Dietary and digestive differences in primates at Singapore zoo – inter and intra-specific body size in relation to feed preference, intake, digesta retention and nutrition.

• Main Author: Ho, Jeslyn Li Jun.
• Other Authors: School of Biological Sciences
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences::Zoology::Vertebrates
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/39417
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Differences in body sizes of primates can be a factor for variation in their dietary and digestive strategies. Five captive primate species of Singapore Zoo were selected to examine intra- and inter-specific body size relationships with feed intake, nutrition, digesta retention and feed preference. For five consecutive days per species, individual feed items were weighed before and after consumption for average feed intake per day, with average caloric and dry matter intakes per day calculated from nutritional analysis’ results. Nutritional analysis was performed for consumed, preferred and non-preferred feed items. Digesta passage rates were determined. Results showed that intra-specific differences were absent. Inter-specific body size correlated negatively with caloric intake, while no correlation was found with dry matter intake. Inter-specific body size correlated positively with protein intake, protein-ADF and protein-NDF ratios within folivores. It correlated negatively with fat, ADF and NDF intakes within frugivores. Neither TT nor MRT showed significant correlations with inter-specific body size. Feed preference results revealed that no marked selection for food of certain nutritional qualities exists in the captive primates. Overall, body size alone was not a good predictor for dietary and digestive differences found in primates, although it was still a factor among others.