广西西南部石山森林中熊猴的姿势行为

Positional behavior of Assam macaque(Macaca assamensis) living in the limestone forest of southwest Guangxi,China

灵长类动物姿势行为研究对了解其环境适应机制具有重要意义。2012年9月至2013年8月,采用瞬时扫描取样法对广西弄岗国家级自然保护区内一群熊猴(Macaca assamensis)的姿势行为进行观察,比较熊猴姿势行为的季节和日时段变化。结果表明,熊猴移动模式的频率存在显著差异,从高到低为四足行走(45.3%±7.6%)、跳跃(28.8%±4.8%)、攀爬(23.9%±6.2%)、四足奔跑(1.2%±0.7%)、搭桥(0.9%±0.6%)。分析发现,熊猴搭桥和攀爬的频率存在显著的季节性差异:搭桥的频率在果实丰盛季节明显高于果实缺乏季节;攀爬的频率在果实缺乏季节高于果实丰盛季节。在日时段上,熊猴在下午时段(12:00—19:00)攀爬比上午时段(06:00—11:59)更频繁。熊猴对姿态的使用频率具有显著差异,从高到低为坐(91.7%±4.1%)、站立-前肢悬吊(4.2%±3.3%)、悬吊(1.9%±1.6%)、四足站立(1.4%±1.8%)、躺(0.8%±0.5%)。熊猴在觅食、理毛、休息时对姿态的利用频率不完全一致,表现为觅食时的主要姿态为坐(87.3%±6.1%)和站立-前肢悬吊(7.9%±5.5%);理毛时的主要姿态为坐(95.6%±2.8%)和躺(3.1%±2.2%);休息时的主要姿态为坐(97.1%±1.4%)和四足站立(2.2%±1.1%)。熊猴在觅食、理毛、休息时对姿态的利用频率没有显著的季节性差异。在日时段上,觅食活动的躺和悬吊的频率存在显著差异,具体表现在上午时段(06:00—11:59)躺和悬吊的频率明显高于下午时段(12:00—19:00)。此外,熊猴的姿势行为受到食物组成的影响。本文分别建立模型Ⅰ(含果实)和模型Ⅱ(含嫩叶),检验了食物组成对熊猴姿势行为的影响。食物资源的季节性分布和生态因子的动态变化是影响熊猴对姿势行为利用的重要因素,熊猴灵活地调整姿势行为可能是对食物组成变化和生态因子的动态变化适应的结果。

Positional behavior studies have vital importance for understanding the adaptation mechanism of primates to their habitat.To explore seasonal and daily variations of Assam macaques(Macaca assamensis) positional behavior and the influence of food composition and ecological factors on this type of behavior,we collected positional behavioral data via instantaneous scan sampling method from September 2012 to August 2013 at Guangxi Nonggang National Nature Reserve,located in southwest China.The quadrupedal walking(45.3% ± 7.6%) was observed as the most frequently used locomotion mode,followed by leaping(28.8% ± 4.8%),climbing(23.9% ± 6.2%),quadrupedal running(1.2% ±0.7%) and bridging(0.9% ± 0.6%),with a significant difference.Locomotion modes varied significantly between seasons.Assam macaques used bridging more frequently in fruit-rich season but used climbing less during the fruit-lean season.However,the other modes of locomotion did not significantly vary in the different seasons.Assam macaques were documented to climb more often in the afternoon than during the morning period.There were also significant variations in the macaques ’ postures.Specifically,sitting(91.7% ± 4.1%) was the dominant posture,followed by standing-forelimb suspending(4.2% ± 3.3%),suspending(1.9% ± 1.6%),quadrupedal standing(1.4% ± 1.8%),and lying(0.8% ±0.5%).In addition,we observed a variety of significant different postures during different activities.For instance,sitting(87.3% ± 6.1%) and standing-forelimb suspending(7.9% ± 5.5%) was the dominant postural modes for feeding,sitting(95.6% ± 2.8%) and lying(3.1% ± 2.2%) was the dominant postural mode during the grooming behavior;and sitting(97.1% ± 1.4%) and quadrupedal standing(2.2% ± 1.1%) was the dominant postural modes observed during the resting periods.There was no significant seasonal variation in observations related to the different postures of this group of macaques.Lying and suspending posture were more frequently used in the morning(06:00 – 11:59) than during the afternoon(12:00–19:00).Nevertheless,diet and ecological factors were important parameters that affected the positional behavior of macaques.We established both model I(including fruits) and model II(including immature leaves) to test the effects of diet composition on the positional behavior of Assam macaques.These results provided evidence of the effects of diet and ecological factors on the positional behavior of Assam macaques.This study highlights the necessity to increase the knowledge of behavioral ecology and to understand the influence of ecological factors on the survival of Assam macaque in the limestone forest.