A preliminary study of endozoochorous lichen dispersal by golden snubnosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Shennongjia, central China

QIN Jianyong; WANG Qin; YAO Hui; YU Yang; XIANG Zuofu

doi:10.16829/j.slxb.151081

2025 , Vol. 45 >Issue 5: 717 - 722

DOI: https://doi.org/10.16829/j.slxb.151081

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

A preliminary study of endozoochorous lichen dispersal by golden snubnosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Shennongjia, central China

QIN Jianyong ,
WANG Qin ,
YAO Hui ,
YU Yang ,
XIANG Zuofu

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1 College of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry & Technology, Changsha 410004, China;
2 College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry & Technology, Changsha 410004, China;
3 Yueyang Middle School, Yueyang 414000, China;
4 Key Lab of Conservation Biology for Shennongjia Golden Monkey, Shennongjia Forest District, Shennongjia 442411, China

Received date: 2025-03-26

Accepted date: 2025-07-14

Online published: 2025-09-26

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Abstract

Golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) mainly feed on leaves, seeds, and fruits. They may also feed on lichens (Usnea diffracta) as staple food when preferred foods are in shortage. Although studies have shown that R. roxellana is a seed disperser, its role as lichen disperser remains unclear. In this study, we cultured fresh fecal samples from wild populations of R. roxellana from Shennongjia, China in the laboratory. We found green algae and ascomycetes, which are mainly composed of lichens, which implies that R. roxellana is a potential disperser of lichen. By feeding captive golden snub-nosed monkeys lichens labeled with non-toxic plastic tabs, we found that the weighted retention time of lichens was (62. 9 ± 7. 0) h (n = 3), suggesting that R. roxellana may be a potential long-distance disperser of lichens given its longer daily travel distance. Therefore, this study significantly increases our understanding of the ecological role of R. roxellana as seed and lichen dispersal vectors in temperate forests, which may contribute to forest restoration and lichen renewal.

Key words： Golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana); Endozoochory; Lichen; Dispersal; Animal-plant interaction

Cite this article

QIN Jianyong , WANG Qin , YAO Hui , YU Yang , XIANG Zuofu . A preliminary study of endozoochorous lichen dispersal by golden snubnosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Shennongjia, central China[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2025 , 45(5) : 717 -722 . DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.151081

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