Ecologia de Alouatta guariba clamitans (Humbolt, 1812 -Primates, Atelidae), em mata estacional semidecídua no sudeste do Brasil

Abstract

Alouaíta is a genus among neotropical primates in which the species are predominant folivorous. The consumption of leaves in their variety phenological condition, as well as standard of conservative activities of energy are arguments used to explain the occurrence of this primate in marginal enviroment with little quantity of fruit. The ecology of a group of seven individual Alouatta guariba was studied during the period of april 2001 to april 2002, in a private reserve of 120 ha formed by a semideciduous forest, located near Araçatuba, northwestem of São Paulo State. It was ordered activity budget, home range, diet, the occurrence of intestinal parasites and dispersion of seeds for the group. For the data collection of activities standard and diet, it was used the Scan Sampling Method with two minutes of samples and eight minutes of interval between one sample and other. The area was determined by the searching method. For occurrence of parasites, the samples of faeces were collected during the group accompaniment and analysed in laboratory. The dispersion of seeds was made collecting seeds of Nectandra cissiflora contained in howler monkeys faeces and control was realized with spontaneous dropping of seeds of three individual used in diet by group. The group reserved 71% of time resting, followed by feeding 16%, dislocation 9,81%, social 1,8% and others 1,1%. The time dedicated for resting was bigger in the hottest time of day, in the aftemoon the animais dedicated more time feeding. The home hange extensions was 6,5 ha, used in different manners into two considered season, one of them dry and cold and other rainy and warm. Practically there was not’t difference in size of area used between seasons. During dry season the group used the area homogenously. In the rainy season the group went through a larger distance in relation to dry season. Twenty four trees found in the area used by howler were used as dormitories. The individual area used was 0,93 ha and the number of howler in the reserve was estimated in 129 individuais. The monkeys used 62 % of leaves in the diet in several fenological condition.ruit contibuted with 26%, flowers 10% and 2% of the diet was impossible to identify. The seasoned utilization of certain feed claim was made give preference to the most energetic items and the best proteic contents. Acacia polyphylla, Tabebuia avellanedae,Nectandra cissiflora and Inga edulis, were the most frequent species in diet during the accompaniment. The family that had more species in the diet was: Leguminosae, Moraceae and Bignoniaceae. In 59% of faeces samples of fo howlers, intestinal parasites happened. Enterobius vermiculares was the specie that happened mostly in samples with 21,7%, followed by Entamoeba coli with 8,6%. A total of 76 seeds of Nectandra cissiflora were used to accomplish tests of germination. The seeds defecated by howlers had a percentage of germination major to 60%, while the control one was 35,8%. The results got for the group of studies, agree generally for the standard of Alouatta studied in fragmented and continuous areas. The occurrence of these animais in fragmented area in for the future is uncertain. Bums, huntings, selective cut of wood and the isolation in which these population live, put their existence in risk for the future.