Diet nutritional parameters of two populations of capuchin monkeys: Sapajus libidinosus in the ecotone Cerrado/Caatinga and Sapajus nigritus in an Atlantic Forest area

Author(s)

Lucas Peternelli Corrêa dos Santos

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Psicologia (IP/SBD)
• Defense date: 2015-03-27

Examining board members

Patricia Izar Mauro; Arrilton Araújo; Nicolas Gerard Chaline; Briseida Dogo de Resende; Eleonore Zulnara Freire Setz

• Advisor: Patricia Izar Mauro

Abstract

The survival and reproductive success of an individual are directly related to its ability to meet the demand for nutrients and energy. Studies in Nutritional Ecology, adopting the Geometric Framework for Nutrition, show that more than maximize energy intake, the animals seek to regulate the intake of multiple nutrients independently, targeting a specific balance between these nutrients. In this study, we used nutritional content analysis and the Geometric Framework to investigate the diet nutritional parameters of two populations of capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.) in two different biomes: Sapajus libidinosus in the ecotone Cerrado/Caatinga, at Fazenda Boa Vista (FBV) in Piauí state; and Sapajus nigritus in an Atlantic Forest area, at Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho (PECB), in São Paulo state. Previous studies suggest that the quality and availability of food exploited by S. libidinosus in the semi-arid region are higher than those of the exploited by S. nigritus in the Atlantic Forest. However, statements about diet quality depend on investigating the nutrient balance obtained by individuals and which nutrition strategies are adopted to achieve this balance. Therefore, the aims of this thesis were (1) to analyze the nutritional strategies of a group of Sapajus libidinosus in the FBV and (2) to compare the nutritional quality of the diet of this population with that of Sapajus nigritus in PECB. We analyzed samples of 176 food items eaten by the animals. To estimate nutrient daily intake, we conducted 134 continuous focal follows recording the item consumed and the amount ingested by individuals. The monkeys in FBV regulate the intake of a specific balance between protein energy and non-protein energy (lipids and / or carbohydrates), and prioritize non-protein energy intake when the availability of this nutrient in food items decreases. Assuming that the nutritional goal of S. nigritus is the same as S. libidinosus, the results confirmed the hypothesis that diet quality in FBV is superior than in PECB, where foods contain lower non-protein energy concentrations. The Geometric Framework allowed to review previous studies claims that in FBV seasonality of resources availability is not a limiting factor for these animals. In this study we have shown seasonal variations in the nutritional quality of foods, which impact nutrient intake by monkeys in FBV (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/11504-4 - 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)
• Grantee: Lucas Peternelli Corrêa dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate