Termite Soil Eating in Kirindy Sifakas (Madagascar): Proposing a New Proximate Factor

Norscia, Ivan; Carrai, Valentina; Ceccanti, B.; Tarli, Silvana M. Borgognini

doi:10.1159/000083619

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The finding is consistent with the fact that fiber intake was high throughout the year (Fig. 7) and that sifakas are able to process fibers without difficulty because of a pool of mid-gut symbiotic flora (Campbell et al, 1999(Campbell et al, , 2000 that Kirindy sifakas might occasionally enrich through termite soil eating (Norscia et al, 2005). Conversely, tannins, which represent a negative component of leaf quality (Waterman, 1984), were a significant feeding deterrent for Kirindy sifakas, which spent more time feeding on adult leaves with the lowest tannin concentrations (Fig.…”

Section: Feeding Strategysupporting

confidence: 87%

Influence of Dry Season and Food Quality and Quantity on Behavior and Feeding Strategy of Propithecus verreauxi in Kirindy, Madagascar

2006

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According to optimal foraging theory, herbivores can base food choice mainly on the quality or the quantity of food, or both. Among herbivorous primates, folivorous lemurs living in the highly seasonal environment of Madagascar have to cope with the shortage of high-quality food during the dry season, at least in deciduous forests. We studied Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi (Verreaux's sifaka) in Kirindy, western Madagascar, to understand the influence of dry season and food quality and quantity on behavioral patterns and feeding strategy (qualitative vs. quantitative dietary choice) of a folivorous lemur in a deciduous forest. We followed 7 groups (4 groups/period; 3 individuals/group/month) during 4 periods of the year (wet season: February-March; early/middle/late dry season: MayJune; July-September; October-November). We collected samples of plants eaten and examined behavioral and feeding patterns, considering food quality (macronutrients, proteins/fibers ratio, and tannins) and abundance. We found 1) a significant reduction of home range, core area, and daily path length from the wet to the dry season, possibly related to dietary change and 2) a daily period of inactivity in the dry season for energy conservation. Regarding the feeding strategy, Kirindy sifakas showed 1) high variation and selection in choosing food items and 2) a dietary choice based mainly on quality: Kirindy sifakas fed on plant species/families independently from their abundance and tannins represented a feeding deterrent during the dry

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Section: Feeding Strategysupporting

confidence: 87%

Influence of Dry Season and Food Quality and Quantity on Behavior and Feeding Strategy of Propithecus verreauxi in Kirindy, Madagascar

2006

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“…A purely plant‐based diet may leave herbivores deficient in Na [Nagy & Milton, ; Sinclair et al, ] and has led to the adoption of many behaviors in folivores (i.e., drinking urine or mud puddles or ingesting bark or swamp plants) to bolster Na intake. One of the most common strategies used to cope with potential Na (and other mineral) deficiencies is geophagy [de Souza et al, ; Ganzhorn, ; Ketch et al, ; Krishnamani & Mahaney, ; Magliocca & Gauthier‐Hion, ; Mahaney et al, ; Mahaney & Krishnamani, ; Matsubayashi et al, ; Müller et al, ; Norscia et al, ; Pebsworth & Bardi, ; Setz et al, ; Voros et al, ; Wakibara et al, ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Minerals in Food Selection in a Black Howler Monkey (Alouatta Pigra) Population in Belize Following a Major Hurricane

Behie

Pavelka

2012

American J Primatol

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As plants may contain low levels of some minerals including sodium, copper, and phosphorous, herbivores may become deficient in these nutrients. In 2001, Hurricane Iris hit the Monkey River Forest in Belize causing substantial damage to the food supply of the black howler monkey population (Alouatta pigra) living there. This included an 18-month absence in fruit production and a complete loss of figs that are high in calcium. In this article, we describe the post-hurricane diet of this monkey population and compare the mineral content of food items to each other and to recommendations for non-human primates [NRC 2003]. We also investigate food selection in relation to potentially limiting minerals. Behavioral data from four groups of howlers (2002-2006) and samples of all ingested food items were collected and a sample of 99 plant from 18 food species was analyzed for mineral content. Unexpectedly, the post-hurricane diet contained more mature leaves than new leaves despite the availability of new leaves. Leaves contained higher amounts of minerals than reproductive parts and with the exception of Cecropia peltata stems, plant parts were low in sodium. Cecropia peltata is a pioneer species that grows following habitat disturbance thus the ingestion of these stems may be a potential mechanism to avoid sodium deficiency in this damaged forest. Calcium and zinc were found above recommended values in most food items; however, both positively predicted food selection, which may reflect a difference between their abundance and their bioavailability. However, as mature leaves contained more calcium than other plant parts, their high post-hurricane consumption may also be a response to the absence of figs and the need to find an alternate calcium source. This study highlights how habitat disturbance may affect mineral abundance and the dietary choices of primates.

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“…Researchers have reported geophagy for all primate groups, including strepsirhines (Britt et al 2002;Norscia et al 2005), apes (Ketch et al 2001;Mahaney et al 1995), Old World monkeys (Pages et al 2005;Voros et al 2001), and New World monkeys (Dew 2005;Izawa 1993;Müller et al 1997;Setz et al 1999). A diet rich in leaves and fruits is characteristic of species reported to eat soil on a regular basis (Britt et al 2002;Krishnamani and Mahaney 2000;Stevenson et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Mineral Licks by White-Bellied Spider Monkeys (Ateles belzebuth) and Red Howler Monkeys (Alouatta seniculus) in Eastern Ecuador

et al. 2010

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Geophagy occurs in all primate groups and is particularly common in species that consume greater quantities of plant material, i.e., leaves, fruit. The function of geophagy is not fully understood and likely varies over space and time, perhaps in connection with changes in diet. Central to a better understanding of geophagy in primate ecology is knowledge of the occurrence of such behavior among different species and seasons. We used camera traps triggered by heat and motion to document the use of mineral licks by primates over a 3-yr period at a lowland forest site in eastern Ecuador (Tiputini Biodiversity Station). Such mineral licks can be important sources of minerals, nutrients, and other compounds for a wide range of species in Amazonian forests. Although 10 species of primates are known from the study site, we obtained photographs of only 2 species, Ateles belzebuth (white-bellied spider monkey) and Alouatta seniculus (red howler) at 2 of 4 saladeros surveyed. From late December 2004 through early January 2008, we recorded 192 photographs with a total of 318 Ateles belzebuth representing ≥66 separate visits. Comparable numbers for Alouatta seniculus were 80, 121, and 37. We recorded both species visiting a mineral lick at the same time on ≥7 occasions. Use of mineral licks varied across months; we recorded more visits from November through February, the drier period at Tiputini. Visits also varied by hour, with no visits before 0830 or after 1630; Ateles belzebuth showed a stronger mid-day peak in visits. Average visit length (calculated as the time between the first and last Int photographs of a given visit) was similar between the 2 species but median visit length was more than twice as long for Ateles belzebuth (15 min) as for Alouatta seniculus (6 min). Results indicate that mineral licks are important in the ecology of these species, but further studies are needed to determine the precise benefit(s) obtained and how benefits may vary with diet and other factors.

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Termite Soil Eating in Kirindy Sifakas (Madagascar): Proposing a New Proximate Factor

Cited by 9 publications

References 9 publications

Influence of Dry Season and Food Quality and Quantity on Behavior and Feeding Strategy of Propithecus verreauxi in Kirindy, Madagascar

Influence of Dry Season and Food Quality and Quantity on Behavior and Feeding Strategy of Propithecus verreauxi in Kirindy, Madagascar

The Role of Minerals in Food Selection in a Black Howler Monkey (Alouatta Pigra) Population in Belize Following a Major Hurricane

Use of Mineral Licks by White-Bellied Spider Monkeys (Ateles belzebuth) and Red Howler Monkeys (Alouatta seniculus) in Eastern Ecuador

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