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Lai Y, Chen Y, Zhang K, Huang Z. Diets of white-headed langurs ( Trachypithecus leucocephalus) inhabiting limestone forests: The effects of habitat fragmentation and implication for conservation. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11716. [PMID: 38988345 PMCID: PMC11233262 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Information about wildlife diets is crucial for comprehending how species adapt to varying environments in fragmented habitats and for developing effective conservation strategies. White-headed langurs (Trachypithecus leucocephalus) are exclusively found in fragmented limestone forests in southwestern China. To investigate the effects of habitat fragmentation on langurs' diets, we collected published dietary data and relevant environmental factors spanning from 1996 to 2021 at two regions with different degrees of fragmentation (Banli > Bapen), from 10 studies (three of Banli and seven of Bapen). The results demonstrated that the diets of white-headed langurs were significantly influenced by environmental factors, including habitat fragmentation, annual rainfall, and mean annual temperature. Food item diversity index was significantly and positively affected by the fragmentation index, the higher fragmentation the langurs suffered, the more diverse food items they consumed. Besides, fruit consumption was negatively influenced by annual rainfall and the consumption of other items was influenced by mean annual temperature. Notably, although there are no significant differences in the feeding proportions of food items or food item diversity indices were observed between the Banli and Bapen groups, the Banli groups extensively consumed ground-supported kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata), a plant rarely recorded in the dietary preferences of the Bapen groups, implying that the large plants likely lacking in the fragmented limestone forests. Our findings provide evidence of the major impact of habitat fragmentation on the dietary composition of white-headed langurs, highlighting the need of considering the possibility that the habitats of the white-headed langurs have all undergone extreme fragmentation, inferring the conservation efforts should prioritize protecting native vegetation and reducing human disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Lai
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education Guilin China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology Guangxi Normal University Guilin China
- The Chongzuo White-Headed Langur Field Observation and Research Station of Guangxi Chongzuo China
| | - Yanqiong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education Guilin China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology Guangxi Normal University Guilin China
- The Chongzuo White-Headed Langur Field Observation and Research Station of Guangxi Chongzuo China
| | - Kechu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Mountain Biodiversity Conservation, Education Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Yulin Normal University Yulin China
| | - Zhonghao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education Guilin China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology Guangxi Normal University Guilin China
- The Chongzuo White-Headed Langur Field Observation and Research Station of Guangxi Chongzuo China
- Key Laboratory of Mountain Biodiversity Conservation, Education Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Yulin Normal University Yulin China
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Yao W, Huang C, Zhao J, Huang R, Li W, Fan P, Zhou Q. Feeding adaptation of François' langurs ( Trachypithecus francoisi) to the fragmented limestone habitats in Southwest China. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11269. [PMID: 38654711 PMCID: PMC11035973 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Limestone forests are an unusual habitat for primates, especially fragmented limestone habitats. However, while some research has been conducted on François' langurs (Trachypithecus francois) in these habitats, there is still a need to improve the understanding of their behavioral adaptations to the fragmented limestone habitat. We collected data on the diet of François' langurs in a fragmented limestone habitat in Encheng National Nature Reserve, southwestern Guangxi, China using instantaneous scanning sampling, and their feeding adaptations to the fragmented forest were examined. The results indicated that a total of 101 species of plants were consumed by the langurs. They also fed on two non-plant components, including cliff minerals and at least one species of insect. The langurs ate a higher number of food species in Encheng when compared with the other geographic populations, and they maintained a high level of food diversity and ate more vines. Moreover, they were highly selective in their use of vegetation in their home range, and fewer plants provided a high-quality food source. During the season when food resources were scarce, the consumption of fruits and young leaves decreased as their availability decreased. This led to the use of other food components, such as mature leaves and seeds. The findings support that François' langurs adjust their feeding behavior to cope with seasonal and micro-variations in their dietary requirements and to adapt to their particular environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yao
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, The Chongzuo White‐Headed Langur Field Observation and Research Station of GuangxiGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
| | - Cheng‐Ming Huang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, The Chongzuo White‐Headed Langur Field Observation and Research Station of GuangxiGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
- Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | | | - Rong Huang
- Encheng National Nature ReserveChongzuoChina
| | - Wen‐Hua Li
- Encheng National Nature ReserveChongzuoChina
| | - Peng‐Lai Fan
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, The Chongzuo White‐Headed Langur Field Observation and Research Station of GuangxiGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
| | - Qi‐Hai Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, The Chongzuo White‐Headed Langur Field Observation and Research Station of GuangxiGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
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Takahashi MQ, Rothman JM, Cords M. The role of non‐natural foods in the nutritional strategies of monkeys in a human‐modified mosaic landscape. Biotropica 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maressa Q. Takahashi
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Columbia University New York New York USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology New York New York USA
| | - Jessica M. Rothman
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology New York New York USA
- Department of Anthropology Hunter College of the City University of New York New York New York USA
- PhD Program in Anthropology The Graduate Center of the City University of New York New York New York USA
| | - Marina Cords
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Columbia University New York New York USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology New York New York USA
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Zhang A, Li Z, zhang D, Zang R, Liu S, Long W, Chen Y, Liu S, Liu H, Qi X, Feng Y, Zhang Z, Chen Y, Zhang H, Feng G. Food plant diversity in different-altitude habitats of Hainan gibbons (Nomascus hainanus): Implications for conservation. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Donati G, Campera M, Balestri M, Barresi M, Kesch K, Ndremifidy K, Rabenantoandro J, Racevska E, Randriatafika F, Ravaolahy M, Ravoahangy AM, Roma M, Rowe F, Santini L, Serra V, Zander SL, Tsagnangara C, Vincelette M, Ramanamanjato JB. Life in a fragment: Evolution of foraging strategies of translocated collared brown lemurs, Eulemur collaris, over an 18-year period. Am J Primatol 2020; 82:e23106. [PMID: 32072654 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
While the drivers of primate persistence in forest fragments have been often considered at the population level, the strategies to persist in these habitats have been little investigated at the individual or group level. Considering the rapid variation of fragment characteristics over time, longitudinal data on primates living in fragmented habitats are necessary to understand the key elements for their persistence. Since translocated animals have to cope with unfamiliar areas and face unknown fluctuations in food abundance, they offer the opportunity to study the factors contributing to successful migration between fragments. Here, we illustrated the evolution of the foraging strategies of translocated collared brown lemurs (Eulemur collaris) over an 18-year period in the Mandena Conservation Zone, south-east Madagascar. Our aim was to explore the ability of these frugivorous lemurs to adjust to recently colonized fragmented forests. Although the lemurs remained mainly frugivorous throughout the study period, over the years we identified a reduction in the consumption of leaves and exotic/pioneer plant species. These adjustments were expected in frugivorous primates living in a degraded area, but we hypothesize that they may also reflect the initial need to cope with an unfamiliar environment after the translocation. Since fragmentation is often associated with the loss of large trees and native vegetation, we suggest that the availability of exotic and/or pioneer plant species can provide an easy-to-access, nonseasonal food resource and be a key factor for persistence during the initial stage of the recolonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Donati
- Department of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Marco Campera
- Department of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Michela Balestri
- Department of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Marta Barresi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Kelard Ndremifidy
- Departement Biologie Animale, Universite´ d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | | | - Elena Racevska
- Department of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Murielle Ravaolahy
- Departement Biologie Animale, Universite´ d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | | | - Marika Roma
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fiona Rowe
- Department of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Luca Santini
- Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems, Research Council, Rome, Italy
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