Interações sociais em grupos de macacos-prego (Cebus libidinosus) no Parque Nacional de Brasília

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2007

RESUMO

Primate social behaviour is influenced by different kinds of competition. Food competition is stronger among females because food intake limits female reproductive success. Thus, socio-ecological models are based mainly on food competition among females. In Cebus, females are philopatric and develop discriminative affiliative bonds and strong dominance relationships. The purpose of this study was to analyse the social interactions among individuals of two groups of Cebus libidinosus and investigate the possible influence of frequent interactions between these monkeys and visitors of the Brasília National Park. Data were collected during 10-minute continuous focal animal samples. Grooming data also were collected through ad libitum sampling method. In one group, a dominance hierarchy was not determined due to small sample size of dominance relationships observed. In the other group, a partial hierarchy of three lineages, based upon the alpha male was found. A high frequency of agonistic interactions was observed in both studied groups, probably due to competition for access to human food, which is very appreciated by the capuchins. A low frequency of grooming sessions was found in studied groups, which can be a consequence of the reduced number of grooming relationships among females. Only two grooming sessions were observed in the largest group and none in the smallest group. Frequency of other social relationships among females was also extremely low. Among observations of proximity, presence of females within one meter of another female was registered only once. No agonistic interactions were observed during the data collection. The lack of social relationships among females can be associated with degree of kinship among them. An analysis of kinship degree and competitive interactions for access to natural and human foods is needed to better understand the social behaviour of the studied groups.

ASSUNTO(S)

cebus primata ecologia macaco-prego cebus libidinosus parque nacional de brasília comportamento social

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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