and according to ontogenetic stages of the same species. The present study describes and evaluates these features for the four tree species of Proteaceae occurring in Patagonia. In particular, it analyzes the structure and development of the distal buds of the trunk and the preformed or neoformed nature of the organs involved. Two of the species, Embothrium coccineum and Lomatia hirsuta, have scaly buds, in which primordia of green leaves are covered by cataphylls. The shoots of both species may include neoformed organs, more frequently so in juvenile trees. Lomatia ferruginea and Gevuina avellana have naked buds with a low number of primordia; in juvenile and adult trees of both species trunk shoots are entirely preformed. The structure of buds and shoots suggests two different growth modalities of the axes, which would be related to ecological breadth (narrower in the species with naked buds than in those with scaly buds) and distribution area of these species. The considerable morphological differences between the two Lomatia species studied raise the question whether they ought to be included in the same genus.     

High flexibility in diet and ranging patterns in two golden monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti) populations in Rwanda

Many primates exhibit behavioral flexibility which allows them to adapt to environmental change and different habitat types. The golden monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti) is a little-studied endangered primate subspecies endemic to the Virunga massif and the Gishwati forest in central Africa. In the Virunga massif, golden monkeys are mainly found in the bamboo forest, while in the Gishwati forest they live in mixed tropical montane forest. Here we describe and compare the diet of golden monkeys in both fragments. Over 24 consecutive months from January 2017 we used scan sampling to record feeding and ranging behavior of two Virunga groups and one Gishwati group totaling ca. 240 individuals. We also examined the phenology of bamboo and fruit trees, key seasonal food plant species for the monkeys. Golden monkeys fed on more than 100 plant species. The Virunga groups were mostly folivorous (between 72.8% and 87.16% of the diet) and fed mostly on young bamboo leaves and bamboo shoots, while 48.69% of the diet of the Gishwati group consisted of fruit from 22 different tree and shrub species. Bamboo shoots and fruit are seasonally available foods and were consumed regularly throughout the period when they were available. Despite being the smallest of the three study groups, the Gishwati group had a larger home range area (150.07 ha) compared to both Virunga groups (25.24 and 91.3 ha), likely driven by the differences in availability and distribution of fruit and bamboo in the habitats. Like other blue monkey subspecies, golden monkeys appear to have a flexible dietary strategy enabling them to adjust diet and ranging behavior to local habitats and available food resources. Additional studies and continuing conservation efforts are needed to better understand how variation in feeding and ranging ecology affects reproduction, population growth, and carrying capacity.     

鄱阳湖四种水鸟的栖息地利用与水深和食物的关系

为了了解水深和食物资源对水鸟栖息地利用的影响,2012 ~ 2013年越冬期,采用样方法,对鄱阳湖沙湖的白鹤 (Grus leucogeranus)、小天鹅 (Cygnus columbianus)、东方白鹳 (Ciconia boyciana) 和白琵鹭 (Platalea leucorodia) 4种水鸟的数量、觅食地和休息地的水深以及主要食物——沉水植物冬芽的密度和生物量进行了调查。每个样方为150 m? 150 m的栅格,全湖共设置152个样方。结果显示,10月份沉水植物冬芽的平均水深为 (124.2 ± 12.0) cm。4种水鸟觅食地的水深均显著高于其休息地的水深 (白鹤：Z = 11.96, 小天鹅：Z = 4.69, 东方白鹳：Z = 14.44, 白琵鹭：Z = 29.33, 所有P < 0.01);对于2种食冬芽的水鸟,白鹤觅食地的水深、冬芽生物量、取食深度以及休息地水深均显著低于小天鹅 (觅食地水深: Z = 8.56, 冬芽生物量: Z = 2.93, 取食深度: Z = 14.69, 休息地水深: Z = 4.34, 所有P < 0.05),但两者觅食地的冬芽密度差异不显著 (Z = 0.6, P = 0.55);对于2种食鱼性水鸟,东方白鹳觅食地水深、取食深度和休息地水深均显著大于白琵鹭 (觅食地水深: Z = 10.60; 取食深度: Z = 9.35; 休息地水深: Z = 8.47, 所有P < 0.01)。回归分析表明,白鹤、东方白鹳、白琵鹭的觅食个体数量均与水深呈二次项关系,个体数量最大的觅食地水深分别为23.9 cm,33.0 cm和22.6 cm;白鹤、小天鹅的觅食个体数量均与冬芽生物量呈线性关系。3种涉禽均只能分布在一定的水深范围内,且同种食性的水鸟利用不同的水深从而减少在空间生态位的重叠。     

Feeding rates and energy deficits of juvenile and adult Japanese monkeys in a cool temperate area with snow coverage

Japanese monkeys, Macaca fuscata, living in a cool temperate forest experienced energy crises in winter. We measured feeding times and feeding rates (mass of foods eaten per unit time of feeding) in six different-sized, age–sex classes (1.2–12.6 kg body mass) in autumn and winter. One-, 2- and 3~4-year-olds spent 34–35% and 44–46% of the day feeding in autumn and winter, respectively. Monkeys less than 0 years old spent less time feeding (16–28%) than average in winter and autumn; adult females spent less (41%) in winter; and adult males spent less (25%) in autumn. All age–sex classes ate mainly fruits in autumn and the heavier classes fed more on tree bark than buds in winter. The feeding rate for fruits (2.3–53.5 g min^–1) was nine to 12 times faster than those for buds (1.0– 4.8 g min^–1) and bark (0.5–4.4 g min^–1), and energy content did not differ among fruits (22.1 kJ g^–1 dry mass), buds (19.9 kJ g^–1 dry mass) and bark (23.2 kJ g^–1 dry mass). Energy base feeding rates increased with body mass where the body mass exponent for buds (0.29) was smaller than those for bark (0.64) and fruits (0.63), which might be attributable to the unit size of food items and mass dependency of masticatory apparatus. Our monkeys obtained two to five times more energy in autumn (1567–1150 kJ day^–1) than in winter (604–3020 kJ day^–1). Adult females obtained 60% of expected energy expenditure and other classes obtained 77–88% of that in winter.     

Pollinator flight directionality and the assessment of pollen returns

Summary Nectar-foraging pollinators often exhibit a directional pattern of movement between plants when the energetic costs of revisiting previously utilized areas can significantly reduce foraging efficiency. However, bumblebees (Bombus spp.) foraging for pollen on flowers of Aquilegia caerulea rarely moved in a straight line among successively visited plants. Most flights from plants visited were either to closely neighboring plants or were longer and involved bypassing near neighbor plants. Bees biased their flights toward plants with relatively large numbers of flowers yet visited only a small fraction of the flowers on each plant. Such foraging tactics might result when the energetic costs of revisiting plants are minor. Alternatively we suggest that bumblebees foraging for pollen may not perceive revisitations and their associated costs because they do not assess pollen returns on a per plant basis. In this case energetic-efficiency arguments predicting the pattern of foraging movements among plants may be inappropriate. A better level of analysis would be where the bees assess net energy returns, perhaps between bouts of pollen-combing and corbiculae-packing.     

青木川自然保护区川金丝猴食性的季节性变化

2005 ～2008 年于陕西省青木川自然保护区使用瞬时扫描法观察了川金丝猴的食性。结果表明,川金丝猴冬季和夏季共取食42 种植物,可鉴定植物归属23 科34 属。川金丝猴食物类型包括果实、花、树叶、树皮、树芽。夏季取食21 种植物的果实或树叶;冬季取食25 种植物。树叶是其冬季主要食物,取食频次占总取食频次的73.0% ;夏季取食果实的频次占总取食频次的72.2% ,灯台树果实是其主要食物。啃食树皮行为主要发生在落叶阔叶林、针叶林与落叶阔叶混交林;在常绿和落叶阔叶混交林中,树皮啃食强度则相对较小。与其它地区金丝猴的食性比较,该地区川金丝猴食物谱较宽。蔷薇科和壳斗科植物在川金丝猴食物组成中最多,杨柳科、桦木科、山茱萸科、槭树科和忍冬科植物也取食较多。