They pollinate flowers as they feed on nectar. The importance of monkeys is seed dispersal is well known and some seeds are significantly more likely to germinate if they are passed through a primate s digestive system. Others germinate up to 10 days sooner with the monkey s help than is the case if they simply fall from the tree or are carried off and dropped without being eaten. Capuchins are preyed upon by jaguars and large birds of prey. In French Guiana, capuchin monkeys are the harpy eagle's second most important source of food.
Capuchins show signs of alarm to predators such as ocelots, boa constrictors and even caimans.
Tufted capuchins are often found sharing their space with other primates. These different species probably gain the added protection of more eyes to look out for predators as they forage. To avoid competition, each species usually exploits a different niche of their habitat. However, during the dry season, the White-Fronted usually chase off the Tufted. Although they are generally considered abundant in the wild, some subspecies are threatened by habitat destruction and hunting.