Spring food selection by Rhinopithecus bieti at Mt. Lasha in relation to phytochemical components
2013
Food selection by folivorous primates is thought to relate to
macronutrients, micronutrients and plant secondary metabolites.
However, few studies explain their effects on food choices. This study
was designed to clarify the effect of phytochemical components on
Rhinopithecus bieti food choice by analyzing the chemical composition
of food samples collected from March to May in 2010 and 2011 at Mt.
Lasha in northwest Yunnan, China. Compared with non-foods, there was
more phosphorous and crude protein, less total sugar and a lower ratio
of calcium to phosphorus in selected foods. However, no differences
were found in crude fat, crude ash, calcium and tannin content between
foods and non-foods. Phytochemical constituents may influence food
choices; the monkeys preferred foods with high phosphorus and low Ca/P,
low calcium, low sugar and low tannins. Rhinopithecus bieti foraged
high quality foods such as buds and young leaves to meet their
nutritional needs after a long winter. Therefore, if tannin content in
food did not exceed the enduring threshold of R. bieti, the nutrient
intake was prioritized by phosphorus and calcium regulation when the
need for macronutrients dominated by protein was satisfied.
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