PREDATOR COMMUNITY

In 2011, with funding from the Waitt Program of National Geographic Society, Dr. Maren Huck and Dr. Cecilia Juarez studied the influence of carnivores on the owl monkey population in Guaycolec using an extensive camera trap system that captured incredible pictures of the neighbors of the owl monkeys. Thus, for some years now, we have conducted a number of studies to characterize the predator community in the area to understand the relationships between potential predators and owl monkeys and the extent to which the activity patterns of predators may influence the nocturnal/diurnal activity patterns of owl monkeys. Arboreal, monkey-eating snakes are absent from the study area, as are large eagles. The camara-trapping studies confirmed the presence of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), Geoffroy’s cats (Leopardus geoffroyi) and jaguarondis (Puma yagouaroundi) all of which have the potential to be owl monkey predators. Still, our preliminary evidence indicates tayras (Eira barbara), as the most likely regular predator of owl monkeys.  The Owl Monkey Project has ongoing plans for the evaluation of this hypothesis in the study area.

Moreover, interactions with howler monkeys, coatis, tayras, crab-eating raccoons, and jaguarundis that could potentially act as predators and/or as food competitors might therefore be of particular importance for a small primate species like the owl monkey. Coatis and howler monkeys at our study site feed in the same trees as owl monkeys and, being larger than owl monkeys, are predicted to pose a competitive challenge. Our next steps of research will be to explore how competition with individuals of other species influences the behavior and demography of owl monkeys since inter-specific competition for food or shelter can modify the age distribution and demographic structure of a population.