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Terrestrial Foraging by Cacajao melanocephalus ouakary (Primates) in Amazonian Brazil: Is Choice of Seed Patch Size and Position Related to Predation Risk?

2012; Brill; Volume: 83; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1159/000343591

1421-9980

Adrian A. Barnett, Thais Almeida, Wilson Roberto Spironello, Welma Sousa Silva, Ann MacLarnon, Caroline Ross,

Plant and animal studies

We analyse the behaviour of Cacajao melanocephalus ouakary feeding at patches of germinating seedlings in dried-out flooded forest. Seedlings of Eschweilera tenuifolia (Lecythidaceae) were the most commonly eaten (88.9%). Some seed patches were revisited over several days, while others were consistently ignored. We tested 3 predictions relating uacari terrestrial foraging behaviour to: (1) arboreal escape route proximity, (2) seed patch size choice and (3) temporal patterns of repeat exploitation. Comparison of fed-at and ignored patches revealed significant preferences for larger patches, and for those close to arboreal refuges but distant from dense ground-based vegetation. Support for these predictions is interpreted as evidence for predation risk-sensitive foraging.