Sleeping Sites of Rhinopithecus brelichi at Yangaoping, Guizhou

Arboreal primates spend about half of their lives at sleeping sites; hence, selection of sleeping sites is crucial for individual survival, and data concerning them is important for conservation efforts. We collected data on sleeping sites for a group of the endangered snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of primatology 2010-02, Vol.31 (1), p.59-71
Main Authors: Xiang, Zuo-Fu, Nie, Shuai-Guo, Chang, Zong-Fei, Wei, Fu-Wen, Li, Ming
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Animal Ecology
Animal Genetics and Genomics
Anthropology
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Climate
Cold season
Conservation
Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Habitats
Human Genetics
Life Sciences
Monkeys & apes
Predation
Primate behaviour
Primatology
Sleep
Zoology
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Summary:Arboreal primates spend about half of their lives at sleeping sites; hence, selection of sleeping sites is crucial for individual survival, and data concerning them is important for conservation efforts. We collected data on sleeping sites for a group of the endangered snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus brelichi) at Yangaoping (27°58′N, 108°45′E) from January 2006 to December 2007. All sleeping sites were located in the mid-slope and in the shadow of ridges facing the northeast and southeast. The monkeys remained quiet while entering and occupying sleeping sites, and slept in evergreen species during the cold season (December-March). Trees in sleeping sites were similar in height and girth at breast height to those elsewhere, but some trees in lower areas were larger. The monkeys usually slept in close proximity to the last feeding spot, and their daily activities usually occurred around the sleeping site. Areas adjacent to sleeping sites were used more intensively than those not adjacent. Monkeys left the sleeping sites later in the morning in the cold season. These behavioral responses suggested that predation risk, thermoregulation, and climate stresses are the main determining factors in the selection of sleeping sites for this temperate monkey.
ISSN:0164-0291
1573-8604
DOI:10.1007/s10764-009-9378-6