Food competition in pairs of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

This study examined the effects of dispersal of food and amount of difficulty involved in obtaining food on food competition in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Mated pairs of C. jacchus were presented with food in four different configurations, each of which involved food that was either dispersed or concentrated, and either difficult or easy to obtain. Analysis of each animal's food consumption, as well as searching and aggressive behaviors, showed that both dispersal and amount of difficulty in obtaining food had little effect on food competition. There were significant effects of both aggression and amount of time spent searching on amount of food consumed. Females obtained more food than males in all situations, apparently because they were more aggressive and more motivated to search for food than were males.