Refuge and supplementary bamboo-based diet in capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus cucullatus) in association with habitat fragmentation and stochastic events

Abstract

Capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus cucullatus) are the most omnivorous primates of the NewWorld. However, forest fragmentation and degradation may limit resources availability. This in turncan act synergistically with other factors, such as severe weather conditions and potentially causingchanges in spatial distribution, behavior, and diet. During field observations of capuchin monkeyswe recorded the use of bamboo forest patches as refuge sites and as supplementary food sources.This behavior was observed in December 2021 in fragmented environments and low availability ofresources, after an extreme drought event recorded in Northeastern Argentina. Bamboo forestpatches of Chusquea ramosissima, Guadua chacoensis, G. trinii, and Merostachys clausenii were usedas refuge sites, and as supplementary sources of food and water (i.e. foliage leaves, shoots, andcaryopsis) under conditions of scarce resource availability and extreme drought events.