Parental care in the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset (Callithrix aurita) in wild and captive groups
Carregando...
Data
2000-11-01
Autores
SANTOS, C. V.
MARTINS, M. M. [UNESP]
Título da Revista
ISSN da Revista
Título de Volume
Editor
Instituto Internacional de Ecologia
Resumo
Estudos sobre cuidado parental em primatas calitriquídeos têm sido conduzidos principalmente em cativeiro. Na natureza, os grupos estão expostos às pressões ambientais, as quais podem influenciar o comportamento social. Comparamos a contribuição individual no cuidado parental oferecida por membros de um grupo silvestre (casal com um ajudante subadulto) e dois grupos de cativeiro (A: casal com um ajudante subadulto, B: casal com quatro ajudantes adultos) de sagüis-da-serra-escuros, Callithrix aurita, entre as semanas 1 e 12 a partir do nascimento das crias. Foram registrados o carregador (macho e femêa reprodutores ou ajudantes) e os eventos de aquisição de alimento sólido pelo filhote, em partilha ou através do forrageio. Entre as semanas 1 e 4, enquanto o par silvestre dividiu o esforço eqüitativamente, o macho adulto do grupo A carregou 100% do tempo. Os ajudantes adultos foram os principais carregadores do grupo B. O carregamento se estendeu até a semana 12 apenas no grupo silvestre. A aquisição de alimento pelo filhote iniciou-se primeiramente nos grupos silvestre e A, mas a proporção total do número de registros foi menor na natureza. Os custos do deslocamento e forrageio podem estar associados à divisão igualitária do transporte pelo par silvestre. Maiores freqüências de transporte nos grupos silvestre e B podem ter provocado um atraso no desenvolvimento das habilidades motoras dos filhotes, as quais são necessárias no forrageio. Os dados concordam com estudos anteriores: menor investimento no transporte pelo macho reprodutor na presença de adultos ajudantes e baixa contribuição de ajudantes subadultos no carregamento.
Studies on cooperative care of offspring in callitrichid primates are biased in favor of observations in captivity. In the wild, however, individuals have to deal with environmental pressures, which may influence their social behavior. We compared the individual effort attributed to parental care offered by members of a wild group (couple, plus a subadult helper) and two captive groups (A: couple, plus an subadult helper, B: couple, plus four adult helpers) of the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset, Callithrix aurita, from weeks 1-12 after the infants' birth. The carrier (breeding male and female or helper) and the infant's feeding (food sharing and foraging for food) were recorded. Up to week four, while the wild breeding pair shared infant carrying at similar proportions, the male from captive group A carried 100% of the time. Adult helpers from group B were the main carriers. Carrying behavior extended up to week 12 only in the wild group. Food provisioning to the infant was observed earlier in the groups wild and A, but general proportion of feeding records was lower in the wild than in captivity. Energetic cost of travelling and searching for food may be associated with equal division of carrying behavior by the wild breeding pair. Higher proportions of carrying in the groups wild and B may have delayed the development of the infants' motor skills required in foraging. Our data agree with previous studies: the father's lower investment in carrying when adult helpers are present and lower contribution of subadult non-reproductive members.
Studies on cooperative care of offspring in callitrichid primates are biased in favor of observations in captivity. In the wild, however, individuals have to deal with environmental pressures, which may influence their social behavior. We compared the individual effort attributed to parental care offered by members of a wild group (couple, plus a subadult helper) and two captive groups (A: couple, plus an subadult helper, B: couple, plus four adult helpers) of the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset, Callithrix aurita, from weeks 1-12 after the infants' birth. The carrier (breeding male and female or helper) and the infant's feeding (food sharing and foraging for food) were recorded. Up to week four, while the wild breeding pair shared infant carrying at similar proportions, the male from captive group A carried 100% of the time. Adult helpers from group B were the main carriers. Carrying behavior extended up to week 12 only in the wild group. Food provisioning to the infant was observed earlier in the groups wild and A, but general proportion of feeding records was lower in the wild than in captivity. Energetic cost of travelling and searching for food may be associated with equal division of carrying behavior by the wild breeding pair. Higher proportions of carrying in the groups wild and B may have delayed the development of the infants' motor skills required in foraging. Our data agree with previous studies: the father's lower investment in carrying when adult helpers are present and lower contribution of subadult non-reproductive members.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
cuidado parental, Callithrix aurita, transporte, natureza, cativeiro, parental care, Callithrix aurita, carrying, wild, captivity
Como citar
Revista Brasileira de Biologia. Instituto Internacional de Ecologia, v. 60, n. 4, p. 667-672, 2000.