Reproductive Phenology and Climatic Drivers of Plant Species Used as Food by the Hainan Gibbon, Nomascus hainanus (Primates: Hylobatidae)

The timing of flowering and fruiting plays a critical role in the reproduction, population size, and range of fruit-eating animals. The Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, China, hosts one of the world's most endangered primate species, the Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus). Understanding the phenological patterns of the principal food sources of the Hainan gibbon is crucial for the effective management of their habitats and the conservation of this threatened population. To that end, we conducted a regression analysis to better understand how climate may impact the timing and availability of fruits known to support the Hainan gibbon. We observed significant seasonal and inter-annual variations in the reproductive phenology of these fruiting species, with most species flowering from March to June and fruiting from August to December. Importantly, we found that Hainan gibbons face severe food scarcity between January and April. We show that sunshine exerts a significant effect on the flowering time, while fruiting phenology is most sensitive to temperature. We suggest that the restoration of the Hainan gibbon habitat should include planting more tree species which that produce fruit in the time of low food availability between January-April, including the species Memecylon ligustrifolium, Wrightia pubescens, Sarcosperma laurinum, Eurya ciliata, and Pouteria annamensis.

Automated summary

The timing of flowering and fruiting is crucial for the reproduction, population size, and range of fruit-eating animals. A regression analysis was conducted to understand the impact of climate on the timing and availability of fruits for the endangered Hainan gibbon in China. Significant seasonal and inter-annual variations were observed in the reproductive phenology of fruiting species, with severe food scarcity for the gibbons between January and April. Sunshine affected flowering time, while temperature influenced fruiting phenology. The restoration of gibbon habitat should include planting fruit trees that bear fruit during the low food availability period from January to April.