Preliminary report on Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana roxellana) at Laohegou Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China. Issue 1 (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fang, Gu; Li, Man; Liu, Xiao-Jie; Guo, Wei-Jia; Jiang, Yu-Ting; Huang, Zhi-Pang; Tang, Shi-Yi; Li, Da-Yong; Yu, Ji; Jin, Tong; Liu, Xiao-Geng; Wang, Ji-Mei; Li, Sheng; Qi, Xiao-Guang; Li, Bao-Guo
• Is Part Of: Scientific reports. Volume 8:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Natural history -- Research -- Periodicals; Biology -- Research -- Periodicals; Physical sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 502.85
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34311-z
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-2322

Abstract

Abstract Comparative studies of subspecies under different ecological environments offer insights into intraspecies evolutionary adaptive mechanisms. Golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana ) include three subspecies in China classified mainly by their morphological variations:R. r. roxellana (Sichuan and Gansu province), R. r. qinlingensis (Shaanxi province) andR. r. hubeiensis (Hubei province). These three subspecies live in three isolated area with different environments. Past works focused on the last two subspecies, but little information of habitat and behaviors of the nominated subspecies (R. r. roxellana ) is available to date. We conducted a two-year study on the diet, activity budget, home range and social organization of 4 herds ofR. r. roxellana, based on a total of 106 days' observation in Laohegou (LHG) Nature Reserve, Sichuan province. By using scan sampling method, our results suggest that theR. r roxellana feeds predominantly on leaves (77.5%), and spends more time feeding (40.0%) and resting (27.0%) while compared to the other two subspecies. Kernel Density Estimation Method based on GPS technology confirms thatR. r roxellana has relatively larger home ranges (49.1 km2 ). The unit size (8.3 ± 3.5 individuals) ofR. r roxellana is also smaller. Therefore, it is possible that differences in food availability in relation to habitats have important impacts on the feeding strategy and social system of the golden snub-nosed monkey. These results provide data to further explore intraspecific adaptations of living primates.