Ecologia alimentar e estratégias de forrageio de grupos de saguinus bicolor (primates: callitrichidae) no parque municipal do Mindu, Manaus, Amazonas

Abstract

The pied tamarin (Saguinus bicolor), a primate endemic to the metropolitan region of Manaus, is critically endangered, largely due to urban habitat fragmentation. This study aimed to investigate the feeding ecology and foraging strategies of two groups of this species in the Mindu Municipal Park, considering seasonal variation and the availability of food resources. Behavioral observations were conducted from January to October 2022, totaling 183 days of data collection using the instantaneous scan sampling method. Simultaneously, floristic and entomological surveys were carried out to assess the availability of fruits and insects throughout the seasons. Results indicated that fruits and insects make up the majority of the tamarins' diet, with fruits predominating during the rainy season and an increase in insect consumption during the dry season. Foraging behavior was predominantly manual, indicating an adaptation to the fragmented environment and the search for concealed prey. The high diversity of plant and insect species in the park supports the persistence of the species in an urban setting. The data reinforce the importance of urban forest fragments as strategic refuges for threatened species and provide a foundation for management and conservation actions for S. bicolor. Keywords: Saguinus bicolor; diet; feeding behavior; forest fragmentation; urban conservation.