Insect prey foraging strategies in Callicebus oenanthe in northern Peru

Titi monkeys (genus Callicebus) are small-bodied platyrrhines that supplement their predominantly frugivorous diet with variable amounts of leaves, seeds, and/or arthropod prey. Notable interspecific variation in the amount of insect prey in the diet has been observed in Callicebus, ranging from 0% to 20%. In this study, I investigate the degree and type of prey foraging in a little-known species, Callicebus oenanthe inhabiting a fragmented, secondary forest on the foothills of the Andes in northern Peru. I present data on prey type, prey search and capture techniques, substrate/vegetation use, foraging height, prey capture efficiency, and seasonal variation of insect prey foraging in one group of C. oenanthe observed from January to August 2005. Insect prey accounted for 22% of the diet, the highest amount reported for any Callicebus species to date, and insects from at least six different orders were included. C. oenanthe was mainly an investigative forager of hidden prey, manipulating easy-to-open substrates such as rolled up leaves, and hunted ant swarms and larger insects opportunistically. Insect foraging was predominant during the dry season (26%) and decreased during the wet season (13%). The study group foraged mostly in the understory (2-6 m) within vine-laden shrubs and trees, which may conform to an anti-predator strategy of crypticity. Overall the group had an 83% insect capture success rate. These data suggest that insect prey is an important part of the diet of C. oenanthe and may be especially notable during periods of resource scarcity. This study adds to the knowledge concerning insect prey foraging in Callicebus, which can have an important role in defining ecological strategies in the selection of secondary protein food resources within a given ecosystem.     

Predation risk affects egg mortality and carry over effects in the larval stages in damselflies

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Using dive behavior and active acoustics to assess prey use and partitioning by fin and humpback whales near Kodiak Island,Alaska

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Does colour polymorphism enhance survival of prey populations?

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PCR enrichment techniques to identify the diet of predators

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Metabolic adaptations for isopod specialization in three species of Dysdera spiders from the Canary Islands

The spider genus Dysdera is considered to comprise specialist isopod feeders, although the degree of specialization varies between species, depending on morphological (shape of chelicerae), behavioural (attack tactics) and metabolic (food quality of prey) adaptations. Dysdera has radiated extensively in the Canary Islands (currently 47 endemic species are described) and codistributed species have different cheliceral shapes and body sizes indicating different feeding niches. In the present study, we investigate the existence of metabolic adaptations to feeding on isopods by three endemic species (Dysdera insulana Simon, Dysdera macra Simon and Dysdera verneaui Simon) from Tenerife. We hypothesize that there is enhanced extraction efficiency of fundamental macronutrients from isopods compared with control prey in species with special morphological and behavioural adaptations for this prey type. We measure quantitatively spider growth, dry mass consumption, lipid and nitrogen consumption, and calculate growth efficiency and efficiency of utilization of dry mass, lipid and nitrogen. The results show that all three species are able to utilize both prey types, indicating that none of them are strict isopod specialist. Dysdera insulana shows enhanced growth efficiency and D. macra shows enhanced nitrogen extraction efficiency compared with D. verneaui when feeding on Porcellio rather than on Musca. Both traits indicate likely adaptations for the utilization of isopods. Spider species, sex and prey type all affect lipid and nitrogen extraction efficiencies, indicating that spiders do not simply extract nutrients in the proportions available. The results support the hypothesis that adaptations for enhanced digestion of focal prey evolve in species that already have adaptations for enhanced capture success.