Abstract

GOMEZ-POSADA, Carolina. ACTIVITY AND FEEDING PATTERN OF A PROVISIONED GROUP OF Cebus apella IN A TROPICAL HUMID FOREST (META, COLOMBIA). Bol. Cient. Mus. Hist. Nat. Univ. Caldas [online]. 2009, vol.13, n.1, pp.49-62. ISSN 0123-3068.

This article presents the study of the activity and feeding pattern of a wild group of brown capuchin monkeys (MC-1) in a forest sector of the Tinigua National Natural Park (Meta, Colombia). This group was provisioned daily with a limited amount of food, usually bananas, for scientific purposes for more than 10 years; therefore, enjoying a food resource that did not vary spatially or temporarily. Using scan sampling, 971 hours of troop observation were completed during six months in 1995-96. MC-1 invested 55.2% of their time foraging, followed by movement (13.8%), socially interaction (13%), and rest (12.1%). Waiting for provisioned food was named "alert," and the monkeys spent 5.9% of their time engaged in this activity. The group showed an omnivorous diet, consuming principally arthropods (60.8%) and fruits (27.2%), but also vegetables parts (10.4%) and other items (1.6%). MC-1 fed on 60 plants species, and consumed small vertebrates, eggs and termites' nests, among other items. Activity and feeding pattern varied when the group was provisioned, principally because during the mornings, MC-1 invested more time searching for arthropods, and presented low percentages of time foraging, contradicting the behavior usually reported for the species. The food offered to MC-1 partially replaces the fruit requirements for this troop, letting them increase their consumption of arthropods, decrease their foraging time, and enabling more time for other activities including rest and social interactions.

Keywords : Brown or tufted capuchin; diet; activity pattern; feeding pattern; provisioning; Tinigua National Natural Park.

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