白马雪山黑白仰鼻猴(Rhinopithecus bieti)垂直迁移

2000-2001年间,在白马雪山国家级自然保护区南任村附近,通过在四个山坡每隔海拔100米的样带(宽5.0米)内搜集黑白仰鼻猴的粪便来研究猴群不同季节的垂直迁移模式。同时,通过在每个地区山脊上和山沟内搜集2.5米宽垂直样带内的粪便,来研究猴群不同季节对山脊和山沟的选择性。结果表明:猴群在海拔3500-4300米的区域活动。虽然猴群全年集中利用3900-4200米的林带;但是具有季节性差异:夏季最高(4200米),依次是秋季(4100米)和冬季(4000米),夏季最低(3900米)。另外,冬季山沟中的粪便多于山脊说明猴群在沟中停留时间长,这与沟中少风且温度高有关。不同海拔带上的粪便密度和松萝量间正相关,这意味着食物资源的垂直分布是影响猴群垂直迁移的重要因素。春季,猴群会下到低海拔采食嫩芽/叶,而冬季则下到低海拔处躲避首次大雪,这很可能导致猴群集中利用第二个海拔带。

Altitudinal Range of Black-and-white Snub-nosed Monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti)at Baima Snow Mountain,China

Faeces were counted along horizontal.5.0m wide strips at altitude intervals of 100m to examine the altitudinal ranging pattern of a band of black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys(Rhinopithecus bieti)at Nanren(99°04'E,28°34'N,Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reverse,Yunnan,China)at four areas in each season between 2000-2001.Faeces were also counted along vertical.2.5m wide strips in one subvalley and on one subridge in each area.Monkeys used an altitudinal range of 3500-4300m.but preferred occupying the upper forest belt between 3900 and 4200m asl year-round,being at the highest altitude in summer,the lowest altitude in spring,and middle alfitudes between autumn and winter (lower in winter than autumn).Moreover,there were secondary peaks of lower altitude use(3700m)in spring and winter.In addition,more faeces were distributed in subvalleys than on subridges in winter,this suggests that monkeys tend to spend more time in subvalleys where there is less wind and fluctuating temperatures.The significant correlation between faecal density and lichen load might indicate that altitudinal distribution of food resources may act as an important factor affecting the monkeys'range.The monkeys might migrate to lower altitudes to eat young sprouts and leaves in spring,and to shelter from snowstorms in winter,possibly resulting in the secondary peaks at lower altitudes.