Summary
Wild howler monkeys were fed natural fruit and leaf diets in order to determine their ability to assimilate minerals (Ca, P, Mg, Si, Sr, Ba, Fe, Al, Mn, B, Cu, Li, V), and to assess their water and electrolyte budgets by the balance method. Results were extrapolated to the field situation so that the nutritional status of free-living monkeys could be examined in relation to their diet. The figs and young leaves of Ficus insipida and F. yoponensis trees (the most important foods in the dry season) provide adequate amounts of most required minerals, and an abundance of water. However, the copper requirement would not be met by this diet, which also provides only marginal amounts of sodium and phosphorus. These deficiencies may be corrected by consuming other available food items that are rich in Cu, Na or P. These results help explain the diversity that has been observed in the diet of wild howler monkeys, and suggest that these herbivores should feed selectively in order to obtain a nutritionally adequate diet.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Berger, E. Y.: Intestinal absorption and excretion. In: Mineral metabolism, Vol. 1, Part A (C.L. Comar and F. Bronner, eds.), pp. 249–286. New York: Academic Press 1960
Brody, S.: Bioenergetics and growth. New York: Hafner Publ. Co. 1945
Carpenter, C.R.: A field study of the behavior and social relations of howling monkeys. Comp. Psychol. Monogr. 10, 1–168 (1934)
Carpenter, C.R.: The howlers of Barro Colorado Island. In: Primate behavior (I. DeVore, ed.), pp. 250–291. New York: Holt, Reinhart and Winston 1965
Chapman, H.D.: Diagnostic criteria for plants and soils. Univ. of Calif., Div. of Agric. Sci. 1966
Foy, J.M., Schnieden, H.: Estimation of total body water (virtual tritium space) in the rat, cat, rabbit, guinea pig and man, and of the biological half-life of tritium in man. J. Physiol. 154, 169–176 (1960)
Glander, K.: Habitat description and resource utilizations: a preliminary report on mantled howling monkey ecology. In: Socioecology and psychology of primates (R.H. Tuttle, ed.), pp. 37–57. The Hague: Mouton 1975
Hladik, A., Hladik, C.M.: Rapports trophiques entre vegetation et primates dans la foret de Barro Colorado (Panama). Terre et Vie 116, 25–117 (1969)
Hladik, C.M., Hladik, A., Bousset, J., Valdebouze, P., Viroben, G.V., Delort-Laval, J.: Le regime alimentaire des primates de l'ile de Barro-Colorado (Panama). Folia Primat. 16, 85–122 (1971)
Kaufman, D.W., O'Farrell, M.J., Kaufman, G.A., Fuller, S.E.: Digestibility and elemental assimilation in cotton rats. Acta Theriol. 21, 147–156 (1976)
Kerr, G.R.: Nutritional requirements of subhuman primates. Physiol. Rev. 52, 415–467 (1972)
Lindeman, R.L.: The trophic-dynamic aspect of ecology. Ecology 23, 399–418 (1942)
Milton, K.: The foraging strategy of the howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) in the tropical forest of Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Ph.D. dissertation, New York Univ. 1977
Milton, K.: Factors influencing leaf choice by howler monkeys: a test of theories of food selection by generalist herbivores. Amer. Nat. (1978a, in press)
Milton, K.: The quality of diet as a possible limiting factor on the howler monkey population of Barro Colorado Island. In: Proc. Sixth Congr. Internat. Primate Soc., Cambridge 1978b
Nagy, K.A.: Water and energy budgets of free-living animals: measurement using isotopically labeled water. In: Environmental physiology of desert organisms (N.F. Hadley, ed.), pp. 227–245. Stroudsberg, Penn.: Dowden, Hutchison and Ross 1975
Nagy, K.A.: Cellulose digestion and nutrient assimilation in Sauromalus obesus, a plant-eating lizard. Copeia 1977, 355–362 (1977)
Nagy, K.A., Shoemaker, V.H., Costa, W.R.: Water, electrolyte, and nitrogen budgets of jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) in the Mojave Desert. Physiol. Zool. 49, 351–363 (1976)
Nagy, K.A., Milton, K.: Energy metabolism and food consumption by wild howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata). Ecology (1979, in press)
National Research Council: Recommended dietary allowances, Seventh edition. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences 1968
Passmore, R., Nicol, B.M., Narayana Rao, M.: Handbook on human nutritional requirements. Geneva: World Health Organization 1974
Portman, O.W.: Nutritional requirements (NRC) of nonhuman primates. In: Feeding and nutrition of nonhuman primates (R. Harris, ed.), pp. 87–116. New York: Academic Press 1970
Richards, P.W.: The tropical rainforest. London: Cambridge University press 1952
Schmidt-Nielsen, K.: Animal physiology: adaptation and environment. London: Cambridge Univ. Press 1975
Sinclair, A.R.E.: The natural regulation of buffalo populations in East Africa. IV. The food supply as a regulating factor, and competition. E. Afr. Wildl. J. 12, 291–311 (1974)
shoemaker, V.H., Nagy, K.A., Costa, W.R.: Energy utilization and temperature regulation by jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) in the Mojave Desert. Physiol. Zool. 49, 364–375 (1976)
Smith, C.C.: Feeding behavior and social organization in howling monkeys. In: Primate ecology (T.H. Clutton-Brock, ed.), pp. 97–126. London-New York: Academic Press 1977
Westoby, M.: An analysis of diet selection by large generalist herbivores. Amer. Nat. 108, 290–304 (1974)
Williams, S.R.: Essentials of nutrition and diet therapy. Saint Louis: The C.V. Mosby Co. 1974
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nagy, K.A., Milton, K. Aspects of dietary quality, nutrient assimilation and water balance in wild howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata). Oecologia 39, 249–258 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345437
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345437