Feeding ecology and demography of the moustached tamarin Saguinus mystax in northeastern Peru.
Item
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Title
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Feeding ecology and demography of the moustached tamarin Saguinus mystax in northeastern Peru.
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Identifier
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AAI9000060
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identifier
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9000060
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Creator
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Ramirez, Maria Marleni.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Warren G. Kinzey
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Date
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1989
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Biology, Zoology | Biology, Ecology | Biology, General
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Abstract
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Feeding ecology and demography of the moustached tamarin, Saguinus mystax, were studied at two locations in western Amazonia, Peru, for a total of 1500 hours. The feeding and ranging habits of a group of moustached tamarins were observed for 13 months at the Blanco Stream site. A cropped population of tamarins was censused on two consecutive years to investigate the effects of cropping on the remaining population of tamarins at the Yarapa River site. At both study sites S. mystax formed mixed groups with the saddle-back tamarin, S. fuscicollis.;Anti-predator concerns appeared to be the governing factors in the exploitation of food resouces by the moustached tamarin, and also seemed to favor the maintenance of mixed groups with the saddle-back tamarin. Moustached tamarins preferentially used small-crowned trees in the absence of larger primate competitors, presumably to avoid predation risks on tall, large-crowned trees. The latter were only exploited when fruit was scarce. Exudates, although available year round were only consumed in the dry season. Vulnerability to predators seemed to increase during exudate exploitation. The frequent use of habitats with abundant leaf cover for insect foraging may also help reduce predation risks. The cropping of S. mystax at the Yarapa River coincided with the depression of the growth rate of S. fuscicollis. This was probably due to emigration, increased mortality due to predation, and reduced fecundity resulting from decreased competitive ability with conspecifics in mixed groups. It is suggested that both tamarins maintain a mutualistic relationship, the major benefit of which is increased protection against predators.;The economics of territorial defense seemed to influence the selection of preferred fruit trees and sleep trees. Highest ranking fruit trees and most sleep trees were found at the periphery of the home range thus presumably reducing the costs of territorial defense.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
