Nutrient composition of selected plant species consumed by semi free-ranging lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus)and ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta)on St. Catherines Island, Georgia, U.S.A.

Abstract

Feeding behavior in two groups of semi free-ranging primates, lion tailed macaques (LTM) (Macaca silenus, n = 9) and ring-tailed lemurs (RTL) (Lemur catta, n = 13), residing on St. Catherines Island, GA, was observed seasonally at quarterly intervals for 1 year. Each group had unlimited access to native flora and fauna in addition to a daily provisioned diet; LTM were observed a total of 144 hours and RTL for 208 hours. We hypothesized that foods selected by macaques would be lower in macronutrients and higher in fiber than those consumed by lemurs owing to body size differences. Samples of plant foods observed eaten (106 samples from 30 identified species) were collected, air-dried in the field, and analyzed for macronutrient, fiber, and mineral content. Leaves and seeds were important diet components for semi free-ranging LTM most of the year, comprising 51% to 93% of observed feeding time on non-provisioned food items, with ripe fruit a major food item (40% of observed feeding time) only during the August sampling period. In general, RTL consumed a more diverse diet of fruits and leaves during all seasons, with seeds and buds increasingly important during winter months (45% of observed feeding time). Based on the nutrient composition of different plant parts, weighted by the percentage contribution (feeding time assumed equivalent to mass of forage intake) of each part, no difference was seen in fiber (LTM 56.8 ± 21.9% of DM, RTL 38.4 ± 16.7% DM) or crude protein content of diets consumed (LTM 9.0 ± 2.9% DM, RTL 11.5± 6.7% DM) throughout the year. Weighted diets contained mineral concentrations meeting recommended values for non-human primates of Mg, Cu, Mn, and Zn, but were low in Na, P, and Fe, as well as Ca (LTM only). Despite wide differences in individual food items selected, overall diets were remarkably similar in macronutrient composition between these two disparate primates. Zoo Biol 18:481–494, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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