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Sleeping site selection by golden-backed uacaris, Cacajao melanocephalus ouakary (Pitheciidae), in Amazonian flooded forests

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Abstract

In Amazonian seasonally flooded forest (igapó), golden-backed uacaris, Cacajao melanocephalus ouakary, show high selectivity for sleeping trees. Of 89 tree species in igapó, only 16 were used for sleeping (18%). Hydrochorea marginata (Fabaceae) and Ormosia paraensis (Fabaceae) were used most frequently (41% of records) despite being uncommon (Ivlev electivity ratios were 0.76, and 0.84, respectively), though the third most commonly used species (11%), Amanoa oblongifolia (Euphorbiaceae), was selected at near parity. All three species have broad, open canopies with large horizontal limbs and uncluttered interiors. Compared with random trees, sleeping trees had above average diameter at breast height (DBH) and height, lacked lianas and wasp nests, and were more frequently within 5 m of open water. Uacaris generally slept one adult per tree or widely separated in the same canopy and on the outer third of the branch. These behaviours are interpreted as maximising detection of both aerial and arboreal predators.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Thomas Defler, Simone Iwanaga, Carlos Peres for sharing unpublished field observations. Eliana Andrade provided essential support throughout the field period and beyond. This study is part of the Igapó Study Project, and has been supported by: American Society of Primatologists, Columbus Zoo Conservation Fund, LSB Leakey Foundation, Leakey Foundation (UK), Linnean Society (Percy Sladen Memorial Fund), Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, Oregon Zoo Foundation for Wildlife Research and Conservation, Pittsburgh Zoo Conservation Fund, Primate Conservation Inc., Roehampton University, Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund, Wildlife Conservation Society (all to AAB). AAB thanks the field guides, Eduardo Souza, Maria de Bom Jesus and Ricardo Moreira, and field colleagues Thais Almeida, Bruna Bezerra and Welma Souza Silva. Advice and logistic support was provided by Fundação Vítoria Amazônica. IBAMA issued monthly park research permits. The study was undertaken under CNPq-IBAMA Protected Area Study License 138/2006, and the study written while AAB was a Visiting Scientist at the Instituto National de Pesquisas de Amazônia (under PCI-INPA initiative and CNPq Bolsa de Curta Duracao [BEV] grant, number 680.004/2009-2). We also thank Eckhard Heymann and an anonymous reviewer for their very helpful comments and suggestions. This is Contribution 15 from the Igapó Study Project.

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  1. Roehampton University, London, SW15 4JD, UK

    Adrian Ashton Barnett, Peter Shaw, Ann MacLarnon & Caroline Ross

  2. Instituto National de Pesquisas da Amazonia, Manaus, Brazil

    Wilson R. Spironello

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  1. Adrian Ashton Barnett
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  3. Wilson R. Spironello
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Correspondence to Adrian Ashton Barnett.

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Barnett, A.A., Shaw, P., Spironello, W.R. et al. Sleeping site selection by golden-backed uacaris, Cacajao melanocephalus ouakary (Pitheciidae), in Amazonian flooded forests. Primates 53, 273–285 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-012-0296-4

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