Habitat use and locomotion of the François’langur(Trachypithecus francoisi)in limestone habitats of Nonggang,China

We collected data on habitat use and locomotion of the François’langur(Trachypithecus francoisi)between August 2003 and July 2004 at Nonggang Nature Reserve,China.A total of 739 h of behavioral data were collected during this study.We tested 2 predictions:(1)that the langurs may have special patterns of habitat use and locomotion adaptive to the limestone habitat,and(2)the langurs may exhibit different patterns of habitat use and locomotion among different zones of limestone hill.Our results indicated that François’langurs spent more time in the low-risk,relatively food-poor cliff-hilltop areas.When young leaves and fruit were scarce in the dry season,the langurs increased their time in the high-risk,food-rich valley basin.François’langurs were semi-terrestrial,and leaping and climbing were their main locomotor modes.These behavioral patterns are considered to be related to characteristics of topography and vegetation in limestone habitat,such as large areas of cliff and discontinuous canopy.Our results also supported Prediction 2.The langurs confined locomotion to the main canopy and frequently adopted leaping while traveling in the hillside and valley basin.While traveling in cliff-hilltop areas,they tended to stay in the lower stratus(≤5 m)or move on the ground,and walking and climbing were their dominant traveling modes.

Ranging behavior of the François’langur(Trachypithecus francoisi)in limestone habitats of Nonggang,China

Ranging behavior is an important aspect of animal behavior that researchers use to investigate ecological influences on individual behavior.We collected data on the ranging behavior of one group of François’langurs(Trachypithecus francoisi)between August 2003 and July 2004 in a limestone habitat within Nonggang Nature Reserve,China.We evaluated the influences of food availability,water resources and sleeping sites on ranging behavior.During the study period,the total home range size for the study group was 64.5 or(69.3 ha if the lacunae within the borders in which langurs were not observed were included),and the mean daily path length was 541 m.These are well within the range of variation reported in Trachypithecus species.The monthly range size was between 9.8 and 23.3 ha,and monthly range size correlated negatively with young leaf availability.The langurs tended to use a larger range size during young leaf-lean periods.The langurs did not use their home range uniformly,and 74%of their activities occurred within 35%of their home range.The most heavily used quadrats in the home range were located near the most frequently used sleeping sites,suggesting that sleeping sites have a significant influence on the ranging behavior of François’langurs in limestone habitats.

黑叶猴视觉学习认知训练初探

以杭州动物园一只成年黑叶猴(Trachypithecus francoisi)为研究对象,采用正强化的行为训练方法,探究其视觉学习认知能力。训练目标为黑叶猴能根据训练员的口令“苹果”或“香蕉”指出相对应的图片。通过正强化的行为训练,黑叶猴能较好地完成学习任务,图片识别测试平均正确率为82.0%,测试结果中正确次数极显著高于错误次数。表明黑叶猴具有良好的视觉学习认知能力。研究通过对黑叶猴视觉学习认知训练方法的梳理与总结,以期为动物园动物的相关认知训练以及非人灵长类认知的相关研究提供参考。

Attacks on adult females with infants by non-resident males in the François langur

Infanticide by males is a common phenomenon in mammals,especially primates,as lactation lasts much longer than gestation in many species.Usually,infanticidal episodes occur soon after group takeovers,and are traditionally considered a male reproductive strategy(i.e.,support the sexual selection hypothesis,Hrdy,1974).To verify the validity of this conception,we observed one group of François’langurs in the Nonggang Nature Reserve,China,between August 2003 and July 2004.During the study period,a François’langur female with the youngest infant in the group was attacked three times by immigrating males,and later disappeared by the third day after the final attack.We suggest that these attacks on the female-infant dyad represent infanticide attempts by males,and may be the cause of the adult female and her infant’s disappearance.Presumably,that female dispersed with her infant to avoid infanticide and was not killed.Though these observations do not completely verify the sexual selection hypothesis,they are not inconsistent with it.

基于调查监测数据规划广西的黑叶猴就地保护

黑叶猴(Trachypithecus francoisi)是亚热带石灰岩地貌高度适应物种,也是广西的旗舰物种之一。由于前期保护措施的缺失,广西的黑叶猴数量在21世纪初下降到低点,经过近20年的强有力保护,种群已从低点稳步回升,种群数量增长约145%,由之前的300只左右增长至430~450只。分布于弄岗、江洲、扶绥、大明山、隆安—天等—大新、恩城—靖西—德保、隆林—兴义和龙滩—罗甸单元等8个相互隔离的地理单元,其中大明山自然保护区获得了确切的分布证据。针对黑叶猴分布及种群现状,广西壮族自治区林业局和野生动植物保护国际制定了《广西黑叶猴保护行动计划(2016-2020)》,就黑叶猴的就地保护、廊道建设、种质资源管理、种源调配与放归工作提出了针对性措施,为下一步的黑叶猴保护工作指明了方向。