Objectives: To describe the strategy employed by exudativorous primates during seasonal shifts in food abundance using the Javan slow loris as a model. Males and females may cope differently as well as exploit fallback foods in different proportions. Materials and Methods: Observing 15 free ranging Javan slow lorises over a year, we quantified their seasonal diet and nutrient intake using intake rates. We monitored phenology over five plots that were assessed monthly. We weighed animals every six months. We analysed all food items slow lorises ingested for macronutrients using the nutritional geometry framework. Results: The slow loris diet consisted of eight food categories, with gum and insects being the major food source in terms of weight. All food items were available in the wet season and were restricted in the dry season. Males and females reacted differently to seasonal abundances with females ingesting more protein, gum, fruits and flowers and males ingesting more fibre. Discussion: The reproductive costs of gestation and lactation may place a burden on females that requires them to alter their foraging strategy during the dry season to ensure enough protein and overall energy is ingested. The overall strategy used by these exudativorous primates is one of nutrient maximization as no nutrient was clearly preferred over another.
Cabana, FDierenfeld, EWirdateti, WDonati, GNekaris, KAI
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences\Department of Social Sciences
Year of publication: 2017Date of RADAR deposit: 2017-03-03