Based on the field survey from 2008 to 2010 at Shiba in Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China, the population of Rhinopithecus bieti with over 400 individuals at the site (27o43’N, 99o08’E) was confirmed. The one and half year adjusted MCP home range of the group was 3083 ha in Shiba. The group showed obvious altitudinal movement; in spring, summer and autumn, they moved vertically with foods changes, such as tree bud, sprout, flower, fruit and bamboo sprout; in winter the Shiba group stayed at relatively high places of long sunshine durations, although they descended temporarily after severe snowstorms. Intraspecific differences in feeding ecology and habitat use are found across a wide range of dimorphic species; however, studies that report resource partitioning between males and females or between age groups are often focused at the community or species levels only. Here we look at resource niche partitioning in black-and-white snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti) social units (adult male plus several females and offspring) within a reserve in Yunnan, China. Our results showed that adult females and juveniles often exploited the tallest and outermost part of the foraging tree, while the adult male often foraged in the center close to the trunk. When the adult male was absent from the foraging tree, patterns of tree use shifted for both adult females and juveniles, whereby these individuals were able to utilize inner layers of the tree. We suggested that predator avoidance made the central part of the tree crown more beneficial and preferred by this species but that competition with the adult male prevents access. This competition may be the ecological mechanism underlying intersexual and age class niche partition within these small primate social units. The segregation of microhabitat may serve to maximize fitness of family members by reducing husband-wife and father-offspring competition. Key words：Rhinopithecus bieti; altitudinal movement; phenology; niche partitioning; male-female competition; adult-offspring competition; habitat
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