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Activity pattern, budget and diurnal rhythmicity of the brown-throated three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus) in northeastern Brazil

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Abstract

Previous studies exploring the rhythmic activity of sloths of the Bradypus genus in undisturbed forests revealed cathemeral patterns of activity. In the current study we wished to examine sloth behavior in a highly disturbed secondary forest habitat. We evaluated activity pattern, time budget and rhythmic activities of brown-throated three-toed sloths (B. variegatus) living in the border of a highly disturbed forest fragment in northeastern Brazil. Three adults (2 females and 1 male) and 2 infants were studied over 29 days. Observational data were collected in 15 min increments over the 24-h day in the following categories: resting, moving, travelling, eating and grooming. Time series data were subjected to X2 periodogram, Fourier (Fast Fourier Transformation, FFT), cosinor and CircWave circadian rhythm analysis, and revealed significant 24-h rhythms in all behaviors in most circumstances. Unlike sloths located in an undisturbed forest, this population exhibited primarily diurnal activity patterns of behavior, with the center of gravity for each behavior occurring in the middle of the day. Furthermore, several behaviors were expressed in a bimodal pattern, with a morning and a late afternoon peak of activity. These data suggest that with decreased predator presence and with a more ubiquitous food source, sloths adjust their temporal niche to daytime.

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Abbreviations

CG:

Center of gravity

FFT:

Fast Fourier Transformation

ZT:

Zeitgeber time

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Acknowledgements

We thank the head of the Condomínio Luzanópolis for granting permission to carry out the research in its premises, and Department of Zoology, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco for provision of equipment for fieldwork.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Antonio Rossano Mendes Pontes

    Present address: , Estrada de Aldeia, 12.948, Cond. Luzanópolis, Aldeia,, Camaragibe, PE, CEP: 54789-000, Brazil

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, R. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, CEP: 50740-620, Brazil

    Diogo de Oliveira Bezerra

  2. Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Campus de Serra Talhada, Av. Gregório Ferraz Nogueira, S/N, Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, CEP: 66909-535, Brazil

    Leandro Ricardo Rodrigues de Lucena

  3. Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, Galvin Life Science Center, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556-0369, USA

    Giles E. Duffield & Dominic J. Acri

  4. Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia-INPA, Núcleo de Pesquisas de Roraima-NPRR, Rua Coronel Pinto, 315, Centro, Boa Vista, Roraima, CEP: 69301-150, Brazil

    Antonio Rossano Mendes Pontes

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  1. Diogo de Oliveira Bezerra
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Contributions

DOB: Collected and analyzed the data, and wrote the article; LRRL: Analyzed the data; GED and DJA: Analyzed the data and wrote the article; ARMP: Designed the experiment, analyzed the data and wrote the article.

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Correspondence to Antonio Rossano Mendes Pontes.

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Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

42991_2020_47_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

Supplementary file1 Proportions of day/night activity of male BV2 in the Atlantic forest of northeastern Brazil (PDF 410 kb)

42991_2020_47_MOESM2_ESM.pdf

Supplementary file2 Proportions of day/night activity of female BV3 in the Atlantic forest of northeastern Brazil (PDF 409 kb)

42991_2020_47_MOESM3_ESM.pdf

Supplementary file3 Proportions of day/night activity of infant F1 in the Atlantic forest of northeastern Brazil (PDF 408 kb)

42991_2020_47_MOESM4_ESM.pdf

Supplementary file4 Proportions of day/night activity of infant F2 in the Atlantic forest of northeastern Brazil (PDF 408 kb)

42991_2020_47_MOESM5_ESM.pdf

Supplementary file5 Activity records of each of the five behavior categories for male BV2 are shown in double-plotted format. Each horizontal line represents a 48 hr period, and the second 24 hr period is plotted to the right and below the first. Vertical bars represent the occurrence of a behavioral observation. Data are concatenated allowing for 12 days of activity to be analyzed as a continuum. The timing of the light-dark (diel) cycle is indicated by the white-and-black bars below the records. Time is provided as local clock time (PDF 43 kb)

42991_2020_47_MOESM6_ESM.pdf

Supplementary file6 Activity records of each of the five behavior categories for female BV3 are shown in double-plotted format (PDF 36 kb)

42991_2020_47_MOESM7_ESM.pdf

Supplementary file7 Activity records of each of the five behavior categories for infant F1 are shown in double-plotted format (PDF 36 kb)

42991_2020_47_MOESM8_ESM.pdf

Supplementary file8 Activity records of each of the five behavior categories for infant F2 are shown in double-plotted format (PDF 24 kb)

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Oliveira Bezerra, D.d., de Lucena, L.R.R., Duffield, G.E. et al. Activity pattern, budget and diurnal rhythmicity of the brown-throated three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus) in northeastern Brazil. Mamm Biol 100, 337–353 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-020-00047-5

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