Diferenças entre sexos no uso do espaço vertical por muriqui-do-norte Brachyteles hypoxanthus - Kuhl, 1820 (Primates, Atelidae)

• Autor(a) principal: Tabacow, Fernanda Pedreira
• Data de Publicação: 2011
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: LOCUS Repositório Institucional da UFV
• Texto Completo: http://locus.ufv.br/handle/123456789/2245
• topic: Uso do espaço; Brachyteles; Primatas; Diferenças entre sexo; Murique-do-norte; Comportamento; Use of space; Brachyteles; Primates; Sex differences; Northern muriqui; Behavior; CNPQ::CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS

The use of vertical space by primates is related to variables that affect survival and reproduction, such as access to food and avoidance of predators. Sex differences in the use of vertical space are expected whenever males and females differ in their diets and foraging behavior. This can be the result of sexual dimorphism in body size, which affects the type and amount of food needed, the substrates from which food can be accessed, and vulnerability to predators while feeding and foraging. In addition, gestation and lactation can increase the energetic and nutritional requirements of females, affecting their diets and consequently leading to sex differences in vertical space use. Finally, avoidance of feeding competition can affect the spatial distribution of group members. We compared behavioral data on the use of vertical space by adult males and females in a sexually monomorphic primate, the northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus Kuhl, 1820) and discuss the energetic and ecological implications of these differences. The study was conducted from August 2006-July 2007 at the RPPN Feliciano Miguel Abdala, in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Systematic data on individual activities and substrate use were collected on all 22 adult males and 28 adult females in a well-habituated group (Matão group). Based on 11,738 behavioral records collected during 2,417 scan samples, we found statistically significant (p < 0.05) sex differences in the use of vertical space. Specifically, males spent proportionately more time than females in the lower strata when socializing, resting, traveling, and feeding, and when feeding on new leaves but not on other items. Our results suggest that these differences in the use of vertical space may reflect sex differences in energetics and in ecological pressures that may be related to the reduction of direct competition.