Polyspecific associations between squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) and other primates in eastern Amazonia

Abstract

One of the most common types of polyspecific association observed in Neotropical primate communities is that between squirrel monkeys (Saimiri) and capuchins (Cebus). The present study focused on association patterns in two Saimiri sciureus groups in eastern Brazilian Amazonia, between March and October, 2009. The associations were analyzed in terms of the species involved, the degree of association, and niche breadth and overlap. The study involved two S. sciureus groups (B4 and GI) on the right and left bank of the Tocantins River, respectively, within the area of the Tucuruí reservoir in southeastern Pará. Relations between species were classified as associations (individuals within 50 m and moving in the same direction), and encounters (individuals within 50 m and no coordinated movement). Group B4 was in association with Cebus apella during 100% of monitoring, and with Chiropotes satanas in 20.2%. By contrast, Group GI associated with Cebus 54.8% of the time, and with Chiropotes utahickae 2.5%. Encounters with Alouatta belzebul and Saguinus niger were recorded at both sites, with Aotus azarae and Dasyprocta prymnolopha at B4, and with Callicebus moloch, Dasyproct aleporina, Mazama gouazoubira, and Nasua nasua at GI. Overall, Saimiri had a broader niche than Cebus in terms of vertical spacing and diet, but not for substrate use. This pattern did not appear to be affected by association. While group GI spent significantly (P < 0.05) more time in association with Cebus during the wet season, group B4 associated with Chiropotes more during the dry season. Despite the higher association rates, niche overlap was greater for all variables at B4. This may reflect differences in the ranging and foraging patterns at the two sites, and the varying potential benefits of association for Saimiri.

The effects of introducing the Amazonian squirrel monkey on the behavior of the northeast marmoset

“…In addition, the observed interactions did not indicate any kind of mutual advantage, which typifies polyspecific interactions common to species of the genus Saimiri in their natural habitat (Mendes-Pontes 1997;Heymann 2011;Pinheiro et al 2011). When such mutual benefits occur, it is possible to observe the different primate species spending much of their daily activities within the same ecological niche (Terborgh 1983).…”

“…At that time, the only reported native primate species in the reserve was the common marmoset, Callithrix jacchus (Linnaeus, 1758), which is a small, endemic species of northeast Brazil (Rylands et al 2000). Squirrel monkeys live in social groups ranging in size from 25 to 75 individuals (Boinski 1999;Stone 2007) or more (Baldwin and Baldwin 1981) and tend to associate for long periods with other Amazonian primates such as Cebus, Callicebus, Saguinus, and Ateles (Terborgh 1983, MendesPontes 1997Pinheiro et al 2011). It is common for some sympatric primate species to maintain polyspecific associations for a considerable time each day.…”

“…These associations offer benefits in foraging, feeding (Pook and Pook 1982;Fleagle et al 1981;Podolsky 1990) locomotion and protection against predators (Peres 1993;Heymann 1995Heymann , 2011Porter 2001. Although uncommon, squirrel monkeys may also be associated with or encounter other mammalian species such as coati Nasua nasua (Haugaasen and Peres 2008;Pinheiro et al 2011), tayra Eira barbara (Haugaasen and Peres 2008), agoutis Dasyprocta prymnolopha and Dasyprocta leporina, and deer Mazama gouazoubira (Pinheiro et al 2011). At first, nothing about the relation between S. sciureus and C. jacchus has been published and nothing about the nature of their behavior in this situation is known.…”

Multiple Spatial Scale Analysis of the Niche Characteristics of the Rhododendron dauricum Plant Communities in Northeast China

“…Except for niche overlap, interspecific association can also reveal interspecific relationships and help to discern the process of community assembly and the tendency of community succession (Gotelli and McCabe, 2002;Sfenthourakis et al, 2006;Tatsumi et al, 2018). In previous studies, due to the spatial character of interspecific association, niche overlap was invariably associated with spatial pattern analysis (Nguyen et al, 2016), and the study objects for the integration of niche overlap and species association were mostly animals (Pinheiro et al, 2011;Ratcliffe et al, 2014). However, the biological mechanisms of plant community spatial clumping and segregation tend to be explained by the concept of a niche (Adler et al, 2010;Wang et al, 2010).…”

Interspecific interactions between sympatric apes

“…Associating with another species facing similar predators could improve the probability of predator detection ( Kenward, 1978 ), lead to predator confusion ( Cott, 1940 ; Edmunds, 1974 ), increase dilution effects ( Hamilton, 1971 ), or enhance the ability to more effectively deter predators ( Curio, 1978 ). Furthermore, the benefits of locating food more efficiently through another species’ knowledge of food availability and/or their differential ability to access particular food sources may defray the potential costs of interspecific associations ( Wolters and Zuberbühler, 2003 ; Pinheiro et al., 2011 ). There are also potential social benefits of interspecific grouping which may include establishing tolerant relationships ( Struhsaker, 1981 ), grooming services ( Struhsaker, 1981 ), alloparental care ( Stensland et al., 2003 ), and reproductive advantages of increasing group size without increasing breeding competition ( Dunbar, 1993 ; Buchanan-Smith, 1999 ; Farmer et al., 2006 ).…”