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7.  Hanya G (2003) Age differences in food intake and dietary selection of wild male Japanese macaques.  Primates 44: 333-339.

Abstract  Age difference in food intake and food selection was studied for 8 months among wild male Japanese macaques under non-predatory situations.  Juveniles’ feeding time was longer than adult males’ in some months, in mating seasons in particular, but did not differ in the other months.  Juveniles’ feeding speed was slower than that of adult males; however, the age difference in average feeding speed was smaller (90%) than that in expected daily energy expenditure (62-58%).  The extent of age difference in feeding speed varied with the food type: the difference was large for fibrous foods, but small for fruits or seeds.  As a consequence of the age differences in time spent feeding and feeding speed, the age difference in daily food intake was smaller than expected from metabolic demands.  Thus, the hypothesis that juveniles are more vulnerable to starvation than adults was not supported among male Japanese macaques in predator-free Yakushima.  Juveniles ate more animal matter, while adult males ate more fibrous foods.

Key words: diet; age; food intake; feeding speed; Japanese macaque.

<Written by: Goro Hanya (hanya.goro.5z<atmark>kyoto-u.ac.jp)>
<Contact: Goro Hanya (hanya.goro.5z<atmark>kyoto-u.ac.jp)>
<Last update: December 5, 2005>