Diet of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pygathrix nigripes</Emphasis> in Southern Vietnam |
| |
Authors: | Hoang Minh Duc G S Baxter Manda J Page |
| |
Institution: | (1) School of Natural & Rural Systems Management, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Queensland, 4343, Australia;(2) Institute of Tropical Biology, 85 Tran Quoc Toan St, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;(3) School of Natural & Rural Systems Management, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Queensland, 4343, Australia;(4) Present address: Australian Wildlife Conservancy, 4360 Lilydale Rd, Chidlow, Western Australia, 6556, Australia |
| |
Abstract: | Black-shanked douc langurs (Pygathrix nigripes) are Southeast Asian colobines about which primatologists know very little, but they are classed as endangered because of
population decline due to habitat loss. Two preliminary studies have shown that this monkey is primarily folivorous, but there
are few details of plant selection or seasonal changes in diet. We set out to observe douc langurs directly in the wild to
quantify the diet during wet and dry seasons. We confirmed that the species relies on foliage throughout the year, but it
includes significant proportions of fruit and flowers in its diet when those items are available. The douc langurs selected
various parts from 152 species of plants in 2 national parks, but there did not appear to be favorite species that were heavily
selected over others. In both the wet and dry seasons, the black-shanked douc langurs ate mostly leaves, but the diversity
of plants consumed increased and the proportion of fruit eaten almost doubled in the wet season. There were diurnal shifts
in food selection, but we found no evidence that the douc langurs were foraging strategically to maximize their protein or
energy intake. |
| |
Keywords: | Black-shanked douc langur diet Vietnam folivory seasonal diets |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|