Led by University of Birmingham experts, the global research group released its findings on November 29, 2021, in Scientific Reports– the very first published clinical paper of Japanese macaques definitively consuming freshwater animals in streams, consisting of brown trout.
Formerly, Japanese macaques have actually been shown to opportunistically catch marine fish, either when being dried or cleaned up on beaches, whilst closely-related types have actually been shown to feed upon freshwater fish.
Researchers found brown trout in Japanese macaques fecal samples and think that macaques capture brown trout in shallow pools along the stream margin.
Using metabarcoding of fecal samples to determine the monkeys winter season diet plan, the professionals discovered that the animals likewise feed upon riverine insects and mollusks– extra food sources which are likely to assist their winter survival.
Alexander Milner, Professor of River Ecosystems at the University of Birmingham who led the research study, commented: “Japanese macaques have a broader winter home variety when food resources are limited, however Kamikochi lies in a deep valley where they can not cross the mountains. Population density is exceptionally high and macaques should overwinter in an incredibly extreme environment.
” These bigger populations produce additional tension for enduring winter season, but an abundance of groundwater upwellings and warm spring inputs from active volcanoes ensures numerous streams flow without ice cover permitting easy access to the monkeys.
” With high varieties of freshwater animals in its rivers and streams, the Kamikochi location might be the only environment in Japan where the topographical, geological, and meteorological conditions allow Japanese macaques to supplement their winter diet in this method.”
Researchers likewise found proof of freshwater pests in macaques fecal samples, consisting of water pest larvae and nymphs. Although terrestrial insects are a major source of food for Japanese macaques, specifically in summer, this is the very first validated record of aquatic insect larvae and nymphs in their diet plan.
Reference: “Winter diet of Japanese macaques from Chubu Sangaku National Park, Japan includes freshwater biota” by Alexander M. Milner, Susanna A. Wood, Catherine Docherty, Laura Biessy, Masaki Takenaka and Koji Tojo, 29 November 2021, Scientific Reports.DOI: 10.1038/ s41598-021-01972-2.
Snow monkey (Japanese macaque Macaca fuscata) in natural habitat. Credit: University of Birmingham
Snow monkeys living in among the worlds coldest areas survive by fishing– scooping live animals, consisting of brown trout, out of Japanese rivers and consuming them to remain alive, a brand-new study exposes.
The snow monkey (Japanese macaque Macaca fuscata) is native to the main islands of Japan, other than Hokkaido. The most northern living non-human primate discover that snow cover restricts the schedule of their favored foods in the Kamikochi area of Chubu Sangaku National Park of the Japanese Alps.
With favorite foods difficult to find, the snow monkeys run low on energy and face death by starvation, however groundwater-fed streams flow throughout the winter with a constant water temperature level of about 5 0C and are easily available for Japanese macaques to look for alternative live food.
