Most extant nonhuman primates occasionally prey on fast-moving, warm-blooded animals; however, Indriidae, Lepilemuridae, and Colobinae either scavenged for meat or did not eat meat at all. Here we report six cases of ...
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Most extant nonhuman primates occasionally prey on fast-moving, warm-blooded animals; however, Indriidae, Lepilemuridae, and Colobinae either scavenged for meat or did not eat meat at all. Here we report six cases of animal consumption by the snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus bieti in a wild, habituated group between 2004 and 2009 in Yunnan, China. At present, only males in an all-male unit within the study group were involved in active hunting. Such a male-biased activity may be related to the group structure and spatial spread of R. bieti. Two females were observed eating freshly killed birds. The findings confirmed that R. bieti engaged in scavenging and, when hunting, employed a cranio-cervical bite to kill their prey. Meat eating is likely a nutrient maximization feeding strategy in R. bieti, especially in males. A begging behavior occurred after successful prey capture. Although begging was observed, no sharing of the meat was seen. The present findings illuminate the dietary diversity of R. bieti and their ability to expand their dietary spectrum.
Wildlife resources are important strategic bioresources in China. This paper analyzes the current threats to China's wildlife, outlines achievements made by Chinese conservation biologists, and presents suggestion...
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Wildlife resources are important strategic bioresources in China. This paper analyzes the current threats to China's wildlife, outlines achievements made by Chinese conservation biologists, and presents suggestions for future developments in this field. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) plays an important role in the conservation of wildlife and provides significant intellectual support for conservation research and sustainable development.
Being widely distributed in the Qinling Mountains,Bashania fargesii is the primary food source for giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) during winter and *** understand the relationship between panda food habits and ...
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Being widely distributed in the Qinling Mountains,Bashania fargesii is the primary food source for giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) during winter and *** understand the relationship between panda food habits and nutrients in the bamboo,we collected samples of leaves,branches and stems across seasons and ages in Foping Nature Reserve,Shaanxi Province,China. Each category of samples was collected at the same site,with three replicates,and weighing 200 to 500 gram. Seven trace elements (Zn,Cu,Fe,Mn,Ca,Mg,K) were analyzed by the atomic absorption spectrophometric method. Crude protein was determined following Macro-Kjelhahl procudure,and crude fat was measured with Soxhlet procedure. The results indicated that contents of Mn,Ca,Mg in the leaves and Cu,Zn,Fe in the branches were respectively higher than those in the other parts on bamboo. Compared with those in the branches and stems,contents of crude protein and crude fat in the leaves were significantly higher. In addition,contents of trace elements and nutrients in the bamboos varied across seasons and ages. Leaves are the most nutritious among different parts of bamboo. Food habits exhibited by giant pandas were closely related to nutrition quality of leaves in the bamboo.
Scientific research is a complex and challenging *** obstacles are faced in research on wildlife compared to other forms of research as the subjects under investigation must be located,monitored and data collected in ...
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Scientific research is a complex and challenging *** obstacles are faced in research on wildlife compared to other forms of research as the subjects under investigation must be located,monitored and data collected in what are often difficult and unpredictable ***,wildlife across the world are under *** growing problems such as climate change,invasive species,disease and wildlife trade,the need for quality research into wildlife is paramount.
Comparative studies of the diet of the same species in different habitats, and over the long term, are essential to understanding a species' behavioral and ecological plasticity. Moreover, such studies can help re...
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Comparative studies of the diet of the same species in different habitats, and over the long term, are essential to understanding a species' behavioral and ecological plasticity. Moreover, such studies can help researchers and managers evaluate a species' capacity to cope with changes in habitat quality resulting from natural processes or human disturbance, which is important for developing conservation strategies. We compared dietary data for Fran double dagger ois' langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) collected at Nonggang and Fusui Nature Reserves, Guangxi Province, China, over 2 separate study periods to evaluate interannual and intersite variation in diet. Young leaves were the preferred staple foods for langurs, whereas mature leaves and seeds served as fallback foods in response to seasonal shortage in the abundance of young leaves. Species composition of the diets and the percentage of feeding records for plant species varied between the 2 study periods. The langurs at both study sites fed selectively, and they did not base their diet simply on the abundance of plant species in the habitat. However, the plant species eaten by langur groups inhabiting the 2 different reserves were markedly different, and the top 10 food species eaten by the Fusui group showed no overlap with those eaten by the Nonggang group. The variation may be related to differences in forest composition resulting from different level of human disturbance. In summary, our results indicate that Fran double dagger ois' langurs exhibit a comparable dietary pattern both temporally and geographically, but there is marked interannual and intersite difference in species composition of the langur diet.
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