Description
Central Florida is an unlikely place to find rhesus macaques, a species endemic to Asia, yet the Silver Springs State Park (SSSP) has been home to a population of macaques since the 1930s. Regular provisioning of the population ceased in the 1980s and little is known about how macaques subsist in the park and how unsanctioned provisions form park visitors contribute to their diet today. From January – May 2013 I collected data on the diet and behavior of rhesus macaques while on the edge of the Silver River in the riverine woodlands of SSSP, Marion County, Florida. My results indicate that wild foods accounted for 87.5% of feeding records, and provisioned foods for 12.5%. A total of 31 plant species were consumed by macaques. Samaras and leaves were preferred food items accounting for 31% and 28% of wild feeding records, respectively. Ash (Fraxinus spp.), a native tree species, was consumed by macaques throughout the study (66.5% of feeding records) and was a top food species in both winter and spring, suggesting that ash is a staple food and a key factor in the dietary adaptation of rhesus macaques to SSSP, Florida. The small contribution of provisioned foods to their diet indicates that provisioned foods may serve as a filler fallback food. Considering that provisioning occurs along the river and humans and macaques are in close proximity I present several options for population management and suggest that park staff begin with increasing public education and outreach efforts.
