Diet and seasonal changes in Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecusroxellana) in the southern Qinling mountains in China
ZHAO Haitao, DANG Gaodi, WANG Chengliang, WANG Xiaowei, GUO Dong, LUO Xi, ZHAO Jianqiang, HE Zhengbing, LI Baoguo
2015, 35(2):
130-137.
Asbtract
(
)
PDF (1379KB)
(
)
Related Articles |
Metrics
To ascertain the dietary composition and seasonal changes in the Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys and to determine the feeding strategy adopted in response to seasonal changes in the availability of preferred foods,we studied a group of monkeys in the Guanyinshan Nature Reserve in the southern Qinling mountains, Foping, China, from March 2013 to February 2014,using the instantaneous scan sampling method.The results revealed that the monkeys fed on 53 plant species, including 34 species of trees,13 shrubs, 6 vines, and 4 fungi, and these species accounted for 64.3%, 25.3%, 8.0%, and 2.2% of their diet, respectively.During each season (spring, summer, autumn, and winter), the monkeys consumed 20, 19, 21, and 25 plants species, respectively, while the values of the food diversity index (FDI) were 3.93, 3.73, 3.87, and 4.12, respectively.Lichen constituted 22.0% of the monkeys’diet, while leaves contributed to 20% of the diet (9% and 11% young and mature leaves, respectively).The seed, bark, buds, fruits, and petioles contributed to 16% ,15% ,11% ,9% ,and 7% of their diet, respectively.The various parts of the plant consumed by the monkeys showed significant seasonal variations. In spring, their diet consisted primarily of bark (28%)and buds (25%).The consumption of mature leaves increased significantly (29%)in summer,while the consumption of buds decreased to 5%.The monkeys primarily consumed seeds and fruits, when in abundance, in autumn; these comprised 48% and 16% of their diet, respectively.In winter, consumption of dietary lichen increased to 41%.A positive correlation was observed between the dietary composition and food availability (R = 0.984, P < 0. 01).Similar to other leaf monkey species, the Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys adopted a feeding strategy involving the consumption of bark and lichen in response to winter, when the availability of preferred foods is less, with increase in plant species and a higher diversity in their diet.