Dinâmica comportamental e alimentar de um grupo de capivaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, Linnaeus, 1766) no Parque Estadual de Dois Irmãos do Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil

Abstract

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris is the largest species of Rodentia order and live in many habitats of South America. Due to your behavioral characteristics and food plasticity they are able to form populations in urban environments as long has the mininum requirements of vegetation and a body of water. The main objective of this work is understand the behavior, landscape use and diet of a group of capybaras living in State Park of Dois Irmãos and on the zoo inserted on it. The group was monitored between September 2019 and December 2019. Behavior data was collected using the instantaneous scan method (scan), the diet items was cathegorized and noted, and the localization of the animals was recorded through direct visualization. The group use most of the time forraging (62,2%), moving (10,1%) and taking mud baths and baths (10,1%). There was two principal areas used by capybaras, with the most visited was Zoo grass área (67,95%) comparing with the Dois Irmãos Weir (32,02%). The most representative item in the diet was the introduced grass (71,59%), then wild grass, aquatic plants and provided food by the zoo employees respectively. The chi square test shows there was relation between time periods and feeding behavior. The results of landscape use and feeding behavior are related to the dry season. We concludes that the results follows the standarts habits of the species, but the presence of the Zoo in the park área and his activities influences the living habits of the capybaras throught the human presence, landscape and flora changes, resulting in behavior and área use changes.