Abstract：
Black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) rely on behavioral and dietary flexibility to survive in temperate latitudes at high-elevation habitats characterized by climate and resource seasonality. However, little is known about how elevation influences their behavioral and dietary flexibility at monthly or seasonal scales. We studied an isolated R. bieti population at Mt. Lasha in the Yunling Provincial Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China, between May 2008 and August 2016 to assess the impacts of elevation on feeding behavior and diet. Across our sample, R. bieti occupied elevations between 3031 and 3637 m above mean sea level (amsl), with a 315.1 m amsl range across months and a 247.3 m amsl range across seasons. Contrary to expectations, individuals spent less time feeding when ranging across higher elevations. Lichen consumption correlated with elevation use across months and seasons, with individuals spending more time feeding on this important resource at higher elevations. Leaf consumption only correlated with elevation use during the spring. Our results suggest that R. bieti do not maximize their food intake at higher elevations and that monthly and seasonal changes in lichen and leaf consumption largely explain variation in elevation use. These findings shed light on the responses of R. bieti to environmental change and offer insight into strategies for conserving their habitats in the face of anthropogenic disturbance.
摘要：
黑白金丝猴（Rhinopithecusbieti）依靠行为和饮食的灵活性，在以气候和资源季节性为特征的高海拔栖息地的温带纬度地区生存。然而,在每月或季节性尺度上，海拔如何影响他们的行为和饮食灵活性知之甚少。我们研究了Mt.云岭省级自然保护区的拉沙，云南,中国,2008年5月至2016年8月，以评估海拔对喂养行为和饮食的影响。在我们的样本中，R.bieti占据的海拔在平均海平面(amsl)以上3031至3637米之间，每个月的AMSL范围为315.1m，每个季节的AMSL范围为247.3m。与预期相反,当跨越较高海拔时，个体花费的时间较少。地衣消耗与跨月和跨季节的海拔使用相关，人们花更多的时间在海拔较高的地方吃这种重要的资源。叶片消耗仅与春季的海拔使用相关。我们的结果表明，在较高的海拔下，R.bieti不能最大限度地提高其食物摄入量，并且地衣和叶片消耗的每月和季节性变化在很大程度上解释了海拔使用的变化。这些发现揭示了R.bieti对环境变化的响应，并提供了面对人为干扰保护其栖息地的策略。
