Um estudo da regulação materna na partilha de alimento com o infante em macacos-prego (Sapajus libidinosus)
Data
2023-06-30
Autores
Lima, Helena Francisco 
Orientadores
Santos, Fabiana Elaine Casarin dos
Tipo
Trabalho de conclusão de curso
Título da Revista
ISSN da Revista
Título de Volume
Resumo
A partilha de alimento entre mães e seus filhotes é documentada em várias espécies de animais no seu habitat natural. Os filhotes, em geral, dependem dessa partilha provinda da mãe para se alimentarem nos primeiros meses de vida, já que enquanto imaturos é difícil obter, digerir e processar os alimentos sozinhos. Ao compartilhar o alimento, a mãe pode selecionar ou não o tipo de alimento que irá partilhar e também, usar este investimento como uma extensão da lactação e suprir os nutrientes necessários aos seus filhotes, aumentando as taxas de sobrevivência dos infantes e sua própria aptidão direta. Neste trabalho, temos o objetivo de analisar se há modulação das mães de macacos-prego em relação ao alimento que irão partilhar com o infante, ou seja, se ela escolhe o alimento a ser partilhado baseado na categoria do mesmo. Os sujeitos pertencem a um grupo de vida livre da espécie Sapajus libidinosus, que habita o ecótono entre o Cerrado e a Caatinga, na Fazenda Boa Vista (FBV), no Estado do Piauí. Eles se alimentam principalmente de polpa de frutos, sementes, invertebrados, raízes, flores e folhas, como cocos das palmeiras piaçava e catulé, catuli e tucum. Foram registradas todas as atividades dos filhotes, incluindo suas interações com a mãe e outros indivíduos. Os dados deste estudo foram coletados a partir das filmagens realizadas nos anos de 2014 a 2017 seguindo o método animal focal, com a escolha de 12 filhotes, os quais foram analisados nos primeiros 18 meses de vida. A partir dessas filmagens transcrevemos o aceite ou recusa da mãe na partilha de alimento e os tipos de itens alimentares que são partilhados pela mãe ao filhote, sendo que os itens foram categorizados em alimentos fáceis, possivelmente tóxicos e alimentos processados. Dessa forma, conseguimos testar se há escolha da mãe em relação ao alimento partilhado com seu filhote. Nossos resultados mostraram que a mãe não escolhe o que partilhar com o infante baseado no tipo de alimento, sendo assim, continuamos buscando respostas que busquem aprofundar a criteriosidade das mães para partilha.
Food sharing between mothers and their babies is documented in many species of animals in their natural habitats. The infants, in general, depend on the mother sharing their food to be fed in their early months of life, since it is difficult for them to obtain, digest, and process their food by themselves while immature. By sharing their food, the mother can choose whether or not to share the type of food and also use this as an extension of lactation, providing the necessary nutrients to their babies, thereby increasing the babies’ survival rates and their own direct aptitude. In this project, our goal is to analyze whether capuchin monkey mothers choose the food they will share with their infants, meaning if they select the food to be shared based on its category. The subjects belong to a free-living group of the species Sapajus libidinosus, which lives in the ecotone between the Cerrado and the Caatinga at Boa Vista Farm (BVF) in the state of Piauí. They primarily feed on fruit pulp, seeds, invertebrates, roots, flowers, as well as coconuts from the “piaçava,” “catulé,” “catuli,” and “tucum” palm trees. All baby activities were recorded, including their interactions with the mother and other subjects. The data for this study were collected from footage taken between the years 2014 and 2017, following the focal animal method, with a selection of 12 babies who were analyzed during their first 18 months of life. From this footage, we transcribed instances of the mother sharing or not sharing their food, as well as the types of food items shared by the mother with the baby. These items were categorized as easy, possibly toxic, or processed food. Thus, we were able to test whether there is a decision made by the mother regarding the food shared with her baby. Our results have shown that the mother does not choose what to share based on the type of food. Therefore, we continue to search for answers that delve into the mother’s decision-making process regarding what to share.
Food sharing between mothers and their babies is documented in many species of animals in their natural habitats. The infants, in general, depend on the mother sharing their food to be fed in their early months of life, since it is difficult for them to obtain, digest, and process their food by themselves while immature. By sharing their food, the mother can choose whether or not to share the type of food and also use this as an extension of lactation, providing the necessary nutrients to their babies, thereby increasing the babies’ survival rates and their own direct aptitude. In this project, our goal is to analyze whether capuchin monkey mothers choose the food they will share with their infants, meaning if they select the food to be shared based on its category. The subjects belong to a free-living group of the species Sapajus libidinosus, which lives in the ecotone between the Cerrado and the Caatinga at Boa Vista Farm (BVF) in the state of Piauí. They primarily feed on fruit pulp, seeds, invertebrates, roots, flowers, as well as coconuts from the “piaçava,” “catulé,” “catuli,” and “tucum” palm trees. All baby activities were recorded, including their interactions with the mother and other subjects. The data for this study were collected from footage taken between the years 2014 and 2017, following the focal animal method, with a selection of 12 babies who were analyzed during their first 18 months of life. From this footage, we transcribed instances of the mother sharing or not sharing their food, as well as the types of food items shared by the mother with the baby. These items were categorized as easy, possibly toxic, or processed food. Thus, we were able to test whether there is a decision made by the mother regarding the food shared with her baby. Our results have shown that the mother does not choose what to share based on the type of food. Therefore, we continue to search for answers that delve into the mother’s decision-making process regarding what to share.