Faecal Particle Size in Free-Ranging Proboscis Monkeys, Nasalis larvatus: Variation between Seasons.
- Thiry V Anthropology and Human Genetics Unit, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
- Clauss M Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Stark DJ Organisms and Environment Division, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
- Beudels-Jamar RC Conservation Biology Unit, Education and Nature, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium.
- Vercauteren Drubbel R Anthropology and Human Genetics Unit, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
- Nathan SKSS Sabah Wildlife Department, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
- Goossens B Organisms and Environment Division, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
- Vercauteren M Anthropology and Human Genetics Unit, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
- 2018-08-17
Published in:
- Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology. - 2018
Chewing efficiency
Diet change
Foregut fermenter
Forestomach
Nasalis larvatus
Nutritional ecology
Animals
Borneo
Colobinae
Diet
Feces
Herbivory
Malaysia
Mastication
Particle Size
Seasons
English
Reducing the size of food particles is crucial for herbivores. Seasonal dietary changes are known to influence animals' chewing efficiency. Proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) are foregut fermenters, with a high chewing efficiency allowing them to achieve very fine faecal particles. In this study, we investigated how proboscis monkeys' chewing efficiency varies between wet and dry seasons, hypothesising differences possibly related to diet change. Faecal particle size analysis is an established approach to estimate chewing efficiency in mammalian herbivores. We analysed 113 proboscis monkey faecal samples collected in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, between 2015 and 2017. By following standard sieve analysis protocols, we measured a mean particle size MPS0.025-8 of 0.45 ± 0.14 mm, and confirmed a previous result that proboscis monkeys have a very low faecal MPS. This study highlights a seasonal influence on proboscis monkeys' chewing efficiency, with smaller MPS (better chewing efficiency) during the wet season. During that time of the year, individuals may potentially change their diet, as all faecal samples contained intact seeds. Whether the seasonal MPS difference in proboscis monkeys is smaller than in other colobines due to their "rumination" strategy remains to be investigated.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- green
- Identifiers
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- DOI 10.1159/000490794
- PMID 30114703
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/3730
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