| From July 2019 to August 2020,we studied the Tianhu Mountain Group of wild Tibetan macaques(Macaca thibetana)inhabit in Huangshan,Anhui Province.We recorded the foraging behavior data of monkeys through field observation and collected corresponding plant samples,further experiment to analyzed the chemical composition content of different feeding species,feeding parts and non-feeding species.The purpose is to explore the food composition,nutrients and secondary metabolites of wild Tibetan macaques in Huangshan,it aims to reveal the relationship between food choices and the availability of vegetation in habitats.At the same time,we explored the impact of different nutrients on food choices.The main research results are as follows:(1)Based on the investigation of vegetation by setting up sample plots in the habitat of Tibetan macaques,222 species of plants were identified,which belong to 76 families and 156 genera,including 70 species of trees,74 species of shrubs,48 species of herbs and 30 species of vines.The dominant species in the study area were Fagaceae(Castanopsis eyrei,Lithocarpus brevicaudatus,Castanopsis sclerophylla,Cyclobalanopsis glauca,etc.)and Lauraceae(Litsea coreana,Phoebe sheareri,etc.).(2)The Tibetan macaques feed on 60 plant species throughout the year,belonging to 36 families and 53 genera,of which 26 species are fed in spring,29 species in summer,39 species in autumn,and 34 species in winter.Fagaceae(27.27%),Lauraceae(15.76%)and Hamamelidaceae(10.30%)accounted for an important proportion in food composition.Fagaceae(6 species)and Lauraceae(6 species)had the largest number of feeding families,and there were 9 species of plants feeding all the year round.(3)The feeding parts of Tibetan macaques included leaves(61.72%),fruits/seeds(26.25%),stems(3.78%),buds(4.57%)and whole plants(3.68%)throughout the year.The utilization of the same feeding parts by Tibetan macaques was dynamically adjusted with the seasonal changes of plant phenology.Compared with other seasons,the ratio of feeding on leaves was the highest in spring,and the utilization rate of fruit was the highest in autumn.(4)The contents of water,protein,total sugar,starch,cellulose,fat and tannin in different feeding parts(leaves,fruits/seeds,stems,buds,whole plant)were compared.The results showed that the contents of water(H = 14.594,df = 4,P = 0.006),total sugar(H = 14.501,df =4,P = 0.006),starch(H = 12.983,df = 4,P = 0.011),fat(H = 43.242,df = 4,P = 0.000)and tannin(H = 17.538,df = 4,P = 0.002)in different feeding parts had significant differences.(5)Foods among different seasons in water(H = 28.706,df = 3,P = 0.000),total sugar(H = 29.895,df = 3,P = 0.000),starch(H = 12.310,df = 3,P = 0.006),cellulose(H = 13.402,df = 3,P = 0.004)and fat(H = 8.831,df = 3,P = 0.032)content had significant differences.(6)There was a significant correlation between the contents of different nutrients in food.Protein and tannin content(r = 0.634,P = 0.000),total sugar and starch content(r = 0.286,P =0.046)had a significant positive correlation.Fat and cellulose content(r = 0.369,P = 0.009),fat and tannin content(r = 0.346,P = 0.015)had a significant negative correlation.(7)The results of Mann-Whitney U test showed that there was no significant difference in water,protein,total sugar,starch,cellulose,fat and tannin between feeding plants and nonfeeding plants.Furthermore,Spearman correlation analysis was carried out on the 12 species of plants with the highest annual feeding rate of Tibetan macaques and the respective chemical components of the corresponding species,and the results showed that there was no significant correlation.Our results indicated that the contents of these nutrients and secondary metabolites in plants were not the main factors affecting the food selection of wild Tibetan macaques.This research will help us understand the diets and nutritional requirements of wild Tibetan macaques in Huangshan,and it will have certain significance for revealing the feeding strategy and behavioral ecological adaptation mechanism of wild Tibetan macaques.At the same time,it provides scientific guidance for the protection,management and artificial breeding of wild Tibetan macaques. |
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