Feeding ecology and behavioral adjustments: flexibility of a small neotropical primate (Callithrix jacchus) to survive in a semiarid environment

Abstract

Semiarid environments are known for climate extremes such as high temperatures, low humidity, irregular precipitations, and apparent resource scarcity. We aimed to investigate how a small neotropical primate (Callithrix jacchus; the common marmoset) manages to survive under the harsh conditions that a semiarid environment imposes. The study was carried out in a 400-ha area of Caatinga in the northeast of Brazil. During a 6-month period (3 months of dry season and 3 months of wet season), we collected data on the diet of 19 common marmosets (distributed in five groups) and estimated their behavioral time budget during both the dry and rainy seasons. Resting significantly increased during the dry season, while playing was more frequent during the wet season. No significant differences were detected regarding other behaviors. In relation to the diet, we recorded the consumption of prey items such as insects, spiders, and small vertebrates. We also observed the consumption of plant items, including prickly cladodes, which represents a previously undescribed food item for this species. Cladode exploitation required perceptual and motor skills to safely access the food resource, which is protected by sharp spines. Our findings show that common marmosets can survive under challenging conditions in part because of adjustments in their behavior and in part because of changes in their diet.