关键词: 黑叶猴, 食物选择, 能量, 适应性, 能量对策

Abstract: The study of of the effect of food energy content on non-human primate food choice has been an important component of nutritional ecology. We studied the relationship between food energy content and food choice of François’ langur Trachypithecus francoisi in limestone habitat. We surveyed langurs with focal animal sampling and continuous recording techniques. We analyzed food energy content by calorimeter. The results showed that immature leaves were the dominant food item (58.5%), with fruits, mature leaves, seeds, flowers, and bark comprising the rest of the diet (12.4% ,12.1%, 10.6%, 4.3%, 2.4%, respectively). Diet varied among the plant types, with arborial sources accounting for 48.5% of the diet, followed by those from shrubs 34.6%, lianas 19.4% and herbs 17.2%. The total average food energy content was 17.09 kJ/g, with monthly mean energy content ranging from 16.52 kJ/g to 17.61 kJ/g. Energy content varied among plant parts: seeds contained the largest energy content (19.52 kJ/g) whilst mature leaves had the lowest (16.84 kJ/g). Energy content varied among plant types, with shrubs having the largest energy content (17.52 kJ/g) and herbs having the lowest (15.73 kJ/g). Energy content varied significantly among food samplesand plants, as well as between the fifteen most preferred food species and the fifteen least preferred ones (P < 0.001); but such variations were not found between months, or between rainy seasons and drought seasons (P > 0.05). There was no significant relationship between species energy content and feeding time of langurs (P >0.05). This suggests food energy content was not the main factor influencing food choice of the langur. Food choice strategy of the François’ langur requires more rigorous testing.

Key words: Adaptation, Energy content, Energy strategy, Food choice, Trachypithecus francoisi