The Adaptive Significance of Geophagy for Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata) at Arashiyama, Japan

Authors: Wakibara J.V.¹; Huffman M.A.²; Wink M.³; Reich S.³; Aufreiter S.⁴; Hancock R.G.V.⁵; Sodhi R.⁶; Mahaney W.C.⁷; Russel S.⁷

Source: International Journal of Primatology, Volume 22, Number 3, June 2001 , pp. 495-520(26)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

We gathered data on the amount, composition, and rate of ingestion of foods and soils by the provisioned Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata fuscata) at Arashiyama, Japan. Behavioral observations spanned one year on 8 adult females, using focal animal sampling. We analyzed a subsample of their foods for nutritional and toxic secondary compound content. We also analyzed soils eaten by the macaques for several physical-chemical properties and tested their adsorption affinity to tannins and alkaloids. Geophagy occurred at a high rate of 2.97 g/indiv./day with an elevated frequency in the afternoon. About two-thirds of their foods (by fresh weight) were provisioned items, which are extremely rich in proteins and soluble carbohydrates. The soils that they ingested were generally poor in mineral elements, the bio-availability of which was low. The soils had a high adsorption capacity for plant alkaloids but were poorly absorptive for tannins. They were rich in clay minerals of proven buffering capacity. Geophagy at Arashiyama may improve the health of macaques via buffering gastric upset. We discuss the results from the viewpoint of several hypotheses on geophagy.

Keywords: Macaca fuscata behavior; diet; soil chemistry; plant toxins; provisioning; detoxification; geophagy

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Zoology, Kyoto University Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan. Tanzania National Parks, P.O. Box 3134, Arusha, Tanzania; wakibara@jinrui.zool.kyoto-u.ac.jp 2: Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, 41 Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506; huffman@pri.kyoto-u.ac.jp 3: Universitaet Heidelberg, Institut fuer Pharmazeutische, Biologie, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany 4: Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada M5S 3E5 5: SLOWPOKE-2 Facility, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Canada K74 7B4 6: University of Toronto Centre for Biomaterials, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Toronto, Canada M5S 3E5 7: Geomorphology and Pedology Laboratory, York University, Atkinson College, North York, Canada M3J 1PJ

Publication date: 2001-06-01

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Zoology
• By this author: Wakibara J.V. ;  Huffman M.A. ;  Wink M. ;  Reich S. ;  Aufreiter S. ;  Hancock R.G.V. ;  Sodhi R. ;  Mahaney W.C. ;  Russel S.

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