Short-term movements and strong dependence on figs of binturongs (Arctictis binturong) in Bornean rainforests

Miyabi Nakabayashi and Abdul Hamid Ahmad (2018) Short-term movements and strong dependence on figs of binturongs (Arctictis binturong) in Bornean rainforests. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 64 (66). pp. 1-5.

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Abstract

We evaluated short-term movements of three radio-collared binturongs in relation to food distribution in Bornean rainforests, in addition to the basic ecological information on their home-range size and diet. Mean 95% fixed kernel and 95% MCP homerange size were 4.24 ± 0.79 km2 and 1.54 ± 0.89 km2 , respectively (mean ± SD). We recorded 13 fig Ficus species and four nonfig species as their foods. Fig trees accounted for 87.5% of the feeding sites of the three collared binturongs, and 87.9% including uncollared individuals. Our results suggested that binturongs’short-term movements were strongly affected by food distribution, especially figs. They feed on various fig species and may remember the location and fruiting periods of fig trees. They may use the biggest fig species, F. punctata, as a fallback food when other foods are scarce. Although this is the first systematic study to describe movement and feeding habits of binturongs, further studies are needed to understand their ecology so that proper measures can be designed for their conservation.

Item Type: Article
Keyword: Binturong, Diet, Ficus, Radio-telemetry, Home-range size
Subjects: S Agriculture > SF Animal culture
Department: INSTITUTE > Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation
Depositing User: SITI AZIZAH BINTI IDRIS -
Date Deposited: 13 Dec 2019 08:52
Last Modified: 13 Dec 2019 08:52
URI: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/24361

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