Wildlife in our backyard: interactions between Wied's marmoset Callithrix kuhlii (Primates: Callithrichidae) and residents of Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

Ecological and behavioral plasticity allow marmosets, genus Callithrix, to adapt and succeed in urban areas. This research assess proximity and relationships between Wied's marmoset Callithrix kuhlii, domestic animals and residents of Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. We collected data on the species' urban ecology and biology, since it has been little studied so far. Tools for data gathering included semi‐structured interviews, direct observations and GPS‐mapping. There were sightings within the three major districts of Ilhéus, with 37% of positive questionnaires (n = 359) for marmoset sighting at least weekly. Therefore, marmosets were considered common in this city. Most records and frequent sightings were associated with secondary forest fragments, backyards with fruit trees and mangroves. Marmosets travel among urban fragments using electrical and phone wires and crossing roads. There is a relatively small number of accidents when compared to the number of sightings, with electrocution as the most common. Visitation of marmosets to households, attracted by food provisioning, was considered frequent. People feel pity for the marmosets and lure them to their houses through food, but offered items are not always suitable. Marmoset exploration of uncommon habitats, such as mangroves, might be driven by a lack of larger forest fragments within the city.

Climate change is likely to affect the distribution but not parapatry of the Brazilian marmoset monkeys (Callithrix spp.)

“…Alternatively, the invasive capacity of C. jacchus and C. penicillata may be explained by their persistence in highly seasonal habitats due to their ability to obtain secondary resources (i.e., exudates) in times of scarcity (Castro, ; Pinheiro & Pontes, ; Rylands & Faria, ), rather than climatic requirements. Additionally, the known association of these species with peri‐urban areas (Leite, Duarte, & Young, ; Pontes & Soares, ; Rodrigues & Martinez, ), where they are often fed by humans and find fewer predators, may enable their occurrence at marginally suitable, or even unsuitable, climatic conditions, and explain their invasive behaviour.…”

“…The area in grey represents the accessible area for Callithrix, delimited by the three biomes where the genus is known to occur (Brazilian Caatinga xeric shrubland, Cerrado savanna and Atlantic rain forest); distributions projected beyond this area were ignored. Rivers are identified as follows: (a) São Francisco river; (b) Contas river; (c) Jequitinhonha river; and (d) Doce riverthe known association of these species with peri-urban areas(Leite, Duarte, & Young, 2011;Pontes & Soares, 2005;Rodrigues & Martinez, 2014), where they are often fed by humans and find fewer predators, may enable their occurrence at marginally suitable, or even unsuitable, climatic conditions, and explain their invasive behaviour.…”

More than marine: revealing the critical importance of mangrove ecosystems for terrestrial vertebrates

“…Much of the evidence for the increasing use of mangroves is anecdotal, with just a few examples in which empirical data document a novel expansion into mangrove forests (e.g. Wied's marmosets, Callithrix kuhlii (Rodrigues & Martinez, 2014)). Some new records may also reflect a lack of historical data rather than evidence of a genuine expansion.…”

“…Yet, facultative users continue to provide important ecosystem services, such as pollination of mangrove plants (McKenzie & Rolfe, 1986) and the transfer of nutrients from adjacent habitats (Reef et al, 2014). In addition, the loss of primary habitats for these facultative users may mean mangrove forests are increasingly important habitat for these species in the future (Nowak, 2013;Rodrigues & Martinez, 2014). To better understand the functioning of mangrove ecosystems, it is important to understand their relationship with the fauna that uses them (both obligate and facultative users) in both the marine and terrestrial realms.…”

Supplemented howler monkeys eat less wild fruits, but do not change their activity budgets

“…Food supplementation is a relatively common practice to promote wildlife watching in nature reserves (Corcoran et al, ; Orams, ; Sabbatini, Stammati, Tavares, & Visalberghi, ; Sabbatini, Stammati, Tavares, Giuliani, & Visalberghi, ), to increase the reproductive success of threatened species (Blanco, Lemus, & García‐Montijano, ; Robb, McDonald, Chamberlain, & Bearhop, ), and to mitigate human‐wildlife conflicts (Andreassen, Gundesen, & Storaas, ; Barrio, Bueno, & Tortosa, ). It also occurs as a consequence of the isolation of animal populations in urban and periurban habitat patches, and their resulting proximity to people (Robb et al, ; Rodrigues & Martinez, ; Suzin, Back, Garey, & Aguiar, ).…”