Data for habitat use of the white-headed langurs

Understanding how primate species cope with habitat-specific environmental
factors can assist in conservation management. We studied the habitat use of four
groups (two larger groups and two small groups) of white-headed langurs (Trachypithecus leucocephalus) living in
the forest of southwest Guangxi, China between September 2016 and February
2017. Our results showed that the langurs primarily used hillsides (55.91% ±
6.47%), followed by cliffs (29.70% ± 5.48%), hilltops (7.26% ± 3.55%), flat
zones (6.99% ± 6.58%), and farmland (0.14% ± 0.28%). During moving, the langurs
moved most frequently in hillsides (49.35% ± 6.97%) and cliffs (35.60% ±
9.17%). The hillsides were more frequently used (66.94% ± 7.86%) during
feeding. When resting, the langurs occurred more frequently in hillsides
(49.75% ± 8.16%) and cliffs (38.93% ± 8.02%). Their use of habitat reflected
the balancing of foraging needs, thermoregulation, and predator avoidance
across group sizes and seasonal variation. When feeding, they increased the use
of hilltops during the rainy season, and the cliffs were more frequently used
during the dry season. The larger langur group used cliffs more frequently when
moving and resting. The small langur group used hillsides more frequently while
resting. While feeding, the langurs in both the large and small groups used the
flat zones less frequently. Our findings underline the importance of these
ecological factors on habitat use for white-headed langurs and the need to
understand how ecological seasonality and group sizes impact their behaviors in
the limestone forest.