Wild robust capuchin monkey interactions with sympatric primates

Author(s)

Falotico, Tiago ^{[1, 2]} ; Mendonca-Furtado, Olivia ^{[3, 1, 4]} ; Fogaca, Mariana Dutra ^{[3, 1, 5]} ; Tokuda, Marcos ^{[3, 6]} ; Ottoni, Eduardo B. ^[3] ; Verderane, Michele P. ^{[3, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Neotrop Primates Res Grp, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Arts Sci & Humanities, Av Arlindo Bettio 1000, Predio CMP1, Sala T6, BR-03828000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Psychol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Natl Inst Atlantic Forest, Santa Teresa - Brazil

^[5] Univ Vet Med Vienna, Vienna - Austria

^[6] Quinzinho Barros Municipal Zool Pk, Sorocaba - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PRIMATES; v. 62, n. 4, p. 659-666, JUL 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Examining interactions among sympatric primate species can provide interesting information about competition, cooperation, and avoidance between those species. Those interactions can be neutral, positive, or negative for the species involved. Capuchin monkeys are medium-sized primates that can encounter both larger and smaller primates in their varied habitats. Gracile capuchins (Cebus) are reported to present different types of interactions with other primates. Interactions with howler monkeys frequently include physical aggression, while interactions with spider monkeys are mostly threats and chases. Moreover, interaction types are not consistent across populations. Among robust capuchins (Sapajus spp.), however, no reports have been published. Here we describe and classify encounters of Sapajus libidinosus and S. nigritus with Alouatta caraya, A. guariba, Brachyteles arachnoides, and Callithrix jacchus in three sites in the environments of Cerrado, Caatinga (savannah-like), and Atlantic forest, and compare the interaction patterns among sites and different group sizes. The latter is a factor that can influence the outcome, and we expected capuchins in larger groups to be more aggressive toward other primates. Our results of 8421 h of total contact with the capuchin groups show that, indeed, capuchins in sites with larger groups presented aggressive interactions with higher frequency. However, the other species' body size also seems important as smaller primates apparently avoided capuchins, and interactions with the larger muriquis were mostly neutral for the capuchin. Capuchins showed neutral or aggressive behaviors toward howler monkeys, with differences between the rainforest and savannah groups. We found that robust capuchins can present aggressive interactions even to primates larger than themselves and that aggressive behavior was the most common response in populations living in larger groups and drier environments. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/07187-5 - Tools used by capuchin monkeys (Cebus libidinosus) of Serra da Capivara National Park - PI
• Grantee: Tiago Falótico
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 14/04818-0 - Tool use by wild bearded capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus): ecology, socially biased learning and behavioral traditions
• Grantee: Eduardo Benedicto Ottoni
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 09/51589-9 - Social structure, mating system and sexual dispersal pattern of a wild population of black-tufted capuchin (Cebus nigritus), at Carlos Botelho State Park/PECB, São Paulo
• Grantee: Patrícia Izar Mauro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants