title: Seasonal versatility in the feeding ecology of a group of titis (Callicebus coimbrai) in the northern Brazilian Atlantic Forest.
abstract: The feeding behavior of a group of titis (Callicebus coimbrai) was monitored over an annual cycle at a site in northeastern Brazil. Behavioral data were collected in scan samples (1-min scan at 5-min intervals), and complementary data on fruit availability and new leaf cover were collected. Feeding time accounted for 28.9% of daily activity. Fruit was the principal item of the diet (61.2% of records) and the primary category in all months except September, when it was surpassed by leaves. Young leaves were the second most important category (20.0%). The consumption of seeds and insects was prominent in November and December. Fifty-two plant species were exploited, and the Elaeocarpaceae, Myrtaceae, Sapotaceae, and Passifloraceae provided the vast majority (86.0%) of plant feeding records. The phenological record did not provide a good measure of fruit availability, but a strong correlation (r(s) =0.902, P<0.0001, n=12) was found between the consumption of leaves and the exploitation of lianas each month. Lianas accounted for 28.2% of plant feeding records, and predominated between August and December. This suggests that lianas may represent a key factor in the ability of the species to tolerate the intense habitat fragmentation found throughout its geographic range.
authors: Postgraduate Program in Development and Environment, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil. joao.pedro@pitheciineactiongroup.org
authors: João Pedro
authors: JP
authors: Souza-Alves
authors: Isadora P
authors: IP
authors: Fontes
authors: Renata R D
authors: RR
authors: Chagas
authors: Stephen F
authors: SF
authors: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D004032:Diet; D017753:Ecosystem; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D008297:Male; D053820:Pitheciidae / Q000523:psychology*; D012621:Seasons