Use and competition for food plants between Pithecia aequatorialis (Primates: Pitheciidae) and other animals in the Peruvian Amazonia

Abstract

In this report, we provide information on food plants of the equatorial saki (Pithecia aequatorialis) and its competitors in highland forest of the micro-watershed of the Itaya River, Peruvian Amazonia. From May to November 2009 and from January to April 2010 we followed silently two family groups with the purpose to identify plants whose fruits are part of their diet. During the contacts we had 90 food events in 48 plant species grouped in 24 families. Of these, 36 live in low hill forest and the rest in high terrace forest. The highest diversity of food plants is grouped into seven families that together accounted for 60.4%, among them Moraceae (8 species), Fabaceae (6 species) and Annonaceae (4 species) families. The fruits were mostly eaten in ripe state, being the mesocarp the most appreciated (40%). Among mammals, seven of the competitors were primates, with the main competitor being the red-mantled saddle-back tamarin (Saguinus lagonotus) and among birds the White-throated toucan (Ramphastos tucanus). Finally, the fruits of Pseudolmedia laevigata (Moraceae) were the most preferred by competitors (7 species of mammals and 2 of birds).