Feeding adaptation ofFrançois’ langurs
(Trachypithecus francoisi) to
thefragmented
limestone habitats in Southwest China
Wei Yaoa,1, Cheng-Ming Huanga,b,1,
Jia-Xin Zhaob, Rong Huangb, Wen-Hua
Lib,
Peng-Lai Fan a,*, Qi-Hai Zhou a,*
aKey Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered
Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Key
Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal
University, Guilin, China
b Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Beijing, China.
c Encheng National Nature Reserve, Chongzuo, China
∗Corresponding author
Running Title: Feeding adaptation of François’ langurs to the fragmented
limestone habitats
Corresponding author:
Prof. Qi-Hai Zhou, Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered
Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education, Guangxi
Normal University, 1# Yanshan Zhong Road, Guiling,
Guangxi 541006, China. E-mail:zhouqh@mailbox.gxnu.edu.cn
Associate Prof. Pen-Lai Fan, Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and
Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education,
Guangxi Normal University, 1# Yanshan Zhong Road,
Guiling, Guangxi 541006, China. E-mail:fanpl@mailbox.gxnu.edu.cn
1Wei Yao and Cheng-Ming Huang are co-first authors
Abstract: Limestone forests are an unusual habitat for
primates, especially fragmented limestone habitats. However, limited
research has been conducted on François’ langurs (Trachypithecus
francois ) in these habitats, and there is a need to understand their
behavioral adaptations to the fragmented limestone habitat. We collected
data on the diet of François’ langurs in a fragmented limestone habitat
in Encheng National Nature Reserve, southwestern Guangxi, China, and
their feeding adaptations to the fragmented forest were examined. The
results indicated that a total of 101 species of plants were consumed by
the langurs. The langurs ate a higher number of food species throughout
the year when compared with other species, maintained a high level of
food diversity, and ate more vines. Moreover, they were highly selective
in their use of vegetation in their home range, and fewer plants
provided a high-quality food source. During the season when food
resources were scarce, similar to monkey populations in other geographic
populations, the consumption of fruits and young leaves decreased as
their availability decreased. This led to the use of other species, such
as mature leaves and seeds. Overall, François’ langurs in Encheng
National Nature Reserve are generally considered to employ energy
minimization strategies. The findings support that François’ langurs
adjust their feeding behavior to cope with seasonal and micro-variations
in their dietary requirements and to adapt to their particular
environment.
Key words: François’ langurs, Feeding adaptation, Limestone
habitat, Fragmentation