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8.  Hanya G (2004) Diet of a Japanese macaque troop in the coniferous forest of Yakushima.  International Journal of Primatology 25: 55-71.

Abstract.  I studied the diet of a troop of Japanese macaques in the coniferous forest of Yakushima over one year using focal animal sampling.  Fiber-rich foods occupied almost half of the annual feeding time (45%), and mature leaves constituted most of those foods (38% of total feeding time).  Feeding time on fruits and seeds was only 13% and 4%, respectively.  Flowers and fungi contributed a considerable amount of annual feeding time (15% and 14%, respectively).  Their diet changed seasonally.  They fed on more fruits and seeds in response to increased availability, and when these foods were not available, they ate mature leaves.  When the temperature was low, they ate more herbs, possibly to save energy by not climbing trees and staying in sunny places.  These results imply two dietary characteristics of this species that might relate to the adaptations in temperate regions, where fruit is available during a limited season and fiber-rich foods are only candidates of fallback foods.  They are capable of digesting a large amount of fiber-rich foods, but at the same time they preferentially select high-quality fruits or seeds as long as they are available.

Key words: diet; folivory; mycophagy; Japanese macaque; Yakushima.

<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>