Partição espacial de nicho por três espécies de primatas amazônicos em um fragmento florestal urbano

Abstract

The Neotropical region notably harbours a large diversity of vertebrates, including non-human primates. Similar to agriculture, which is known to impact primate communities, the current and enlarging urbanization must be considered in ani mal conservation policies. Variations in morphology and behaviour allow niche separation, or partitioning, between species, thus leading to species coexistence in the same habitat. For primates, vertical niche partitioning is associated to food availability, habitat structure and primate body mass. Here, we monitored one group (3 sub-groups) of white-cheeked spider monkeys, one group of capuchin monkeys and three groups of Vieira’s titi monkeys between December 2019 and May 2021 in a urban forest fragment in Sinop, Mato Grosso, to verify the over lapping of foraging areas and differences in the vertical use of forest and diet. Spider monkeys and capuchin monkeys were observed mostly near the park en trance and titi monkeys were also observed in areas far from this entrance. Spider monkeys use the highest forest strata, whilst capuchin monkeys and titi monkeys used the understorey and the ground most frequently. Similar to other studies, spider monkeys were predominantly frugivorous, capuchin monkeys were omniv orous and titi monkeys consumed fruits and arthropods. Spider monkeys and capuchin monkeys also consumed provisioned fruits. Similar to previous studies. Behavioural differences among the three species allow their coexistence in the same habitat, and their adaptive behavioural plasticity is a relevant factor to war rant the persistence of these primate groups in forest fragments.