Ethnoecology, Resource Use, Conservation And Development In A ...

Two studies report plant species whose fruits and/or seeds are eaten by Chiropotes
satanas in Surinam. The earlier, more complete study includes Chrysophyllum auratum
and three other genera in the Sapotaceae, Tetragastris altissima and T. panamensis,
six species of Inga, one species from the Papilionaceae, one from Chrysobalanaceae,
and species from three different genera among the Moraceae (Roosmalen et al.
1981). The later study lists the top twenty foods observed to be eaten over a six-
month period, which include three species of Inga, and members of the families
Sapotaceae, Leguminosae (Papilionoideae), Chrysobalanaceae and Moraceae (Norcock
and Kinzey 1994). Partial information on diet from Venezuela included Chrysophyllum
lucentifolium and unidentified members of the Leguminosae and Moraceae among the
fruits eaten (Kinzey and Norcock 1993). Of the eleven identified food plants in the
present study, five are thus corroborated to genus level and a further five to family
level.
Table 7.22. Comparison of ethnoecological and ecological data for Chiropotes satanas.
Subject Ethnoecological data Ecological observations
Diet Entire diet consists of fruits, 204 of 217 feeding observations on fruits
both ripe and unripe
and/or seeds. Immature seeds consumed
of 52 of 86 plant species eaten. [1]
Seed predators
Over 90% of feeding observations on
fruits or seeds [2]
Over 90% of feeding samples on fruits
and seeds [3]
66.4% of feeding observations involved
seed predation [1]
38.75% of seeds eaten predated, 51.25
dispersed[2]
Seeds masticated in 86.4% of feeding
samples[3]
Feed mostly on fruits whose seeds are
eaten [4]
Social Group size 8-40, usually 15- Group size 8-30+, specific sizes observed
20
were 8, 9-12, 15+ and 27+ [1]
Groups separate temporarily ‘Feeding units’ of 9 and 13 individuals in
for feeding, according to size reported [3]
quantity of fruit available on Local fission of groups on arrival at food
any particular tree.
Group will also disperse
somewhat for sleeping
sources [3]
Habitat use High forest 98.7% of observations in high forest [1]
100% of observations in high forest [2]
Reproductive Litter size 1 Litter size 1 [1]
Interspecific Predated by Harpia harpyja Remains found in nest of Harpia harpyja
and possibly other eagles [5]
[1] Roosmalen et al. 1981 [2] Mittermeier and Roosmalen 1981
[3] Norcock and Kinzey 1994 [4] Kinzey and Norcock 1993 [5] Rettig 1978