Exploration of sugarcane crops by Sapajus flavius inhabiting a fragment of Atlantic Forest in State of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil

Abstract

Sapajus flavius has a frugivorous-insectivorous diet, but also consumes food items from crops. Thus, we investigated the exploration of sugarcane cropping and processing by a group of Sapajus flavius. It was chosen the ad libitum and All Occurrences Observation Methods for collected data. Access to Sugarcane Plantations, Acquisition of Sugarcane, and Sugarcane Consumption behaviors were the most ones recorded. Surveillance and Back Without Sugarcane behaviors were the least ones recorded. There is an increase of exploration of sugarcane plantations during months with low rainfall, which coincides with the reduction of fruits in the forest fragment. Male and female adults were the ones who most exploit sugarcane plantations. The way individuals access, acquire and consume sugarcane highlights cognitive abilities, promoting the persistence of the species in fragmented areas with crops in the surrounding. The analyzed aspects will help on developing species conservation strategies, such as the implantation of native vegetation corridors to connect forest fragments that are isolated due to the expansion of sugarcane crops.