Rapid shifting of foraging pattern by Yakushima macaques ( Macaca fuscata yakui ) in response to heavy fruiting of Myrica rubra |
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Authors: | Naoki Agetsuma and Naohiko Noma |
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Institution: | (1) Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, 484 Inuyama, Japan;(2) Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, 606-01 Kyoto, Japan |
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Abstract: | We describe short-term changes in foraging behavior by wild Yakushima macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui),which inhabit a warm-temperate broad—leaved forest on Yakushima Island (30°N, 131°E), Japan. Rapid changes of dietary composition,
activity budget, and range use by the monkeys occurred from May to June, apparently associated with changes in the availability
of the fruit of Myrica rubraBefore the fruit ripened, monkeys spent less time moving and more time feeding on many species of leaves, which accounted
for 40% of feeding time. However, when M. rubrabegan to ripen, they fed intensively on the fruit, which accounted for three-fourths of feeding time,though the activity budget remained unaffected As fiuit of M. rubradecreased,the monkeys fed more on the fruit of other species and on insects, and spent more time moving at higher speeds. There marked
shifts in foraging pattern occurred within only two months. In terms of moving cost and dietary quality,Yakushima macaques shifted their foraging pattern according to the availability of M. rubrafrom a “low-cost, low-yield” strategy to a “low-cost, high-yield” strategy, and then to a more costly strategy. The ability
to make such rapid shifts in foraging pattern may allow the macaques to effectively use the highly variable food supply within
their small range. |
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Keywords: | Macaca fuscata yakui availability of fruit Myrica rubra dietary composition activity budget range use |
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