Gabriel García

Diversity, Abundance and Habitats of the Primates in the Río Curaray Basin, Peruvian Amazonia

Abstract: Western Amazonia is one of the regions of the world with the highest terrestrial biodiversity. We conducted transect censuses between November and December 2012 in order to determine the diversity and the densities of primate populations, and their group sizes and habitat use in the Río Curaray region. During 610 km of transect surveys, we encountered 304 groups of 13 primate species. Woolly monkeys, Lagothrix poeppigii, were the most frequently observed (n = 49 sightings) and pygmy marmosets, Cebuella pygmaea, the least (n = 8). Population density was lowest for howler monkeys, Alouatta seniculus (9.8 individuals km-2) and saki monkeys, Pithecia aequatorialis (11.8 individuals km-2) and highest for squirrel monkeys, Saimiri macrodon (65.0 individuals km-2) and woolly monkeys (65.3 individuals km-2). Primate groups were most frequently encountered in “palmales de altura” (97 encounters of 12 species). In conclusion, the Río Curaray region harbors a very high diversity of primates, matching other sites in Amazonia and worldwide, and populations there are evidently healthy and well conserved. We recommend the creation of a protected area contiguous with the Yasuní National Park in Ecuador.

Current Status and Threats to Lagothrix flavicauda and Other Primates in Montane Forest of the Región Huánuco

Abstract: We report on the current status and threats to Lagothrix flavicauda and other primates that inhabit montane forest of the Región Huánuco; an area that has been little explored with regard to its primate fauna and other mammals. During 618 km of transect walks in June–July 2014 and September–October 2014, we encountered 47 groups of five primate species, the most common being Alouatta seniculus (15 groups) and Lagothrix flavicauda (13 groups). We also observed four groups of Aotus sp. in the Miraflores census site. Lagothrix flavicauda was seen only in the microbasin of the Río Chontayacu, and Ateles chamek in the upper Río Huallaga. The primates were living in patches of primary and remnant forest surrounded by farmland and pasture except in Chontayacu, where the forest is still dense and extensive. Of the three species with complete counts, group sizes were largest for L. flavicauda (mean 13.6 ±7.8, n = 5) and smallest for A. seniculus (mean 5 ±3.5, n = 11). Population densities were highest for L. flavicauda (20.8 ind./km2) and lowest for Sapajus macrocephalus (2.7 ind./km2). Deforestation for agriculture and cattle ranching and hunting are the major threats to the survival of these primates. Sapajus macrocephalus and Cebus yuracus were the most affected by these threats, particularly in the Río Chinchao microbasin,

Reconocimiento de Primates y Amenazas Para su Supervivencia en Bosques Pre- Montano y Montano de la Region Cajamarca, Perú

Resumen Llevamos a cabo un reconocimiento de corta duración de los bosques pre montano y montano de la Región Cajamarca para determinar las especies de primates que la habitan e identificar las amenazas para la supervivencia de sus poblaciones. Desde Octubre a Noviembre de 2012 se realizaron censos por transecto en nueve puntos de muestreo pertenecientes a los sectores de Huamantanga y Torohuaca y adicionalmente entrevistamos a nueve personas. En 218 km recorridos fueron registrados 20 grupos pertenecientes a Alouatta seniculus (6 grupos), Cebus yuracus (6 grupos) y Aotus sp. (8 grupos). El tamaño promedio de los grupos fue 3.2 para Aotus sp., 7.7 para A. seniculus y 14.0 para C. yuracus. La tasa de avistamiento más alta fue para Aotus sp. (6.6 a 7 individuos/10 km y la más baja para A. seniculus (1.92 a 2.54 individuos/ 10 km). En el caso de Aotus sp., no fue posible identificar la especie, pero podría tratarse de A. vociferans o una especie nueva. En el área de estudio, las principales amenazas para la supervivencia de los primates son la deforestación y quema de la vegetación.