Feeding Ecology and Dietary Flexibility of Colobus angolensis palliatus in Relation to Habitat Disturbance

To meet nutritional needs, primates adjust their diets in response to local habitat differences, though whether these dietary modifications translate to changes in dietary nutrient intake is unknown. A previous study of two populations of the mountain gorilla (MG: Gorilla beringei) found no evidence for intraspecific variation in the nutrient composition of their diets, despite ecological and dietary differences between sites. One potential explanation is that nutritional variability in primate diets requires greater ecological divergence than what was captured between MG sites, underpinning environmental differences in the nutrient quality of plant foods. To test whether Gorilla exhibits interspecific variation in dietary composition and nutrient intake, we studied the composition and macronutrients of the western gorilla (WG: Gorilla gorilla) staple diets and compared them with published data from the two MG populations. We recorded feeding time and food intake of four adult female WGs from one habituated group over a period of 11 months (December 2004-October 2005) at the Mondika Research Center, Republic of Congo, allowing for assessment of seasonal patterns of nutrient intake. Staple diets of WGs and MGs diverged in their dietary and macronutrient composition. Compared to MGs, the staple diet of WGs (by intake) contained higher proportions of fruit (43%) and leaf (12%) and a lower proportion of herb (39%), resulting in a higher intake of total nonstructural carbohydrate and fiber and a lower intake of crude protein. Staple gorilla fruits and herbs differed in nutrient quality between sites. Gorillas exhibit nutritional flexibility that reflects ecological variation in the nutrient quality of plant foods. Since dietary quality typically affects rates of growth and reproduction in primates, our results suggest that interspecific differences in nutrient intake and food quality may shape differences in gorilla nutrient balancing and female life history strategies. K E Y W O R D S ape, ecology, feeding, nutrition, primate

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional composition of the diet of the western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla): Interspecific variation in diet quality

Lodwick

Salmi

2019

“…Colobus sp. : Chapman, Struhsaker, Skorupa, Snaith, & Rothman, ; Dunham, ; Cercopithecus sp. : Kaplin & Moermond, ; Microcebus sp.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Extensive variability in the gut microbiome of a highly‐specialized and critically endangered lemur species across sites

Donohue

Asangba

Ralainirina

et al. 2019

Deforestation continues to jeopardize Malagasy primates as viable habitats become smaller, more fragmented, and more disturbed. This deforestation can lead to changes in diet, microhabitat, and gene flow between populations of endangered species, and it remains unclear how these changes may affect gut microbiome (GM) characteristics. The black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata), which is among Madagascar's most threatened lemur species, provides a critical model for understanding the relationships between historical and on-going deforestation (habitat disturbance), feeding ecology, and GM composition and diversity. We studied four populations inhabiting two rainforests (relatively pristine vs. highly disturbed) in southeastern Madagascar. We conducted full-day focal animal behavioral follows and collected fecal samples opportunistically across a three-month period. Our results indicate that lemurs inhabiting sites characterized by habitat disturbance and low dietary diversity exhibited reduced gut microbial alpha diversity. We also show that these same factors were associated with high community dissimilarity using weighted and unweighted UniFrac metrics. Finally, an indicator species analysis showed that the most pristine site was characterized by an abundance of methanogenic archaea.While it is impossible to disentangle the relative contributions of each confounding variable presented by our sampling design, these results provide crucial information about GM variability, thereby underscoring the importance of monitoring endangered species at the population-level.

“…Studies examining intraspecific dietary variation have largely focused on identifying differences in plant parts and plant species consumed over spatial and temporal dimensions (Chapman et al, ; Chapman, Chapman, & Gillespie, ; Chaves & Bicca‐Marques, ; Harris & Chapman, ; Rogers et al, ; Struhsaker, , ). Additionally, several researchers have examined the extent to which some species and populations adjust their diets to cope with increasing anthropogenic disturbances (Dunham, ; Marsh & Chapman, ; Milich, Stumpf, Chambers, & Chapman, ; Riley, ). While some species exhibit considerable dietary flexibility (in terms of plant parts or species‐specific plant parts) in relation to habitat disturbance, it is unclear whether primates are characterized by similar levels of variation and flexibility at the level of nutrient intake (Irwin, Raharison, Raubenheimer, Chapman, & Rothman, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the increasing utilization of the GF by primatologists, the degree to which nutrient intake and rules of compromise differ intraspecifically, and with regard to differences in habitat, remains underexplored (Irwin et al, ). Angola black and white colobus monkeys ( Colobus angolensis palliatus ) of the Diani Forest, Kenya, provide an excellent case study because they inhabit structurally and ecologically distinct forest areas within a small geographic area (i.e., study groups separated by 5 km or less) and their diets have been documented to vary considerably in terms of plant species and plant parts (i.e., mean monthly dietary overlap among three study groups was ∼10%) (Dunham, ; Dunham & McGraw, ). This study builds on Dunham's (2017) investigation of C. a. palliatus intergroup dietary variation, by quantifying the nutrient intake of adult females from the same three groups during the same study period (i.e., July 2014–December 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specifically, this study examines the effects of group, season, and reproductive state on nutrient intake and balancing. Because one of the study groups (i.e., Ujamaa) inhabits a more intact forest area with a home range characterized by significantly greater food availability, we predicted that females from this group would consume more metabolizable energy (ME) and greater quantities of macronutrients compared to females in the groups ranging through more degraded forest areas (Dunham, ). However, following the premises of the GF, we predicted that females from the three groups would not differ in their relative contributions of macronutrients to ME and that NPE:AP would be consumed at a consistent ratio.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Nutrient intake and balancing among femaleColobus angolensis palliatusinhabiting structurally distinct forest areas: Effects of group, season, and reproductive state

Dunham

Rodríguez-Saona

2018

Self Cite

Understanding intraspecific behavioral and dietary variation is critical for assessing primate populations' abilities to persist in habitats characterized by increasing anthropogenic disturbances. While it is evident that some species exhibit considerable dietary flexibility (in terms of species-specific plant parts) in relation to habitat disturbance, it is unclear if primates are characterized by similar variation and flexibility regarding nutrient intake. This study examined the effects of group, season, and reproductive state on nutrient intake and balancing in adult female Colobus angolensis palliatus in the Diani Forest, Kenya. During July 2014 to December 2015, estimates of nutrient intake were recorded for eight females from three groups inhabiting structurally and ecologically distinct forest areas differing in tree species composition and density. There were differences in metabolizable energy (ME) and macronutrient intakes among groups, seasons, and reproductive states. Most notably, females inhabiting one of the more disturbed forest areas consumed less ME and macronutrients compared to females in the more intact forest area. Contrary to prediction, females in early lactation consumed significantly less ME and macronutrients compared to non-lactating and late lactation females. Despite differences in macronutrient intake, the relative contribution of macronutrients to ME were generally more conservative among groups, seasons, and reproductive states. Average daily intake ratios of non-protein energy to available protein ranged from approximately 3.5:1-4.3:1 among groups. These results indicate that female C. a. palliatus demonstrate a consistent nutrient balancing strategy despite significant intergroup differences in consumption of species-specific plant parts. Data from additional colobine species inhabiting different forest types are required to assess the extent to which nutrient balancing is constrained by phylogeny or is more flexible to local ecological conditions.