Nutritional parameters of the diet of two capuchin monkey populations: a comparison between the Atlantic Forest (Cebus nigritus) and the Cerrado-Caatinga ecotone (Cebus libidinosus)

• Grant number: 11/11504-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Animal Behavior
• Principal Investigator: Patrícia Izar Mauro
• Grantee: Lucas Peternelli Corrêa dos Santos
• Host Institution: Instituto de Psicologia (IP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Many studies have sought to understand the role of nutrients in primates' diet, as well as internal and external factors that influence them. These studies suggest that primates can base their diet on five main factors: (1) energy maximization, (2) protein maximization, (3) avoidance or regulation of toxins, (4) regulations of fiber intake, and (5) acquisition of a nutritional balance. However, detailed data on the nutritional content of the diet of primates are still scarce and inconclusive. Previous studies with populations of capuchin monkeys (Cebus libidinosus in semi-arid and Cebus nigritus in the Atlantic Forest) suggest that, contrary to the expectations, the quality and availability of food exploited by the monkeys seems to be higher in the semi-arid habitat. Although the quantitative aspects of the differences in the availability and types of food consumed by the animals in these two areas are well documented, little is known about the nutritional differences in food consumed and whether these differences reflect the actual diet quality of the two populations. This study aims to investigate the nutritional parameters of the diet of a population of Cebus libidinosus in an area of Cerrado/Caatinga ecotone in Boa Vista, and compare the nutritional quality of the diet of these animals with a population of Cebus nigritus in Carlos Botelho State Park, an Atlantic Forest area. The study of specific taxa under different ecological conditions is a valuable tool to investigate fundamental questions about the interactions between primates and their environment, since it identifies the effect of ecological variables on their behavior and social organization. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

IZAR, PATRICIA; PETERNELLI-DOS-SANTOS, LUCAS; ROTHMAN, JESSICA M.; RAUBENHEIMER, DAVID; PRESOTTO, ANDREA; GORT, GERRIT; VISALBERGHI, ELISABETTA M.; FRAGASZY, DOROTHY M.. Stone tools improve diet quality in wild monkeys. Current Biology, v. 32, n. 18, p. 9-pg., 2022-09-26. (11/21032-2, 11/11504-4)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SANTOS, Lucas Peternelli Corrêa dos. Diet nutritional parameters of two populations of capuchin monkeys: Sapajus libidinosus in the ecotone Cerrado/Caatinga and Sapajus nigritus in an Atlantic Forest area. 2015. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Psicologia (IP/SBD) São Paulo.