Work

Integrating burrow surveys, termite abundance and fecal analysis to reveal seasonal foraging shifts in the Chinese pangolin

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Seasonal fluctuations in food availability can shape foraging behavior in dietary specialists like the Chinese pangolin ( Manis pentadactyla ), which relies almost exclusively on ants and termites. Although seasonal shifts in diet have been reported, how prey availability relates to foraging effort remains unclear. We integrated seasonal surveys of pangolin burrows, termite abundance, and fecal composition in Taiwan to explore potential associations between prey dynamics and foraging behavior. We recorded 82 newly excavated burrows and surveyed termite abundance near known burrow sites during 2020–2021. We analyzed 132 fecal samples collected during 2010–2016, focusing on caste ratios of Odontotermes formosanus, a key prey species of the Chinese pangolin in Taiwan, to infer foraging depth as major workers forage at the surface and minor workers remain underground. Although both burrowing activity and termite abundance fluctuated seasonally, their peaks did not coincide. Burrow excavation was lowest in summer, whereas O. formosanus abundance peaked in summer and fall. Fecal samples contained more major workers in summer and more minor workers in winter and spring, suggesting seasonal shifts in the depth of foraging. These patterns provide preliminary support for the hypothesis that seasonal variation in pangolin burrowing activity reflect changes in prey accessibility or alternative prey use, rather than prey abundance alone. However, differences in the spatial and temporal coverage of the datasets preclude direct inference of causal relationships. Synchronous, multi-method studies at comparable spatial scales are needed to test these relationships and improve understanding of seasonal foraging ecology in this endangered specialist.

Source: Global Ecology and Conservation

DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04425

Authors: Nick Ching-Min Sun, Wen-Jun Lin, Hou-Feng Li, Chun-I Chiu, Hsiang Ling Chen

Institutions: National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, National Chung Hsing University, Chiang Mai University

Language: English

Topic: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,980

Funder: National Chung-Hsing University