| Pitheciines: Comparing use of Time and Space Setz, E.Z., L.P. Pinto, M. Bowler, J. Vié & A.A. Barnett Pitheciin monkeys vary widely in their use of time and space. Pithecia live in groups of 3-8 individuals and have home ranges upwards to 280ha, traveling 500 to 2800m a day. They show shorter activity periods (8 - 10h), retreating to sleep long before sunset (14:40 - 16:20). At one site, Pithecia traveled farther and faster in the rainy season when fruits were abundant, without however, changing time budgets. At another site, travel time was proportional to distance traveled. Cacajao and Chiropotes are larger than Pithecia and form groups of up to 50 individuals (as many as 200 in Cacajao), which can cover daily distances of more than 6000m. These large groups frequently split into smaller units, which may remain apart for many days. Home ranges for Chiropotes albinasus can be as large as 700ha, and for Cacajao may be in excess of 1200ha. Although Pithecia pithecia travels in lower forest strata, it uses the upper strata seasonally. Pithecia albicans, Cacajao and Chiropotes concentrate their activity in the middle and upper strata year around. When available, Cacajao uses flooded habitats, foraging seasonally in lower strata, and at some sites may feed on the ground. Chiropotes does not seem to vary seasonally in habitat use. Variations in pitheciin ecology seem consistent with adaptive foraging responses to the heterogeneity of food resources in time and space. Return to symposium programme |