Jin Tong, Wang De-Zhi, Zhao Qing, Yin Li-Jie, Qin Da-Gong, Ran Wen-Zhong, Pan Wen-Shi
Giant Panda and Wildlife Conservation Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Am J Primatol. 2009 Jul;71(7):558-66. doi: 10.1002/ajp.20688.
Understanding the reproductive parameters of endangered primate species is vital for evaluating the status of populations and developing adequate conservation measures. This study provides the first detailed analysis of the reproductive parameters of wild white-headed langurs (Trachypithecus leucocephalus), based on demographic data collected over an 8-year period in the Nongguan Karst Hills in Chongzuo County, Guangxi, China. From 1998 to 2002, a total of 133 live births were recorded in the population based on systematic censuses. Births occurred throughout the year, but the temporal pattern was highly correlated with seasonal variation in temperature and rainfall, with the birth peak coinciding with the dry and cold months of November-March. The average birthrate was 0.47+/-0.13 births per female per year and mortality for infants younger than 20 months was 15.8%. From 1998 to 2006, 14 females gave birth to 41 infants in four focal groups. The average age at first birth for female langurs was 5-6 years (n = 5) and the interbirth interval (IBI) was 23.2+/-5.2 months (median = 24.5 months, n = 27). Infants are weaned at 19-21 months of age. The IBI for females with infant loss before weaning was significantly shorter than those for females whose infants survived. It appears that birth seasonality in the white-headed langurs is influenced by seasonal changes in food availability. The timing of conceptions was found to coincide with peak food availability. The reproductive parameters for white-headed langurs reported here are quite similar to those reported for other colobine species. One major difference is our observation of lower infant mortality in Trachypithecus.
了解濒危灵长类物种的繁殖参数对于评估种群状况和制定适当的保护措施至关重要。本研究基于在中国广西崇左县弄关喀斯特山区8年期间收集的人口统计数据，首次对野生白头叶猴（Trachypithecus leucocephalus）的繁殖参数进行了详细分析。1998年至2002年，根据系统普查，该种群共记录到133例活产。全年都有分娩，但时间模式与温度和降雨的季节性变化高度相关，分娩高峰与11月至3月的干冷月份一致。平均出生率为每年每只雌性0.47±0.13胎，20个月以下婴儿的死亡率为15.8%。1998年至2006年，14只雌性在四个重点群体中产下41只幼崽。雌性叶猴的平均初产年龄为5至6岁（n = 5），产仔间隔（IBI）为23.2±5.个月（中位数 = 24.5个月，n = 27）。幼崽在19至21个月大时断奶。断奶前幼崽夭折的雌性的产仔间隔明显短于幼崽存活的雌性。白头叶猴的出生季节性似乎受食物可获得性的季节性变化影响。发现受孕时间与食物可获得量的峰值一致。这里报告的白头叶猴的繁殖参数与其他疣猴物种报告的参数非常相似。一个主要差异是我们观察到白头叶猴的幼崽死亡率较低。
