Feeding Ecology Of The Rhese Macaque(Macaca Mulatta) At Nonggang National Nature Reserve, China

The rhese macaque (Macaca mulatta) is the most widely distributed of all non-human primates. China is the exclusive country where the distribution of this species coverstropic, subtropic and temperate zones. Like other animals, The food resource is one of important factors which influence growth, reproduction, and population structure of this species. For the rhese macaque inhabiting in the karst habitat , they have evolved an particular behavioral mechanism to adapt to their environment so as to utilize the resource furthest.From September 2006 to September 2007, we observed one group of the rhese macaque at Nonggang National Nature Reserve (106°42′28″-107°4′54″E,22°13′56″-22°33′9″N). Data on diet, activity pattern and time budget were collected via instantaneous scan sampling. The main subject of this thesis is to explore the influence of the temporal and spatial distribution of food resources in the karst habitat on the behavioral ecology of this species. The results were as following:1. A total of 77 plant species (including 4 unidertified species) ate by macaques, of which including 35 tree species , 9 shrub species, 27 vines species , 4 herb species and 2 epiphyte species . Leaves accounted for 50.20% of the diet (including 43.91% young leaves and 6.29% mature leaves), 44.91% for fruits (including 39.36% mature fruits, 3.24% unmature fruits and 1.71% unidentified the degree of mature), 1.26% for seeds, 0.73% for flowers, other parts (including petioles, barks, stems and unidentified parts of plants) contributed to 3.49% of the diet. There were seasonal variations in macaques'diet. They ate more fruits when fruits were abundant in the rainy season. When fruits were scarce in the dry season they ate more young leaves. This diet shift corresponded to more food species and higher dietary diversity during fruit- lean period. Comparing the consumption of different plant parts with their availabilities, the percentage of feeding records for young leaves and fruits significantly correlated positively with their availabilities.2. The rhese macaque showed food preference. 10 plant species, Carvota ochlandra, Indocalamus calcicolus, Pueraria thunbergiana, Dracontomelon duperreranum Pierre, Embelia scandens, Ficus microcarpa, Iondes ovalis, Clausena anisum(lour.)skeels, Ficus obscura, Pithecellobium clypearia, contributed to 65.66% of the diet of which only 3 belonged to the 10 most dominant tree species in vegetation transects, and no significantly correlation was found between the percentage of feeding records for plant species and their relative density in vegetation transects. This result indicated that the rhese macaque fed selectively, but not depending simply on the abundance of the plant species in habitat.3. The daily time for maintenance activities was 699 minutes in average. There was significant difference in the daily time for maintenance activities. Macaques spent more time for maintenance activities in the rainy season (749 minutes in average) than in the dry season (640 in average). The diurnal activity pattern of rhese macaques showed morning and afternoon feeding peaks, with a midday resting peak, which represented an adaptation to the daily changes in temperature and sunlight. There were significant seasonal variations in diurnal activity pattern.4. For time allocation, macaques spent in average 37.43% of time on feeding, 29.48% on resting, 25.95% on moving. Little time was spent on social activities, averaging 5.95% on playing, 2.10% on grooming, and 0.21% on others respectively. There were markedly seasonal variations in the percentage of time spent on various activities. Macaques spent more time resting and grooming in the dry season than in the rainy season. More time was spent on feeding and playing in the rainy season, This indicates the rhese macaque may adopt an dissipative energy- minimizing strategy to cope with preferred foods are scarce in the dry season.5. The percentage of time devoted to different activities differed significantly among different sex-age classes. Adult individuals spent more time on resting than immature individuals. In contrast, immature individuals spent more time on feeding and playing. Adult males devoted more time to moving than adult females. Adult females spent more time on grooming.