Figs Are More Than Fallback Foods: The Relationship between Ficus and Cebus in a Tropical Dry Forest
In many studies on primate feeding ecology, figs (Ficus spp.) are characterized as fallback foods, utilized only when preferred sources of food are unavailable. However, for white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus) living in northwestern Costa Rica, figs are a consistently important resource a...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2011-01-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Zoology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/967274 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832559884062687232 |
|---|---|
| author | Nigel A. Parr Amanda D. Melin Linda Marie Fedigan |
| author_facet | Nigel A. Parr Amanda D. Melin Linda Marie Fedigan |
| author_sort | Nigel A. Parr |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In many studies on primate feeding ecology, figs (Ficus spp.) are characterized as fallback foods, utilized only when preferred sources of food are unavailable. However, for white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus) living in northwestern Costa Rica, figs are a consistently important resource and may increase groupwide energy intake. We investigated whether visits to figs affect ranging and behavioural patterns of capuchins. Although daily range length and average travel speed do not differ on days when fig trees are visited, capuchins spend more time in directed travel and more time stationary on “fig days”. Capuchins also increase time spent foraging for fruit and decrease time spent foraging for invertebrates on days when figs trees are visited. Capuchins experience higher energy intake and lower energy output on “fig” days. Thus, the patterns of foraging for figs support an energy-maximization strategy and constitute an important nutritional resource for capuchins. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-20b7ef909eed4ced82ae3159119dce1e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-8477 1687-8485 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Zoology |
| spelling | doaj-art-20b7ef909eed4ced82ae3159119dce1e2025-02-03T01:29:00ZengWileyInternational Journal of Zoology1687-84771687-84852011-01-01201110.1155/2011/967274967274Figs Are More Than Fallback Foods: The Relationship between Ficus and Cebus in a Tropical Dry ForestNigel A. Parr0Amanda D. Melin1Linda Marie Fedigan2Department of Anthropology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, CanadaDepartment of Anthropology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, CanadaDepartment of Anthropology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, CanadaIn many studies on primate feeding ecology, figs (Ficus spp.) are characterized as fallback foods, utilized only when preferred sources of food are unavailable. However, for white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus) living in northwestern Costa Rica, figs are a consistently important resource and may increase groupwide energy intake. We investigated whether visits to figs affect ranging and behavioural patterns of capuchins. Although daily range length and average travel speed do not differ on days when fig trees are visited, capuchins spend more time in directed travel and more time stationary on “fig days”. Capuchins also increase time spent foraging for fruit and decrease time spent foraging for invertebrates on days when figs trees are visited. Capuchins experience higher energy intake and lower energy output on “fig” days. Thus, the patterns of foraging for figs support an energy-maximization strategy and constitute an important nutritional resource for capuchins.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/967274 |
| spellingShingle | Nigel A. Parr Amanda D. Melin Linda Marie Fedigan Figs Are More Than Fallback Foods: The Relationship between Ficus and Cebus in a Tropical Dry Forest International Journal of Zoology |
| title | Figs Are More Than Fallback Foods: The Relationship between Ficus and Cebus in a Tropical Dry Forest |
| title_full | Figs Are More Than Fallback Foods: The Relationship between Ficus and Cebus in a Tropical Dry Forest |
| title_fullStr | Figs Are More Than Fallback Foods: The Relationship between Ficus and Cebus in a Tropical Dry Forest |
| title_full_unstemmed | Figs Are More Than Fallback Foods: The Relationship between Ficus and Cebus in a Tropical Dry Forest |
| title_short | Figs Are More Than Fallback Foods: The Relationship between Ficus and Cebus in a Tropical Dry Forest |
| title_sort | figs are more than fallback foods the relationship between ficus and cebus in a tropical dry forest |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/967274 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nigelaparr figsaremorethanfallbackfoodstherelationshipbetweenficusandcebusinatropicaldryforest AT amandadmelin figsaremorethanfallbackfoodstherelationshipbetweenficusandcebusinatropicaldryforest AT lindamariefedigan figsaremorethanfallbackfoodstherelationshipbetweenficusandcebusinatropicaldryforest |