Diverse diets and low‐fiber, low‐tannin foraging preferences: Foraging criteria of Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at low altitude in Huangshan. Issue 10 (4th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Bowen; Li, Wenbo; Liu, Chao; Yang, Peipei; Li, Jinhua
• Is Part Of: Ecology and evolution. Volume 12:Issue 10(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-10-04
• Subjects: fiber -- food choices -- low altitude -- nutrient contents -- tannin -- Tibetan macaques; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9338
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7758

Abstract

Abstract: Nutrient composition and food availability determine food choices and foraging strategies of animals, while altitude and geographical location affect species distribution and food availability. Tibetan macaques ( Macaca thibetana ) have sophisticated foraging strategies as the largest species in Macaca . They are important in understanding the ecological evolution of the entire genus. However, the mechanism of food selection in Tibetan macaques at low altitudes remains unclear. In this study, we researched a wild Tibetan macaques group (Tianhu Mountain Group, 29 individuals) living in a low‐altitude area around Mt. Huangshan, Anhui Province, China. We used instantaneous scan sampling to observe these macaques' foraging behavior from September 2020 to August 2021. We recorded the dietary composition and food availability, compared the nutrient content of staple food and non‐food items, and analyzed the role of key nutrients in food selection. We found that Tibetan macaques forage on 111 plants belonging to 93 genera and 55 families. The food types included fruits (52.5%), mature leaves (17.0%), bamboo shoots (14.4%), young leaves (6.3%), flowers (4.5%), others (2.1%), stems (1.9%), and tender shoots (1.3%). Tibetan macaques forage for a maximum of 76 plant species during spring. However, dietary diversity was highest during summer ( H′ = 3.052). Monthly fruit consumption was positively correlated with food availability. Staple foods are lower in fiber, tannin, and water than non‐foods. In addition, the time spent foraging for specific foods was negatively correlated with the fiber and tannin content of the food. The results showed that Tibetan macaques' foraging plant species and food types were diverse, and their foraging strategies varied seasonally. Our findings confirmed the effect of nutrients on food choice in Tibetan macaques. We highlighted the important role of fiber and tannin in their food choices and suggested that the foraging behavior of Tibetan macaques is highly flexible and adaptive. Abstract : Our study found that the foraging behavior of Tibetan macaques is highly flexible and adaptable. They prefer low‐fiber and low‐tannin foods when foraging for food. This dietary preference adapts to higher species richness in low‐altitude habitats, and may allow Tibetan macaques to maintain their large body size. We demonstrated the complexity of primate foraging behavior in terms of nutrition, food availability, and geographical distribution. The diet of primates should be defined comprehensively rather than simply as folivore or frugivore.