"Tip, tip-tat, plop, tip tip tip, tat" Was it raining? Was it a gust of wind the blew through the forest? No, no wind or rain. Well it was the Northern Muriqui monkey (Brachyteles hypoxanthus), of course. Those sounds were the pieces of fruit falling to the forest floor, pelting the leaves of bushes and bouncing off the leaf litter strewn across the ground. I had been watching them for almost an hour in RPPN Feliciano Miguel Abdala reserve, in the state of Minas Gerias, Brasil. As some of them hugged each other as they often do, or rested and slept for a mid-afternoon nap. There were a number of them that were still active hanging by their tails eating leaves. But soon them and other adolescents that had re-joined the group and had shifted their focus to another group of trees off to the side that was baring a small green fruit.
In this case it appeared they were seeking the tender casing around the seed, or perhaps the seed(s) itself. It was hard to tell. But the green bitter outer-membrane of this fruit didn't seem to interest them so much. Ultimately not only were they dispersing this fruit around the radius of these trees, but by swallowing these seeds and pooping them out later in the day in a different area of the forest they were spreading this tree species throughout the forest for a more even distribution. Therefore they were pivotal in the efficient propagation, expansion and future survival of the tree species. But they weren't eating all the fruit. Just enough.
See, unlike domesticated goats or a swarm of locusts, they did not strip the tree dry of all its fruit. Same with it's leaves. They typically do not eat all the leaves of the tree. Even when focusing on the tender buds of a tree producing a whole new set of leaves, or new leaf bunches of an existing tree crown, they never eat everything. It could be because the muriqui, gets bored and likes variety in their daily/hourly diet. It could be that eating too much of one thing upsets their stomach. Or perhaps they have some kind of consciousness that they pass on generation after generation of respecting the trees, not killing the trees, while living a life of balance. It's hard to tell. But, after all, muriquis are known as the hippy monkey. However this phenomena exists with most primates whether they are herbivores or omnivores. But the fact that the muriquis are the largest primate in the forests of the Mata Atlântica and probably have widest vegan diet makes their role extra important.
Just like tapirs in the neotropical forests are referred to as the gardeners of the forest below, eating so much they create paths and openings for other animals to walk through, the muriqui without a doubt are the apex gardeners of the forests above. Not only are they spreading seeds throughout the forest. But by sporadically eating sections out of the tree crowns (or not so sporadically because they are aware of fruiting seasons). So when muriquis thin out the trees it serves as two functions: first it allow more light to penetrate the canopy and reach the forest below which benefits the photosynthetic growth of plants on the forest floor. Second it stimulates new growth, just like trimming any tree or bush would. Muriquis also eat the leaves of vines. Some vine species have the ability to grown and overtake entire trees. Ultimately suffocating and killing the tree. The muriquis keep these wild vines in check by periodically eating their leaves so they do not grow too much. Just enough. Their role is absolutely crucial in healthy balanced forest.
The more muriqui that exists in the Atlantic forests, the more healthy forest that exists along with them. The more forest that exists, the more biodiversity of species and ultimately the more moisture that is stored in the region. This forest cools the region, stores water for surrounding areas and through the act of transpiration, can facilitate small weather cycles or add to larger weather patterns. Everything is connected. And based on their body size and the wide variety of trees and vines they consume, manage and propagate, they play a massive role in a robust, healthy diverse ecosystem. One of the many reasons these creatures must be protected, and their range expanded to connect their reserves.
Watch Rainforest Eye's Muriqui documentary here:
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