6. An Order of Omnivores: Nonhuman Primate Diets in the Wild

Harding, Robert S. Ο.

doi:10.7312/hard92188-007

Cited by 56 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…To minimize competition and to survive and reproduce in large communities of different species, animals have to find their own food niche (Mackinnon J. R. and MacKinnon K. S. 1980). In view of the fact that most primates (Harding 1981), as well as several other mammals and birds (Payne 1980), at least partially include fruits in their diets, it seems reasonable to assume that there is a considerable competition for them. Accordingly, frugivorous species display different preferences for food items and the respective nutrients that they contain.…”

Section: Interspecific Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food Preferences and Nutrient Composition in Captive White-handed Gibbons, Hylobates lar

Jildmalm

Amundin²,

Laska

2008

Int J Primatol

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We aimed to assess spontaneous food preferences in captive whitehanded gibbons and to analyze whether they correlate with nutrient composition. Via a 2-alternative choice test, we repeatedly presented 3 male Hylobates lar with all possible binary combinations of 10 types of food that are part of their diet in captivity and found the following rank order of preference: grape > banana = fig > apple > pear > honeydew melon > carrot > tomato > cucumber > avocado. Correlational analyses revealed a highly significant positive correlation between the food preference ranking and the total carbohydrate, fructose, and glucose contents of the foods (p<0.01, respectively). With the exception of the trace mineral selenium (p<0.05), there was no other significant correlation with any other macro-or micronutrient. In addition, the food preferences were stable across the day because rankings obtained from tests performed at 0900, 1200, and 1500 h, respectively, did not differ significantly (p>0.05). Our results suggest that captive white-handed gibbons are not opportunistic, but selective feeders with regard to maximizing net gain of energy because only the content of carbohydrates, but not the contents of total energy, proteins, or lipids significantly correlate with the displayed food preferences. Further, the results suggest that captive Hylobates lar, in contrast to their free-ranging conspecifics, do not display marked changes in their food selection across the day.

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Section: Interspecific Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food Preferences and Nutrient Composition in Captive White-handed Gibbons, Hylobates lar

Jildmalm

Amundin²,

Laska

2008

Int J Primatol

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“…There is a growing acceptance that primates show considerable flexibility in diet (e.g. Harding 1981;Chapman 1987) and this is no less true for colobines than for other taxa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The Western Black-And-White Colobus as a Low-Energy Strategist: Activity Budgets, Energy Expenditure and Energy Intake

Dasilva¹

1992

The Journal of Animal Ecology

203

111

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“…As eclectic omnivores typically occurring in species-rich tropical environments, most primates must choose between a great many potential food items (Harding, 1981). These choices are influenced by a variety of ecological, morphological, and physiological factors including patterns of food abundance and distribution (Oates, 1987), intra-and inter-specific food competition (Janson, 1988;Waser, 1987), risk of predation (Miller, 2002), body size (Gaulin, 1979), gut morphology (Chivers, 1994;Milton, 1998), energetic requirements (Dasilva, 1992), macronutrient and mineral requirements (Silver et al, 2000;Yeager et al, 1997), and ability to cope with secondary compounds (Glander, 1982).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Plant and Soil Chemistry on Food Selection, Ranging Patterns, and Biomass of Colobus guereza in Kakamega Forest, Kenya

2007

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Nutritional factors are among the most important influences on primate food choice. We examined the influence of macronutrients, minerals, and secondary compounds on leaf choices by members of a foli-frugivorous population of eastern black-and-white colobus-or guerezas (Colobus guereza)-inhabiting the Kakamega Forest, Kenya. Macronutrients exerted a complex influence on guereza leaf choice at Kakamega. At a broad level, protein content was the primary factor determining whether or not guerezas consumed specific leaf items, with eaten leaves at or above a protein threshold of ca. 14% dry matter. However, a finer grade analysis considering the selection ratios of only items eaten revealed that fiber played a much greater role than protein in influencing the rates at which different items were eaten relative to their abundance in the forest. Most minerals did not appear to influence leaf choice, though guerezas did exhibit strong selectivity for leaves rich in zinc. Guerezas avoided most leaves high in secondary compounds, though their top food item (Prunus africana mature leaves) contained some of the highest condensed tannin concentrations of any leaves in their diet. Kakamega 674 Fashing, Dierenfeld, and Mowry guerezas periodically traveled great distances to exploit rare foods (bark from exotic Myrtaceae trees and soil) outside their normal home ranges. Our results suggest that these journeys were driven by the fact that these rare foods contained exceptionally high sodium concentrations, a mineral believed to be deficient in the guereza's usual diet. Lastly, our results are consistent with the pattern established across other Paleotropical rain forests in which colobine biomass can be predicted by the protein-to-fiber ratio in mature leaves. Of the 8 rain forests for which the relevant data are available, Kakamega features the second highest mature leaf protein-to-fiber ratio as well as the second highest colobine biomass.

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6. An Order of Omnivores: Nonhuman Primate Diets in the Wild

Cited by 56 publications

References 0 publications

Food Preferences and Nutrient Composition in Captive White-handed Gibbons, Hylobates lar

Food Preferences and Nutrient Composition in Captive White-handed Gibbons, Hylobates lar

The Western Black-And-White Colobus as a Low-Energy Strategist: Activity Budgets, Energy Expenditure and Energy Intake

Influence of Plant and Soil Chemistry on Food Selection, Ranging Patterns, and Biomass of Colobus guereza in Kakamega Forest, Kenya

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