Feeding Ecology of Wild Brown-Nosed Coatis and Garbage Exploration: A Study in Two Ecological Parks

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Coatis are mammals that frequently exploit human food sources, such as dumps in ecological parks. This behavior can lead to changes in food ecology and health problems. To verify the change in the diet of wild coatis, 56 fecal samples were analyzed in two ecological parks visited by tourists, Parque Municipal das Mangabeiras (PMM) and Parque Nacional do Caparaó (PNC). Multivariate statistics were applied to evaluate the interactions among four variables (volume, composition, place, and sex of coatis). A significant interaction between parks and sexes with regard to volume and food category was not found. A decreasing gradient in volume was found in PNC males, followed by the PNC females, PMM males, and PMM females. No differences were found in categories of food between males and females from PNC and PMM, except for invertebrates, as females from PNC consumed more invertebrates than individuals from PMM. The coatis of both parks primarily consume invertebrates and vegetables, but garbage residues were found in feces. Human food and garbage fragments change feeding ecology. Garbage residues cause risks to the health of coatis. These findings suggest a problem to be addressed in efforts to preserve wild coatis in both parks. ABSTRACT: Wild animals that feed on garbage waste are a problem in ecological parks as it can substantially alter their food ecology. Wild coatis that occupy human recreation areas in parks are often observed feeding on garbage, but the ecological consequences are scarcely known. Forty-four fecal samples from females and 12 from males of wild coatis living in two ecological parks (Parque Municipal das Mangabeiras (PMM) and Parque Nacional do Caparaó (PNC)) were analyzed. Multivariate statistics were applied to evaluate the interaction between four variables (fecal volume, composition, place and sex of coatis). A significant interaction between the parks and sexes with regard to volume and food category was not found. Ungrouped analysis allowed for the identification of a decreasing gradient in volume from PNC males, followed by PNC females, PMM males, and PMM females. We did not find differences between categories of food between males and females from PNC and PMM, except for invertebrates. Females from PNC consumed more invertebrates than males and females of PMM, but we did not find differences from PNC males. The coatis of both parks primarily consume invertebrates and vegetables, but garbage residues were found in their feces. Garbage fragments, such as paper, glass, metal, plastic and rope, cause a risk to the health, compromising the conservation efforts of wild coatis. Actions are needed to prevent the access of coatis to dumps in both parks.