Influences on gum feeding in primates ARRO.pdf (176.88 kB)
Influences on gum feeding in primates
chapter
posted on 2023-08-30, 13:36 authored by Andrew C. SmithThis chapter reviews the factors that may affect patterns of gum feeding by primates. These are then examined for mixed-species troops of saddleback (S. fuscicollis) and mustached (S. mystax) tamarins. An important distinction is made between gums produced by tree trunks and branches as a result of damage and those produced by seed pods as part of a dispersal strategy as these may be expected to differ in their biochemistry. Feeding on fruit and Parkia seed pod exudates was more prevalent in the morning whereas other exudates were eaten in the afternoon. This itinerary may represent a deliberate strategy to retain trunk gums in the gut overnight, thus maximising the potential for microbial fermentation of their β-linked oligosaccharides. Both types of exudates were eaten more in the dry than the wet season. Consumption was linked to seasonal changes in resource availability and not the tamarins’ reproductive status pro-viding no support for the suggestion that gums are eaten as a pri-mary calcium source in the later stages of gestation and lactation. The role of availability in determining patterns of consumption is further supported by the finding that dietary overlap for the trunk gums eaten was greater between species within mixed-species troops within years than it was within species between years. These data and those for pygmy marmosets (Cebuella pygmaea) suggest that patterns of primate gummivory may reflect the interaction of prefer-ence and availability for both those able to stimulate gum production and those not.
History
Refereed
- Yes
Page range
109-122External DOI
Publisher
SpringerPlace of publication
New York, NYTitle of book
The Evolution of Exudativory in PrimatesISBN
9781441966612Editors
Anne M. Burrows, Leanne T. NashFile version
- Accepted version
Language
- eng
Official URL
Legacy posted date
2011-12-19Legacy creation date
2020-12-17Legacy Faculty/School/Department
ARCHIVED Faculty of Science & Technology (until September 2018)Usage metrics
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