期刊
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY
卷 33, 期 3, 页码 567-587出版社
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10764-011-9543-6
关键词
Creatinine; delta N-15; Orangutans; Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii; Protein; Urea
类别
资金
- Directorate of Nature Conservation (PHKA)
- Gunung Palung National Park office (BTNGP)
- Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI)
- Center for Research and Development in Biology (PPPB)
- State Ministry of Research and Technology (RISTEK)
- L. S. B. Leakey Foundation
- The George Washington University
- David and Lucile Packard Foundation [2007-31754]
- National Geographic Society
- The National Science Foundation [BCS-0643122]
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Wenner-Gren Foundation
- Harvard University
- The Mellon Foundation
The vital role of body protein as an energy reserve has received little focus in studies of wild primates. Owing to the relatively low protein content of fruit, some frugivorous primates could face a protein deficit if body protein is catabolized for energy during periods of low fruit availability. Such an imbalance can be detected if fatty acids, amino acids, and nitrogen (N) catabolites are reincorporated or recycled back to tissues. Here we describe a method to quantify protein recycling by measuring standardized urea concentration and N isotope signatures from urine samples collected from wild Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii). Our overall goal was to explore if concentrations of urea and delta N-15 values could be used as indicators of the amount of protein consumed and the degree of protein recycling, respectively, in wild, free-ranging primates. We examine the relationships between urea concentration, delta N-15 values, protein intake, and fruit availability. Urea concentration increased with fruit availability, reflecting a slight increase in protein consumption when fruit was abundant. However, we found no relationship between delta N-15 values and fruit availability, suggesting that orangutans avert a negative protein balance during periods of low fruit availability. These noninvasive methods complement recent advances in primate energy balance research and will contribute to our understanding of adaptations of primates during periods of fruit shortage.
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