Food availability, plant diversity, and vegetation structure drive behavioral and ecological variation in Endangered Coimbra‐Filho's titi monkeys. Issue 3 (2nd February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Souza‐Alves, João P.; Chagas, Renata R. D.; Santana, Marina M.; Boyle, Sarah A.; Bezerra, Bruna M.
• Is Part Of: American journal of primatology. Volume 83:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-02-02
• Subjects: Atlantic Forest -- behavioral pattern -- daily path length -- dietary diversity -- home range; Primates -- Periodicals; Primates -- Périodiques; 599.8
• DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23237
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0275-2565

Abstract

Abstract: There is wide variability in primate behavior and ecology. Understanding how frugivorous primates behave under different habitat fragmentation levels is key for effective conservation and management of species and their habitats. We evaluated the seasonality in activity budget, diet, and ranging behavior of two groups of Endangered Coimbra‐Filho's titi monkeys ( Callicebus coimbrai ). One group inhabited a 14‐ha forest fragment, whereas the other lived in a 522‐ha fragment. We measured the monthly density of trees and lianas available as food sources over 8 months. We also collected behavioral and group location data every 5 min, from dawn to dusk, using the scan sampling method. The two forest fragments differed seasonally in the number of fruiting food‐resource available. In the 14‐ha fragment, we found that the time spent by titi monkeys feeding, foraging, resting, and traveling differed seasonally. In the 522‐ha fragment, titi monkeys exhibited seasonal differences in time spent sleeping, socializing, foraging, and revisiting food sources. In both titi monkey groups, diets varied seasonally. Our findings indicate that Coimbra‐Filho's titi monkeys can exhibit behavioral flexibility in their activity budgets, diets, and movement patterns. Such flexibility is important for this species to survive in fragmented habitats and may be linked to three key factors: species‐specific resource availability, plant species diversity, and the vegetation structure of each forest fragment. Abstract : Seasonal variation in the activity budget and diet composition of two Coimbra‐Filho's titi monkey groups living in a small fragment (14 ha) and large fragment (522 ha) in the northeastern Brazil. Research Highlights: Coimbra‐Filho's titi monkeys demonstrate high ability to survival in fragmented habitats The monkeys appeared to modify their foraging‐time and resource‐choice strategies to maximize resource consumption