Stable isotopic investigation of the feeding ecology of wild Bornean orangutans

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  • Takumi Tsutaya
    Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, Research Center for Integrative Evolutionary Science the Graduate University for Advanced Studies Hayama Kanagawa Japan
  • Anna Wong
    Faculty of Tropical Forestry Universiti Malaysia Sabah Kota Kinabalu Sabah Malaysia
  • Peter T. Malim
    Sabah Wildlife Department Kota Kinabalu Sabah Malaysia
  • Henry Bernard
    Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation Universiti Malaysia Sabah Kota Kinabalu Sabah Malaysia
  • Nanako O. Ogawa
    Biogeochemistry Research Center, Research Institute for Marine Resources Utilization Japan Agency for Marine‐Earth Science and Technology Yokosuka Kanagawa Japan
  • Naohiko Ohkouchi
    Biogeochemistry Research Center, Research Institute for Marine Resources Utilization Japan Agency for Marine‐Earth Science and Technology Yokosuka Kanagawa Japan
  • Shun Hongo
    The Center for African Area Studies Kyoto University Kyoto Japan
  • Tomoyuki Tajima
    Japan Orangutan Research Center Tokyo Japan
  • Tomoko Kanamori
    Japan Orangutan Research Center Tokyo Japan
  • Noko Kuze
    Japan Orangutan Research Center Tokyo Japan

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<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>We applied stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses to wild Bornean orangutans (<jats:italic>Pongo pygmaeus morio</jats:italic>) to investigate the feeding ecology of wild orangutans. Compared with African great ape species, orangutans are adapted to environments with chronic lower nutrition. But the usefulness of stable isotope analysis in the study of wild orangutan feeding ecology has not been fully explored.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>The study site was a primary lowland dipterocarp forest in the Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia. A total of 164 plant and 94 fecal samples collected across 18 months were analyzed.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of plant food samples do not systematically vary by plant parts (i.e., bark, fruits, and leaves). Elemental composition and stable isotope ratios of orangutan feces do not systematically vary by orangutans' sex and age classes, although fecal stable isotope ratios showed seasonal fluctuations. No isotopic contribution of breast milk was found in fecal samples collected from individuals at 2.7–6.5 years of age.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>This study revealed key characteristics of the stable isotope ecology of wild orangutans living in a primary lowland forest. Although there was little isotopic variation among plant foods and orangutan individuals, seasonal fluctuations in baseline isotope ratios or orangutans' diet were found in Danum valley.</jats:p></jats:sec>

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