A road for a promising future for China＇s primates： The potential for restoration

China is one of the most dynamic countries of the world and it shelters some amazing levels of biodiversity, including some very special primate species. However, primarily as a result of forest loss, most of which occurred in historical times, approximately 70% of China＇s primate species have less than 3 000 individuals. Here I evaluate one road for future conservation/development that could produce very positive gains for China＇s primates; namely forest restoration. I argue that for a large scale restoration project to be possible two conditions must be met; the right societal conditions must exist and the right knowledge must be in hand. This evaluation suggests that the restoration of native forest to support many of China＇s primates holds great potential to advance conservation goals and to promote primate population recovery.

饲养条件下非人灵长类的营养需求

非人灵长类的营养学研究越来越受到国际和国内社会的关注。我国是世界上实验灵长类动物的最大产出国。进一步了解和发展非人灵长类营养学将有利于提高我国非人灵长类的饲养水平和饲料资源的利用效率,推动整体产业的发展。为此本文介绍了近年来国际上非人灵长类营养学方面的研究进展和国家饲料配比的相关规定,阐述了各营养成分的作用、缺乏症状和改善案例。旨在丰富相关方面的科学信息,增加对非人灵长类营养需求的理解。

非人灵长类的杀婴行为及其适应意义

杀婴现象普遍存在于非人灵长类种类中,本文通过综述目前已知的21种非人灵长类的69例杀婴行为记录,探讨了非人灵长类杀婴行为的适应性意义。大多数雄性杀婴行为符合雄性繁殖策略假说,既满足以下3个条件:(1)杀婴雄性与受害婴仔没有父子关系;(2)失去婴猴的母亲会提前进入发情状态;(3)受害雌性随后可能与杀婴雄性交配。不过有些个别的杀婴现象与雄性繁殖利益无关,文中进一步介绍了误伤假说、减少未来竞争者假说、肉食假说和病态行为假说。杀婴无疑会对受害母亲造成巨大的损失。雌性防范杀婴的策略包括直接抵抗、回避接触雄性、积极发情、依靠保护雄性和改变繁殖群组成等多种方式。但是雄性杀婴现象不会完全消失,因为出现该行为的根本原因是雌性防范雄性杀婴的难度较大,而雄性实施杀婴行为的风险较低、利益较高。

日本‘猴灾’的形成与管理策略的研究进展——对中国的启迪

日本是分布有野生灵长类动物的发达国家,面临着与中国相似的猴灾威胁。借鉴日本对猴灾管理方面的技术和研究,有利于推动中国在相关领域的研究和提高野生动物管理水平。为此本文简述了日本猴灾出现的经纬,分析了猴灾出现的环境、社会背景,并介绍了日本在猴灾防除技术和管理策略方面的研究进展。猴灾防除技术可以分为设置物理壁障和心理壁障两大部分:设置物理壁障包括利用电网、围网等方式防止猴群进入农田,设置心理壁障包括利用爆音器、爆竹、狗、超声波、味嗅觉厌恶等方式防止猴群进入农田。另外利用改变土地利用、人工避孕和捕捉猴群的方式也可以减少猴灾发生。文中详细分析了这些防除技术的优缺点和在应用时需要注意的问题。在猴灾管理方面,作者提出了理论层面的管理模式和行政层面的管理方式,并建议加强人与野生动物共存的管理方式。

The foraging behavior of Japanese macaques Macaca fuscata in a forested enclosure: Effects of nutrient composition,energy and its seasonal variation on the consumption of natural plant foods

In the wild, primate foraging behaviors are related to the diversity and nutritional properties of food, which are affected by seasonal variation. The goal of environmental enrichment is to stimulate captive animals to exhibit similar foraging behavior of their wild counterparts, e.g. to extend foraging time. We conducted a 12-month study on the foraging behavior of Japanese macaques in a semi-naturally forested enclosure to understand how they use both provisioned foods and naturally available plant foods and what are the nutritional criteria of their consumption of natural plants. We recorded time spent feeding on provisioned and natural plant foods and collected the plant parts ingested of their major plant food species monthly, when available. We conducted nutritional analysis （crude protein, crude lipid, neutral detergent fiber-‘NDF＇, ash） and calculated total non-structural carbohydrate - ‘TNC＇ and total energy of those food items. Monkeys spent 47% of their feeding time foraging on natural plant species. The consumption of plant parts varied significantly across seasons. We found that leaf items were consumed in months when crude protein, crude protein-to-NDF ratio, TNC and total energy were significantly higher and NDF was significantly lower, fruit/nut items in months when crude protein and TNC were significantly higher and crude lipid content was significantly lower, and bark items in months when TNC and total energy were higher and crude lipid content was lower. This preliminary investigation showed that the forested enclosure allowed troop members to more fully express their species typical flexible behavior by challenging them to adjust their foraging behavior to seasonal changes of plant item diversity and nutritional content, also providing the possibility for individuals to nutritionally enhance their diet .

Early development of peer dominance relationships in a captive group of Japanese macaques Macaca fuscata

We studied early development of peer dominance relationships in a captive group of Japanese macaques Macaca fuscata fuscata at the Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University. This study aims to give detailed descriptions on characteristic patterns of maternal rank acquisition from infant to juvenile. Focal subjects were 22 young monkeys belonging to three cohorts born in 2002, 2003 and 2005. Data were collected with a total 2130 sessions of 30-minute continuous recording of focal subjects combined with all occurrence-sampling methods. The onset of aggressive behavior varied per cohort and was delayed in cohorts with fewer close-aged associates. More than 60% of dyadic combinations in agonistic interactions between peers were unidirectional throughout the study period. Although some bidirectional interactions could have involved unstable relationships between particular individuals, most of the bidirectional interactions included a few continuous series of alternating one-sided interactions. A linear order could be found among peers from the first appearance of aggressive behavior, and nearly 90% of those dyads were concordant with that of their mother＇s rank order. Young males were responsible for most of the dominance relations that would not be predicted based on their mother＇s rank. These results suggest that infant monkeys may recognize their own social status relative to their opponent＇s before onset of aggressive behavior and adjust themselves into the matrilineal rank system accordingly.

Promoting functional recovery by inhibition of repulsive guidance molecule-a after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury（SCI）leads to permanent disability with motor and sensory dysfunctions.The mature mammalian central nervous system（CNS）possesses a limited capacity to regenerate/regrow after injury.

Handedness found in a wild group of moor monkeys Macaca maurus in the Karaenta Nature Reserve, South Sulawesi,Indonesia

Hand preference of wild moor monkeys Macaca maurus was investigated in food reaching situations at the Karaenta Nature Reserve, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The frequency picking up sweet-corn grains to take into the mouth by either hand of monkeys was counted directly at the feeding ground where sweet-corn grains were scattered for monkeys. Among the 20 monkeys examined, 8 were right-handed, 8 were left-handed, and 4 were ambilateral. The results indicated the prevailed hand preference on individual level but not either trends of left- or right-hand preference on population level. The trend toward a higher proportion of left-handed monkeys found in Japanese and rhesus monkeys was not found. Some other characteristics found in moor monkeys are discussed in comparison with those previous findings in Japanese and Tibetan macaques in order to evaluate variations within the genus Macaca

Annual periodicity of fruiting in temperate forests in Yakushima, Japan

Fruiting phenology, assessed by seed fall, in five warm- and cool-temperate forests on Yakushima Island, southern Japan, was studied for two years in one 50 m × 50 m plot and for four years in four 100 m ×50 m plots. The elevation of the plots ranged between 170 and 1200 m a.s.l. Seed fall phenology showed annual periodicity in all five plots. This was clear when assessed by the number of species but became less clear when assessed by the biomass of seed litter. Community-level annual periodicity was based on the prevalence of population-level annual periodicity and interspecific synchronization of the fruiting peak from autumn to winter. Fleshy fruits had peaks of seed fall in a wider range of months than non-fleshy fruits, since it is sometimes beneficial to bear fruit outside the community-level fruiting peaks in order to avoid interspecific competition for animal seed dispersers. No consistent effect of climatic factors on seed fall phenology was detected.

Fruit fall in five warm- and cool-temperate forests in Yakushima,Japan

Quantification of fruit fall is the only way to compare fruit food availability among different studies. This study aims to reveal the general characteristics of fruit fall in temperate forests, which should offer indispensable information for using fruit fall data as food availability for frugivores. Fruit fall in three warm-temperate and two cool-temperate forests on Yakushima, an island in southwestern Japan, were studied for two years in one cool-temperate plot of 50 m × 50 m in size and for four years in other plots of 100 m × 50 m in size. The elevations of the plots ranged 170-1200 m a.s.1. Fruit fall was highest in the lowland forests （599 and 564 DW kg·ha^-1·year^-1 and lowest in the mid-elevation forest （198 DW kg·ha^-1·year^-1）. Fleshy fruits and food-fruits for Japanese macaques constituted 3-37% and 4-87% of the total fruit fall, respectively. When only fleshy-fruit fall was compared, it was higher in the western lowland forest （222 DW kg.ha^-1.year^-1） than in any other forests （9-66 DW kg-ha^-1.year^-1）. The pulp of fleshy fruits, presumably the edible parts for frugivores, was only 1.1-12.7% of the total fi ait fall. The edible parts for Japanese macaques constituted 3-54% of the fruit fall, showing a high value where acorns are abundant. Half of the fruit-fall biomass consisted of only one or two non- fleshy-fruited species, which are usually dominant in many other temperate forests, such as Quercus and conifers. These variations agreed with the variations in occurrence of frugivorous （such as Japanese macaques）.

Effect of a Natural Inulin-Containing Product, “Kikuimo Extract” on Intestinal Microbes and Gene Expression in the Liver and Adipose Tissue of Menopausal Monkeys

Inulin is a soluble and indigestible fiber derived from natural plants such as Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), “Kikuimo”. In the current study, a nutrigenomics approach was utilized to evaluate the in vivo function of “Kikuimo Extract” (KE) in ovariectomized cynomolgus macaque, a post-menopausal non-human primate model. KE was administered orally before feeding, for 3 months for the following examinations: 1) the effect of KE on intestinal microbes was examined by quantitative analyses of the intestinal bacteria using real-time PCR with DNA extracted from monkey feces;2) the effect of KE on gene expression was investigated by real-time RT-PCR using RNA extracted from both the liver and adipose tissue of the monkeys. KE administration modulated menopause-mediated altered microbes to increase Lactobacilli, Veillonella, and Bacteroides in all monkeys. KE administration regulated the altered expression of functional genes, SCAP, LDLR, and LXRA (lipid metabolism);GLUT-4 (glucose transport);CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 (drug metabolism);and CYP-17-2 and CYP-19-2 (E2 synthesis) in the menopausal monkeys. In menopausal monkeys, KE showed potent prebiotic effect on beneficial microflora and regulating effect on altered expression of functional genes associated with metabolism and E2 production. Thus, KE appears to be a practical functional food that alleviates the altered conditions of intestinal microbes and gene expression in the liver and adipose tissue in a menopausal state.

A short note on seed dispersal by colobines:the case of the proboscis monkey

Although the role of primates in seed dispersal is generally well recognized,this is not the case for colobines,which are widely distributed in Asian and African tropical forests.Colobines consume leaves,seeds and fruits,usually unripe.A group of proboscis monkeys(Colobinae,Nasalis larvatus)consisting of 1 alpha-male,6 adult females and several immatures,was observed from May 2005 to May 2006.A total of 400 fecal samples from focal group members covering 13 months were examined,with over 3500 h of focal observation data on the group members in a forest along the Menanggul River,Sabah,Malaysia.Intact small seeds were only found in 23 of 71 samples in Nov 2005,15 of 38 in Dec 2005 and 5 of 21 in Mar 2006.Seeds of Ficus(all<1.5 mm in length)were found in all 3 months and seeds from Antidesma thwaitesianum(all<3 mm)and Nauclea subdita(all<2 mm)only in Nov and Dec,which was consistent with members of the study group consuming fruits of these species mostly at these times.To our knowledge,these are the fi rst records of seeds in the fecal samples of colobines.Even if colobines pass relatively few seeds intact,their high abundance and biomass could make them quantitatively significant in seed dispersal.The potential role of colobines as seed dispersers should be considered by colobine researchers.

Prefrontal cortical dopamine from an evolutionary perspective

In this article, we propose the hypothesis that the prefrontal cortex （PFC） acquired neotenic development as a consequence of mesocortical dopamine （DA） innervation, which in turn drove evolution of the PFC into becoming a complex functional system. Accordingly, from the evolutionary perspective, decreased DA signaling in the PFC associated with such adverse conditions as chronic stress may be considered as an environmental adaptation strategy. Psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder may also be understood as environmental adaptation or a by-product of such a process that has emerged through evolution in humans. To investigate the evolutionary perspective of DA signaling in the PFC, domestic animals such as dogs may be a useful model.

Low-ranking female Japanese macaques make efforts for social grooming

Grooming is essential to build social relationships in primates. Its importance is universal among animals from different ranks; however, rank-related differences in feeding patterns can lead to conflicts between feeding and grooming in low-ranking animals. Unifying the effects of dominance rank on feeding and grooming behaviors contributes to revealing the importance of grooming. Here, I tested whether the grooming behavior of low-ranking females were similar to that of high-ranking females despite differences in their feeding patterns. I followed 9 Japanese macaques Macaca fuscata fuscata adult females from the Arashiyama group, and analyzed the feeding patterns and grooming behaviors of low- and high-ranking females. Low-ranking females fed on natural foods away from the provision- ing site, whereas high-ranking females obtained more provisioned food at the site. Due to these differences in feeding patterns, low-ranking females spent less time grooming than high-ranking females. However, both low- and high-ranking females performed grooming around the provisioning site, which was linked to the number of neighboring individuals for low-ranking females and feeding on provisioned foods at the site for high-ranking females. The similarity in grooming area led to a range and diversity of grooming partners that did not differ with rank. Thus, low-ranking females can obtain small amounts of provisioned foods and perform grooming with as many partners around the provi- sioning site as high-ranking females. These results highlight the efforts made by low-ranking females to perform grooming and suggest the importance of grooming behavior in group-living primates.

Eurasian blackbird predated by wild Rhinopithecus roxellana in the Qinling Mountains,China

Although there are some reports that have described primates eating animals,it is unknown whether predation on vertebrates exists in herbivorous leaf-eating primates.We have witnessed firsthand wild Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys(Rhinopithecus roxellana)preying on and consuming Eurasian blackbirds(Turdus merula)in the Qinling Mountains of China.This event suggests that R.roxellana,which has previously been described as a herbivorous leaf-eating primate,may be partially carnivorous and the correct classification of this species would be omnivorous.Furthermore,food-share behavior among higher-ranked members occurs in a one-male unit when vertebrate prey is hunted by this species.

Variation in intergroup encounters among two provisioned free-ranging populations of Japanese macaques Macaca fuscata

Typically, Japanese macaques are thought to avoid encountering other groups wherever possible. Intergroup relations between macaques on Shodoshima Island, however, appear exceptional. We show that neighboring groups of Shodoshima mon-keys spent 32.8% of their active time in proximity to （〈100 m） and even foraged simultaneously at the same provisioning site with another group. The average duration and rate of intergroup encounters at Shodoshima （59.8 rain, 0.33 times/hour, n=269） were approximately ten times longer and 16.5 times more frequent than those at Jigokudani （6.1 rain, 0.02 times/hour, n--14）. Since both populations have similar provisioning and ecological conditions, such variation cannot be explained by the socioecol- ogy model alone. Compared with other populations of Japanese macaques, intergroup relations of Shodoshima monkeys are also characterized by more frequent neutral encounters, less frequent agonistic encounters, more frequent unsuccessful displacement, a lower intensity of aggression, and more frequent counter-aggression between groups. These characteristics suggest that intergroup relationships on Shodoshima Island are more tolerant than those in other Japanese macaque populations. This study reveals con- siderable differences in intergroup encounters within local populations of Japanese macaques living in similar environments, and emphasizes the role of social factors in such intra-specific variation [Current Zoology 58 （4）： 517-524, 2012].

Male attacks on infants and infant death during male takeovers in wild white-headed langurs(Trachypithecus leucocephalus)

Infanticide was first observed in langurs nearly 50 years ago,and this rare phenomenon has been inferred to have either an evolutionarily adaptive function or to be a pathological and non-functional behavior.In this study,we report 5 male takeover events in one-male groups of white-headed langurs in the Nongguan Karst Hills,Guangxi,China from 1998 to 2006.We recorded 13 attacks on 9 infants by extra-group males or new resident males.During the male takeovers,all of the infants younger than 6 months(with an average age of 3.6 months[N=11])in the groups disappeared.The infant death rate during the 4.2 months after takeover by a new male was significantly higher than the infant death rate calculated for most of the year.Older infants that were still nursing(with an average age of 14.1 months[N=7])were often attacked and seriously wounded by the extra-group males or new resident males,but all of them survived.The interbirth intervals of females whose infants were assumed to be killed by males were significantly reduced relative to those of females in groups with stable male tenure(mean=10 months vs 25 months).Our data suggest that males kill unrelated and unweaned infants during the takeover period to decrease the time until the infants’mothers resume fertility.Thus,infanticide would support sexual selection theory in white-headed langurs.The data also show that infanticidal behavior was directed toward the infants,especially those who were still nursing.Female dispersal may function as a counter-strategy to avoid infanticide.

A non-invasive study of alopecia in Japanese macaques Macaca fuscata

This article provides information on the phenomenon of alopecia in Japanese macaques, Macaca fuscata, in various environments and proposes a 3-step scoring system for a quantitative assessment of hair loss. Results suggest that alopecia is commonly observed in Japanese macaques, with 20.5% of individuals showing head alopecia and 4.7% showing back alopecia across eight study groups. Alopecia was more commonly observed in adult females （30.8% individuals showing head alopecia and 15.3% showing back alopecia） than in other age-sex classes. Seasonal variation of back alopecia was noted, in particular, in- dividuals with patchy back hair were more frequently observed in winter than in summer. Seasonal variation was not observed in head hair. The distribution of alopecia was also different among study groups. The wild population generally had better hair con- dition than provisioned populations and captive populations. The present study used a non-invasive alopecia scoring system which can be a useful, rapid and non-invasive tool to monitor animal health and well-being at a population level

Genetic analysis of group composition and relatedness in white-headed langurs

We collected fecal samples of white-headed langurs from 3 of the 4 remaining habitat fragments(Fa,Fb and CZ)located in southwestern Guangxi,China in Nov 2005,and used 5 microsatellite loci and the SRY gene to assess the relatedness between 46 langurs within and between groups.We observed 2 forms of group structure:one-male/multi-female groups(OMGs)and all-male groups(AMGs).One AMG in Fa was composed of 2 generations,included a father,2 sons and 1 unrelated male,and all OMGs in all 3 habitats included 1 resident male,several adult females and offspring.Of the 21 identified father-offspring cases,the resident male fathered 20(95%)and the non-resident male sired 1(5%),suggesting that adult males had overwhelming priority of access to females as the resident male in an OMG,while the non-resident male may also have the opportunity to adopt surreptitious mating strategies.