Mapping nut-cracking in a new population of wild capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) at Ubajara National Park, Brazil

Autor(es)

Falotico, Tiago ; Valenca, Tatiane ; Verderane, Michele P. ; Santana, Beatriz C. ; Sirianni, Giulia

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY; v. 86, n. 4, p. 17-pg., 2024-01-15.

Resumo

Populations of bearded capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) vary in their tool use behaviors, with some of this divergence regarded as culturally determined. The use of stone tools, primarily to crack open encased foods, is widespread among bearded capuchins living in dry habitats (Caatinga and Cerrado). Significant diversity in targets, processed foods, material, and size of tools is observed across populations. However, so far, only a few sites have been systematically studied, and we are still distant from a representative picture of the range of variation in capuchins' culture. In this study, we did a systematic assessment of stone tool use sites in the Ubajara National Park (UNP), in the Caatinga region of Ceara, Brazil, recording and measuring stone tools, processed foods, and available lithic resources as part of an extensive comparative research, the CapCult project. We found indirect and direct evidence that capuchin monkeys at UNP customarily use hammerstones and anvils to process at least two species of palm nuts, macauba (Acrocomia aculeata) and the harder babacu (Attalea speciosa). Most of the anvils were rock surfaces and had leftovers of only one palm nut species. The hammerstones used to process both palm nuts were not significantly different in weight, although the ones used for Ac. aculeata were longer. We found a higher frequency of nut-cracking sites in the drier lowland area of the park, reflecting differences in the density of the most common palm species, Ac. aculeata, and availability of raw stone material. The stone tool use observed in UNP is within the scope of previously reported in savannah capuchin populations. Our study widens the knowledge of stone tool-use diversity in wild capuchin monkeys, which could contribute to shaping conservation policy, including cultural traits. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 19/00716-2 - Variação cultural em macacos-prego (Sapajus spp)
• Beneficiário: Tiago Falótico
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Jovens Pesquisadores
• Processo FAPESP: 20/04478-6 - Variação cultural em macacos-prego (Sapajus spp) - TT3(2)
• Beneficiário: Beatriz Cabrera Santana
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Programa Capacitação - Treinamento Técnico
• Processo FAPESP: 19/10155-8 - Variação cultural em macacos-prego (Sapajus spp) - TT3
• Beneficiário: Tatiane Valença
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Programa Capacitação - Treinamento Técnico
• Processo FAPESP: 18/01292-9 - Variação cultural em macacos-prego (Sapajus spp.)
• Beneficiário: Tiago Falótico
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Jovens Pesquisadores
• Processo FAPESP: 18/18900-1 - Inovações em comunidades humanas e não humanas
• Beneficiário: Shigeru Miyagawa
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa SPEC