DECLINE OF A PRIMATE COMMUNITY FOLLOWING A YELLOW FEVER OUTBREAK IN THE BRAZILIAN ATLANTIC FOREST |
C. B. Possamai1, S. L. Mendes2,3 and K. B. Strier4
1Muriqui Institute of Biodiveristy, Caratinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo-UFES, Vitória-ES, Brazil , 3Instituto Nacional da Mata Atlântica – INMA, Santa Teresa-ES, Brazil., 4Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI 53706, USA |
 |
| We monitored the population demography of three primate species following a yellow fever outbreak in Caratinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil, at the Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural - Feliciano Miguel Abdala (RPPN-FMA), and compared to census data from 2015. Six expeditions were conducted at roughly 2-month intervals between May 2017-April 2018 to determine the size and composition of the surviving populations of brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba), buffy-headed marmosets (Callithrix flaviceps) and black horned capuchins (Sapajus nigritus). We obtained 243 records, n=105 of howlers distributed across 28 groups, n=7 of marmosets in 3 groups, and n=131 capuchins in 14 groups. Group size and composition for howlers ranged from 2-5 individuals, with 1 adult male, 1-2 adult females and 0-2 infants. Marmoset group sizes ranged from 2-3 individuals, age-sex classes could not be identified, and capuchin group sizes ranged from 4-14 individuals, with 1-2 adult males, 1-7 adult females, and 1-5 juveniles and infants of both sexes. Extrapolating from our sample area to the entire forest, we estimate population declines of >80% of howlers, >90% of marmosets and 40-50% of capuchins population, compared to 2015. These findings complement long-term demographic data on sympatric northern muriquis (Brachyteles hypoxanthus), and highlight the importance of long-term demographic data for understanding the variation in species’ responses to disease. Supported by National Geographic Society and Primate Action Fund-CI. |
|
|