Número de grupos e distribuição espacial de Callithrix jacchus em ambiente urbanizado no município de Natal, Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract

Neotropical primates are essentially arboreal and dependent on forest habitats. Habitat loss and fragmentation are strong anthropogenic threats to these organisms in many regions such as the Atlantic Forest. Some primates can survive in urbanized environments, exemplified by the Callithrix jacchus (sagui-de-tufos-brancos), a small and omnivorous species. This study examined the quantitative and spatial characteristics of the C. jacchus population in an urban environment within the Central Campus of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil, situated at the northernmost boundary of the Atlantic Forest. From June to November 2024, we covered 7.38 km twice a week, alternating diurnal period (morning/afternoon), to record vocalizations and sightings of C. jacchus groups and domestic cats (Felis catus), the primary potential predators of C. jacchus in the area. Over 45 field trips obtained 177 records, of which 64 were C. jacchus sightings and 20 were C. jacchus vocalization records. At least nine C. jacchus groups (6.67±1.70 individuals/group) were recorded. A total of 93 cat sightings, with at least one and at most eight individuals per sighting (2.27±1.73 individuals/sighting). A heat map based on sighting records allowed the estimation of the number and spatial location of marmoset groups and the spatial location of cat clusters, indicating low spatial overlap between these species’ records. Additionally, habitat use analysis, percentage of structures in which C. jacchus was found, confirmed that C. jacchus were predominantly observed using trees. Studies on the ecological aspects of free-ranging Callithrix jacchus in urban environments remain scarce, and this is an unprecedented investigation of the studied location. Continuing this research will allow the identification of other ecological aspects of this animal, such as the temporal distribution of population recruitment and the most used resources. Urban and landscape structures favorable to marmoset presence can also be investigated in future studies, providing useful information for the implementation of habitat management strategies that favor C. jacchus persistence in this environment.