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Diet and seasonal changes in Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulata) at Seven-star Park,Guilin

ZHOU Qihai,TANG Huaxing,WEI Chunqiang,HUANG Chengming   

  1. College of Life Science,Guangxi Normal University ,Guilin 541004,China
  • Online:2009-12-02 Published:2009-03-08

桂林七星公园猕猴的食物组成及季节性变化

周岐海,唐华兴,韦春强,黄乘明   

  1. 广西师范大学生命科学学院,桂林541004

Abstract: Data on diet were collected from one group of Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)between November 2005 and October 2006 at Seven-star Park,Guilin,Guangxi Province,using the instantaneous scan sampling method. Our resultsindicated that 60 plant species were used as food by the macaques. The types of foods including 40 species of trees,12 species of shrubs,4 species of vines,and 4 species of herbs. They showed food preference,and 69,4% of the dietcame only from 10 species. Leaves constituted 41. 0% of the diet,comprising 16.7% young leaves and 24. 3% mature
leaves. Petiole and bark accounted for 27,3% and 21,8% respectively. Fruits,flowers and seeds contributed a small proportion of the diet,6,2% ,2,2% ,and 1,4% ,respectively. The macaques’diet varied according to season. In spring, the macaques fed predominantly on young leaves,petiole and bark. In summer,they increased the consumption of mature leaves and bark. The consumption of young leaves and mature leaves peaked in autumn,and the consumption of petiole and bark decreased significantly. In winter,the macaques increased significantly the consumption of petiole and bark,and
also consumed mature leaves in large quantity.

Key words: Diet, Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), Seasonal change

关键词: 猕猴, 食物, 季节变化