Variation in hair delta 13C and delta 15N values in long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) from Singapore.

摘要

Much of the primatology literature on stable isotope ratios of carbon ( delta 13C) and nitrogen ( delta 15N) has focused on African and New World species, with comparatively little research published on Asian primates. Here we present hair delta 13C and delta 15N isotope values for a sample of 33 long-tailed macaques from Singapore. We evaluate the suggestion by a previous researcher that forest degradation and biodiversity loss in Singapore have led to a decline in macaque trophic level. The results of our analysis indicated significant spatial variability in delta 13C but not delta 15N. The range of variation in delta 13C was consistent with a diet based on C3 resources, with one group exhibiting low values consistent with a closed canopy environment. Relative to other macaque species from Europe and Asia, the macaques from Singapore exhibited a low mean delta 13C value but mid-range mean delta 15N value. Previous research suggesting a decline in macaque trophic level is not supported by the results of our study.