Food Choice of White-Headed Langurs in Fusui,China

We studied the feeding ecology of white-headed langurs (Trachypithecus leucocephalus) from September 1997 to September 1998 in Fusui Rare and Precious Animal Reserve, SW Guangxi, China. We collected data in the central part of a group of limestone hills where the main population pool of langurs was located. The langurs fed on 50 plant species (belonging to 42 genera from 28 families) out of 164 species in the habitat (belonging to 112 genera from 48 families). Most of the food plant species were not common in the habitat. There are 16 important food species, including 6 key species. White-headed langurs were extremely folivorous, feeding mainly on young leaves (75% of total feeding records) of a broad range of less common plant species, which were in less disturbed areas. Thus, langur groups in high quality habitat had greater access to preferred foods, and the future of langurs in the Reserve may depend on immediate cessation of tree felling.     

Dietary breadth and resource use of François' langur in a seasonal and disturbed habitat

Previous studies of Trachypithecus species indicated that they were selective feeders that concentrated on relatively few food species/items. From January to December 2005, I quantified potential food availability and the food species/items eaten by five groups of François' langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) in the Mayanghe Nature Reserve (MNR), People's Republic of China. These langurs fed on 164 species, of which the top ten accounted for 51% of all feeding records. Langurs consumed more species (91) in the spring than in other seasons (73 summer, 75 autumn, and 67 winter), and only 38 species were consumed in all seasons. Nontree food species, such as bushes and lianas, accounted for 47% of the total feeding records and for a majority (68%) of the feeding records in winter. The annual diet consisted of leaves (64% of feeding records), fruit and seed (32%), and other nonfoliage items (4%); the langurs switched from being more folivorous in spring (93%) and summer (79%) to being more frugivorous in autumn (53%) and winter (56%). There was no correlation between the proportion of feeding records and the food availability in the most frequently consumed species, indicating that these langurs were selective feeders; there were significant correlations between consumption and abundance in both the entire set of 112 food species and the set of 86 infrequently consumed species, indicating that foods that are more available are eaten more frequently. It appeared that in the seasonal and disturbed habitat, feeding decisions and diet composition of the langur may be driven more by food availability, and less by animal's selectivity, than at other sites. The results indicate that François' langur copes with habitat alterations by broaden its dietary breadth; this has implications for the adaptive significance of dietary breadth, and has implications for future conservation strategies for species which exist in degraded habitats. Am. J. Primatol. 73:1176–1187, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

弄岗黑叶猴旱季食物营养组分及其对食物选择的影响

正蛋白质与纤维素的比值以及能量高低是影响灵长类动物食物选择的重要因素(Oftedal,1991;Waterman and Kool,1994;Chapman and Chapman,2002;Wasserman and Chapman,2003;Hanya et al.,2007;Huang et al.,2010),但它们是否影响疣猴的食物选择目前尚具有较大的争议。Waterman     

Food Items Consumed by White-headed Langurs in Fusui, China

We studied the socioecology of white-headed langurs (Trachypithecus leucocephalus) from September 1997 to September 1998 in Fusui Precious Animal Reserve, SW Guangxi, China. We collected data on climate, phenology of food plant species, and foods consumed by langurs living in habitats with different levels of human disturbance. Feeding records showed that the most food is from less common plant species. Young leaves were the staple food item in all langur groups, and consumption correlates with availability. Consumption of mature leaves is not significantly correlated with their availability, but the langurs fed on them, and other food items such as fruits and seeds, when the availability of young leaves was low. Langurs in different areas had broadly similar diets, but they varied most in the proportion of supplementary items such as fruit. Groups in more disturbed habitat did not increase the overall proportion of mature leaves in their diet, but instead maintained their intake of young leaves from a greater diversity of species, and incorporated more immature fruit. Conservationists should direct efforts toward protection of rare plant species providing preferred food items, particularly supplementary foods at times when, and in areas where, preferred food items are less available.     

Factors Influencing Interannual and Intersite Variability in the Diet of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trachypithecus francoisi</Emphasis>

Comparative studies of the diet of the same species in different habitats, and over the long term, are essential to understanding a species’ behavioral and ecological plasticity. Moreover, such studies can help researchers and managers evaluate a species’ capacity to cope with changes in habitat quality resulting from natural processes or human disturbance, which is important for developing conservation strategies. We compared dietary data for François’ langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) collected at Nonggang and Fusui Nature Reserves, Guangxi Province, China, over 2 separate study periods to evaluate interannual and intersite variation in diet. Young leaves were the preferred staple foods for langurs, whereas mature leaves and seeds served as fallback foods in response to seasonal shortage in the abundance of young leaves. Species composition of the diets and the percentage of feeding records for plant species varied between the 2 study periods. The langurs at both study sites fed selectively, and they did not base their diet simply on the abundance of plant species in the habitat. However, the plant species eaten by langur groups inhabiting the 2 different reserves were markedly different, and the top 10 food species eaten by the Fusui group showed no overlap with those eaten by the Nonggang group. The variation may be related to differences in forest composition resulting from different level of human disturbance. In summary, our results indicate that François’ langurs exhibit a comparable dietary pattern both temporally and geographically, but there is marked interannual and intersite difference in species composition of the langur diet.     

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.     

Diet and Food Choice of Trachypithecus francoisi in the Nonggang Nature Reserve, China

We studied the diet and food choice of 1 group of Fran?ois’ langurs (Trachypithecus francoisi) from August 2003 to July 2004 in the Nonggang Nature Reserve, Guangxi province, China. The langurs consumed 90 plant species, including 14 unidentified species. Leaves constituted 52.8% of the diet (38.9% young leaves and 13.9% mature leaves). Fruits and seeds accounted for 17.2% and 14.2%, respectively. Flowers and other items—including petioles, stems, roots, and bark—contributed to 7.5% and 7.4% of the diet, respectively. The langur diet varied according to season. They fed on more young leaves from April to September. Consumption of seeds, petioles, and stems increased between October and March, when young leaves were scarce. The diet shift corresponded to higher dietary diversity during the young leaf-lean period. Though the langurs fed on many plant species, 10 species accounted for 62.2% of the diet, only 2 of which were among the 10 most common tree species in vegetation quadrants, and the percentage of feeding records on a plant species and the percentage of individuals of the species in vegetation quadrants does not correlate significantly. Fran?ois’ langurs fed selectively, and they did not base their diet simply on the abundance of plant species in the habitat.     

Food diversity and choice of white-headed langur in fragmented limestone hill habitat in Guangxi,China

We studied the diet and food choice of three groups of white-headed langurs (Trachypithecus leucocephalus) from July 2002 to June 2003 at Fusui Rare Animal Reserve, Guangxi, China. Data were collected from via focus group sampling, with continuous recording. A total of 109 plant species (including 19 unidentified species) were used as food by the white-headed langur. They spent 91.6% of total feeding time feeding on leaves, 4.2% on fruits and 3.3% on stems. Flowers and other food items accounted for only 0.3% and 0.6% of total feeding time, respectively. There were significant seasonal variations in the langurs’ diets with changes in the total number of species and the diversity of food species consumed. The langurs used significantly more plant species as food in the rainy season than in the dry season (36 species vs. 26.5 species). Dietary diversity was also significantly higher in the rainy season than in the dry season (2.6 vs. 2.4). No significant seasonal variation was found in the percentage of various plant parts in their monthly diets. Though the white-headed langur fed on many plant species, 11 species made up 84.9% of their diet. There were no significant correlations between the percentage of feeding time for main food plant species and their corresponding abundance in the habitat, content of water, crude protein, crude fiber and the ratio of crude protein to crude fiber. These results suggest that food choice of the white-headed langur is not influenced by their abundance and nutritional content.     

Reproductive parameters of wild Trachypithecus leucocephalus: seasonality,infant mortality and interbirth interval

Understanding the reproductive parameters of endangered primate species is vital for evaluating the status of populations and developing adequate conservation measures. This study provides the first detailed analysis of the reproductive parameters of wild white‐headed langurs (Trachypithecus leucocephalus), based on demographic data collected over an 8‐year period in the Nongguan Karst Hills in Chongzuo County, Guangxi, China. From 1998 to 2002, a total of 133 live births were recorded in the population based on systematic censuses. Births occurred throughout the year, but the temporal pattern was highly correlated with seasonal variation in temperature and rainfall, with the birth peak coinciding with the dry and cold months of November–March. The average birthrate was 0.47±0.13 births per female per year and mortality for infants younger than 20 months was 15.8%. From 1998 to 2006, 14 females gave birth to 41 infants in four focal groups. The average age at first birth for female langurs was 5–6 years (n=5) and the interbirth interval (IBI) was 23.2±5.2 months (median=24.5 months, n=27). Infants are weaned at 19–21 months of age. The IBI for females with infant loss before weaning was significantly shorter than those for females whose infants survived. It appears that birth seasonality in the white‐headed langurs is influenced by seasonal changes in food availability. The timing of conceptions was found to coincide with peak food availability. The reproductive parameters for white‐headed langurs reported here are quite similar to those reported for other colobine species. One major difference is our observation of lower infant mortality in Trachypithecus. Am. J. Primatol. 71:558–566, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Diet of the Indochinese silvered langur (Trachypithecus germaini) in Kien Luong Karst area,Kien Giang Province

The Indochinese silvered langur (Trachypithecus germaini) is distributed to the west of Mekong River in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. During a two‐year study, from May 2014 to May 2016, we collected 320.44 hr of behavior, with 17,040 feeding bouts recorded (142 hr) for T. germaini on Chua Hang Karst Mountain, Kien Luong District, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam. Feeding accounted for 45% of the Indochinese silvered langurs’ activity budget. The plant diet of the Indochinese silvered langurs was principally composed of young leaves (58%), followed by mature leaves (9.5%), fruits (22.7%), flowers (4.7%), buds (3.3%), petioles (1.2%), and other (0.5%). A total of 58 plant species were fed on by the silvered langurs, and leaves of eight species (Phyllathus reticulatus, Ficus rumphii, Ficus tinctoria, Ficus microcarpa, Cayratia trifolia, Streblus ilicifolia, Combretum latifolium, and Streblus asper) were fed on throughout the year. P. reticulatus was most frequently eaten (13.9% feeding time, n = 1,733). Food selection differed significantly between months and seasons. The Indochinese silvered langurs ate 27 plant species in the wet season compared with 23 plant species in the dry season. Leaf chemical composition of two food categories, 16 eaten species (with 10 most frequently consumed species and six least consumed species), and four noneaten species, were analyzed. Feeding samples from eaten species in the Indochinese silvered langurs's diet contained lower amounts of condensed tannin, lignin, protein, ash, and lipids, but a higher amount of total sugar compared with samples from noneaten species. Furthermore, the most frequently consumed species contained lower amounts of lignin compared with the less frequently consumed species. Using a generalized linear model with five variables, including neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total sugar, lignin, lipid, and calcium (Ca) indicated that NDF positively correlated and lignin content negatively correlated with feeding records in the diet of these langur.     

The diet of the capped langur (Presbytis pileata) in a moist deciduous forest in Bangladesh

Capped langurs (Presbytis pileata) in Madhupur National Park in north-central Bangladesh have an annual diet that is comprised largely of mature leaves (42% of 20,460 total feeding records). Among colobine monkeys, only some populations of red colobus (Procolobus badius) have a diet richer in mature leaves. New leaves (11%) and fruit (24%) are the other annually important dietary items. Seasonal breakdown of this diet, however, revealed that during the monsoon months of May through September theP. pileata diet is approximately 50% fruit, including pulpy ripe fruit. This is also the period of maximum fruit availability. Data on diet and food availability indicate that while capped langurs subsist on mature leaves during the dry season (80% of diet from November to March), they select fruit and new leaves and switch to these foods whenever they are available. These data support the hypothesis that the colobine feeding strategy is adapted to cope with seasonal food scarcity.     

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.     

Down from the treetops: red langur (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Presbytis rubicunda</Emphasis>) terrestrial behavior

Using direct observations and camera traps at eight sites across Indonesian Borneo we show how red langurs (Presbytis rubicunda) are more terrestrial than previously believed, regularly coming to the ground. This unusual behavior has been found at six of the eight sites surveyed. We find that red langurs come to the ground more frequently in disturbed forests, specifically ones which have been impacted by logging, fire, and hunting, though more data are needed to confirm this as a direct correlation. We also found a trend towards decreased ground use with increased elevation of the habitat. When on the ground, red langurs are predominantly engaged in feeding (50% direct observations, 61% camera traps) and traveling (29% direct observations, 13% camera traps). Red langurs are found on the ground throughout the day, at similar times to activity periods of the apex predator, the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi). We suggest that ground use by red langurs could be an adaptation to disturbed forest to exploit additional food sources and to facilitate travel.     

白头叶猴与黑叶猴觅食行为的比较

开展近缘物种觅食行为比较对理解动物的行为可塑性及适应性具有重要意义.白头叶猴(Trachypithecus leucocephalus)和黑叶猴(T.francoisi)是近缘物种,体形大小相近,社会结构和栖息环境相似,是广西崇左白头叶猴国家级自然保护区喀斯特季节性雨林中邻域分布的灵长类.为了探索两个物种在喀斯特生境中...     

广西扶绥破碎化生境中黑叶猴的食物种类多样性和季节性重叠

动物使用生境中食物种类的方式对其适应性有重要的影响。为了研究黑叶猴在破碎化栖息地中利用食物的方式,2006年1—12月,采用焦点动物取样法和连续记录技术于每月初连续观察8 d,记录破碎化栖息地中黑叶猴取食的种类和时间,分析其食物多样性和月份间种类的重叠度。结果表明,黑叶猴年均食物多样性指数为3.03(范围1.93—2.62),且多样性指数在各月间没有显著的差异(One-sample K-S Test,P=0.99),说明黑叶猴在各月份中取食的食物种数相似,不同季节利用食物种数的变异程度不大。在所有的食物种类中,仅两种食物青檀Pteroceltis tatarinowii和潺槁树Litsea glutinosa在12个月份都被取食,其他种类则表现了月份间明显的季节性替代。各月份间食物种类的相似性在0.42(3—4月)和0.75(9—10月)之间变化。黑叶猴对破碎化生境中食物种类的利用方式是:首先利用常年均有的食物种类以保证食物来源稳定,同时选择性地利用新出现的种类,使食物种类多样化,满足不同的营养需求。     

Interspecific spacing between gibbons (Hylobates klossii) and langurs (Presbytis potenziani) on Siberut Island,Indonesia

Spatial arrangement and social interactions of two sympatric and ecologically similar primate species, Hylobates klossii and Presbytis potenzianai, are described from field observations made between July 1972 and October 1974 on Siberut Island, Indonesia. Gibbon territories and langur home ranges overlap extensively. Because gibbons have the ability to supplant langurs at shared food sources, langurs are at a competitive disadvantage. To avoid or decrease the frequency of hostile interactions with gibbons, langurs locate their core areas on boundaries between adjacent gibbon territories, which permits langurs to retreat across these barriers in response to gibbon movements. Langurs further enhance segregration by leaving their sleeping trees earlier than gibbons, gaining additional feeding time on contested food sources. This form of interspecific spatial organization between gibbons and langurs resembles certain predator-prey spacing systems, where territorial boundaries between adjacent predators serve as sanctuaries for prey populations.     

Purple-faced Langurs in Human-Modified Environments Feeding on Cultivated Fruits: A Comment to Dela (2007, 2012)

Recently Dela (International Journal of Primatology, 28 (2007): 607–626; International Journal of Primatology, 33 (2012): 40–72) published her study from the mid-1980s on the diet of purple-faced langurs Trachypithecus (Semnopithecus) vetulus in village gardens and rubber plantations. Unlike studies from the 1970s that reported the species, like other colobines, to be largely folivorous with few ripe fruits eaten, Dela found them to be largely frugivorous. The frequent feeding on ripe fruits challenges the paradigm that colobine digestive adaptations restrict the use of ripe fleshy fruits. No reference was made to any other post-1970s study on the species. Here I provide a concise overview of more than a dozen studies conducted in the 1990s and 2000s that show that 1) other populations live in similar human-modified environments showing feeding adaptations as reported by Dela, 2) these populations rely largely on cultivated crops and feed heavily on fruits, 3) living in these situations introduces them to additional threats. Especially in western Sri Lanka little natural habitat remains and deforestation has led the langurs to exchange the forest jungle for the urban jungle, with power lines, fences, walls, and roofs being used instead of trees. The main fruits that provide a staple for langurs in these areas are jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), banana (Musa spp.), and mango (Mangifera indica); studies in undisturbed habitats and indeed Dela’s own study suggest the heavy use of human-edible fruits by langurs may not necessarily indicate preferential selection of these food sources. Living in human-modified environments makes the langurs more prone to infection with gastrointestinal parasites, and may lead to death by electrocution or being killed by guard dogs. The large degree of agreement between studies suggest that feeding on ripe fruits from cultivars is not unique to Dela’s two study groups and shows that some langur groups are able to survive for extended periods on uncolobine-like diets when they cannot access their preferred foods.     

Diet and feeding behavior of Rhinopithecus bieti at Xiaochangdu, Tibet: adaptations to a marginal environment

The diet and feeding ecology of a wild subpopulation of black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) were studied at Xiaochangdu in Honglaxueshan Nature Reserve, Tibet. This region is climatologically harsher than any other inhabited by non-human primates. Black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys fed on 48 parts of 25 plant species, at least three species of lichens and seven species of invertebrates. The number of food items exploited varied markedly among seasons, with dietary diversity being greatest in spring and summer. In winter, black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys had to subsist on fallback foods such as dried grass and bark. Ubiquitous lichens formed a major dietary constituent throughout the year, contributing about 75% of feeding records. Even though lichens act as a staple, our findings signify that the monkeys at Xiaochangdu prefer feeding on foliage, which is higher in protein content than the former. We provide evidence that black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys are able to cope with an array of food items other than lichens and hence can be regarded as feeding generalists. We discuss the results with reference to previous studies on other subpopulations living in habitats that are floristically more diverse and offer more plant food items than the marginal habitat at Xiaochangdu.     

Vergesellschaftung als Verhaltensbereicherung im Zoo – Soziale Interaktion und Raumnutzung bei Orang-Utans,Hulmans und Kurzkrallenottern in der Zoom Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen

Keeping different species together is getting more and more common in zoos, because it can entail several behavioural enrichment factors for the animals as long as the enclosure meets the requirements of all species and a suitable composition of animals is living in the mix. The aim of this study is to evaluate a community of Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii), northern plains grey langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) and Asian small-clawed otters (Aonyx cinerea) in the Zoological Garden of Gelsenkirchen.The behavioural monitoring of the animals reveals that the orangutans spend less time with feeding behaviour and locomotion than free ranging orangutans, whereas the percentage of resting periods is much higher. This difference is probably caused by the easy availability of food. The northern plains grey langurs show ethograms whose proportions are very similar to those of free ranging grey langurs in literature. In both species the juvenile individuals have higher activity levels than the adult animals.The analysis of the spatial use of the enclosure by the orangutans reveals that they use about half of the area and prefer places at the ground for resting. On an average the orangutans spend around 50% of the monitored situations on the ground which is a high level for an arboreal living species. The time spent on the ground is distinctly lower in orangutans reared by their parents than in hand reared individuals which are probably affected by humans. Another influencing point is the sex. Adult male orangutans spend more time on the ground. This is a fact which is also known from free ranging animals. Related to their environment free ranging northern plains grey langurs show a high adaptability and the individuals in the zoo use about 70% of the enclosure and use frequently all structuring elements like trees, roots and ropes. Like the orangutans the grey langurs have preferred areas in the enclosure where they spend their resting periods with grooming, lactating and the feeding periods. Generally, the Asian small-clawed otters spend less time in the enclosure than the monkeys and use less than one third of the area.Most of the time free ranging orangutans live solitarily and thus it was predictable that there is only a fraction of intraspecific interactions between orangutans whereas the percentage of interactions between langurs is higher. The northern plains grey langurs live in harem troops and social interactions are more than 40% of the zoo langur's ethogram on an average. Asian small-clawed otters are also highly social animals and intraspecific contacts take place very often.The analysis of the monitored interspecific interactions between all species reveals that the juvenile animals of both primate species have distinct more interspecific contacts than the adult animals. In most cases the interactions are positive or playful contacts. Especially between a 12-year-old female orang-utan and one of the juvenile langurs friendly interactions with body contact were monitored often. Between the adult animals agonistic contacts or submission are most common. The Asian small-clawed otters are very interested in the orangutans and often approach towards them to have a sniff or pull their hair.The community of all three species is quite harmonious and serves as behavioural enrichment for all individuals. For the visitors the mixed enclosure is a benefit as well.     

Habitat Quality and Activity Budgets of White-Headed Langurs in Fusui,China

Within a species, habitat quality may be a factor causing different activity budgets between populations. The habitat of white-headed langurs (Trachypithecus leucocephalus) has been seriously disturbed in Fusui Rare and Precious Animal Nature Reserve, China, where we carried out a study of their socioecology from September 1997 to September 1998. We collected data on langur activity budgets from the main population located in the central part of a group of limestone hills. We classified habitat quality into 4 grades according to the extent of human disturbance. We showed that the two main study groups of white-headed langurs spent on average 50% of time resting, 13% feeding, 18% moving (including foraging), 11% grooming, and 7% playing. Langur time budgets showed no significant seasonal change, but they differed among different sex-age classes. Infants and juveniles spent about 20.3% of time playing, whereas adults spent only 0.2% playing. The group in high quality habitat engaged less in feeding and more in playing than the group in low quality habitat did. Habitat quality influenced the playing time of young white-headed langurs and may be vital to their successful maturation.