Feeding adaptation of François' langurs (Trachypithecus francoisi) to the fragmented limestone habitats in Southwest China

• Published in: Ecology and evolution Vol. 14; no. 4; pp. e11269 - n/a
• Main Authors: Yao, Wei, Huang, Cheng‐Ming, Zhao, Jia‐Xin, Huang, Rong, Li, Wen‐Hua, Fan, Peng‐Lai, Zhou, Qi‐Hai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.04.2024; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Adaptation; Behavioural Ecology; feeding adaptation; Feeding behavior; Flexibility; Food; Food plants; Food quality; Food resources; Food sources; Foraging behavior; Forests; fragmentation; François' langurs; Habitat fragmentation; Habitats; Home range; Insects; Leaves; Limestone; limestone habitat; Nature reserves; Plant species; Plants (botany); Precipitation; Primates; Seasonal variations; Seeds; Vegetation; China; limestone habitat; François' langurs; feeding adaptation; fragmentation
• ISSN: 2045-7758; 2045-7758
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11269

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. François' langurs in Encheng National Nature Reserve 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. 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.