Diet and Activity Patterns of Black Howler Monkeys Alouatta Caraya (Humboldt, 1812, Primates, Atelidae) in Ecotone Cerrado-Pantanal in the Left Bank of Aquidauana River, Mato Grosso Do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

The diet and activity patterns of a group of black howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) were monitored on the left bank of the Aquidauana river over 11 months, from September 2008 to July 2009. The group was composed of eight individuals, two adult males, three females and three immature including subadults and infants. Quantitative data were collected using scan sampling method for 5 minutes with an interval of 15 minutes. The general activities budget (n = 6434 records) was 64.7% rest, 18.5% travel, 10.1% feeding, 4.4% for social behavior and 2.3% for miscellaneous behaviors. The level of rest was similar to patterns of genus (64.7%). The diet (n = 606 records) was composed mainly of leaves (72.8%) and flowers (14.8%) and supplemented by fruits (8.2%) and buds (4.2%). The consumption of reproductive parts of plants, especially flowers, was relatively high by the standards of southerly populations of the species. Members of the group rested significantly less than feed during the rainy season. The diet was marked by the consumption of leaves throughout the study. The consumption was higher in the dry at flowers (17.8%) and fruits in the rainy season (12.9%). It also registered a substantial difference in the behavior of adults and immature individuals, where the first rested significantly more, but spent less time in other categories: food, travel and social interactions. Given this, it's likely that the general budget was under the influence of group's composition, where there was a predominance of mature members, a typical pattern in the genus. The results indicate patterns of behavior and diet that are typical to the genus but marginal for the species. The contrasts can be related mainly to the geographic location of the area of the study, the ecotone Cerrado-Pantanal, and concomitant ecological differences. There is a clear need to continue the studies of A. caraya in the Bororo region, not only for a more systematic assessment of their ecological patterns, but also to contribute to the development of conservation strategies. Keywords: black-howler-monkeys; animal biology; behavioral ecology; activity patterns. (n = 6434 registros) foi de 64,7% para o descanso, 18,5% para o deslocamento, 10.1% para alimentação, 4,4% para o comportamento social e 2,3% para comportamentos não mutuamente exclusivos. O nível de descanso foi similar aos padrões do gênero (64,7%). A dieta (n = 606 registros) foi composta, principalmente por folhas (72,8%) e flores (14,8%) e completada por frutos (8,2%) e brotos (4,2%). O consumo de partes reprodutivas de plantas, principalmente flores, foi relativamente alto para os padrões das populações mais meridionais da espécie. Os membros do grupo descansaram significativamente mais e se alimentaram menos na estação chuvosa em relação à seca. A dieta foi marcada pelo consumo de folhas ao longo do estudo. A ingestão de flores foi significativamente maior na estação seca (17,8%) e a de frutos na chuvosa (12,9%). Foi registrada, também, uma diferença considerável no padrão comportamental d...

Effect of age and sex in renal function by ultrasound and serum chemistry in two primate species (Alouatta caraya and Sapajus apella)

“…We classified the animals in three age groups, according to the literature available for each species. For A. caraya , there were three infants (<1 year; 6.6 ± 0.58 months), 10 juveniles (1.5–4 years; 2.6 ± 0.74), and eight adults (6–26 years, 12.5 ± 6), based on the classification proposed by Rímoli 31 . For S. apella , there were four infants (<2 years; 11 ± 4.12 months), 10 juveniles (2–4 years; 2.7 ± 0.95), and seven adults (5–21 years, 16.85 ± 6), based on the classification proposed by Fragaszy et al 23…”

“…For A. caraya, there were three infants (<1 year; 6.6 ± 0.58 months), 10 juveniles (1.5-4 years; 2.6 ± 0.74), and eight adults (6-26 years, 12.5 ± 6), based on the classification proposed by Rímoli. 31 For S. apella, there were four infants (<2 years; 11 ± 4.12 months), 10 juveniles (2-4 years; 2.7 ± 0.95), and seven adults (5-21 years, 16.85 ± 6), based on the classification proposed by Fragaszy et al 23 All primate colonies at CENP are submitted to annual health screenings, which include physical examination, hemogram, and biochemical tests, in addition to deworming treatment. None of the animals used in this study had a history of infectious diseases as per their last health screening (2 months before data collection).…”

Ecótono Cerrado Pantanal: meio ambiente e história natural

“…Pois, para a conservação do Alouatta caraya é sem dúvida essencial buscar expandir suas áreas de vida para que a dispersão da espécie ocorra, não somente para permitir seu crescimento populacional, mas que está questão reflita a viabilidade da espécie, onde adjetivá-lo como fortes sobreviventes de áreas com baixa riqueza e marginalizadas, não necessariamente conduz a conservação da espécie. Pesquisas apontam que muitos grupos de Alouatta caraya estão habitando ambientes fragmentados (ALBUQUERQUE e CODENOTTI, 2006, PRATES, 2007LUDWIG, 2008, ODALIA-RÍMOLI et al, 2008RÍMOLI et al, 2012), porém com uma qualidade de vida subjetiva e um sucesso evolutivo reduzido devido a baixa variabilidade genética imposta pela fragmentação de seu habitat.…”

Validation of a Dehydroepiandrosterone-Sulfate Assay in Three Platyrrhine Primates (Alouatta caraya, Aotus azarae infulatus, and Sapajus apella)

“…We studied 10 adult animals, based on age classifications established for each species: five female and one male Alouatta caraya (7.4 ± SD 3.43 years, range 4-12 years; Rímoli et al, 2012), one female and one male Aotus azarae infulatus (14 ± SD 2.82 years, range 12-16 years; Aquino & Encarnación, 1994), and one female and one male Sapajus apella (15 ± SD 7.07 years, range 10-20 years; Fragaszy et al, 2004). The animals belong to the breeding colonies of the National Primate Center (Centro Nacional de Primatas, CENP) in the district of Ananindeua, Pará, Brazil, 1°38′26′′, 48°38′22′′).…”