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Due to human activities, the Colombian Andean forests have lost about 85% of their original cover and very few species of primates persist in these fragmented landscapes. In the Western Cordillera, we evaluated the population density of Alouatta seniculus and Cebus capucinus by line transect census methodology, in a pre-montane isolated forest fragment of 559 ha, between 1200 to 1700 m of altitude. This is one of the few localities where the two species coexist naturally and the first study of their abundance in this cordillera. As we expected according to their diet and strategies, howlers had a higher density, 169 indv/km2 and an abundance of ~943 individuals. By contrast, the capuchins had a lower density, 13.5 ind/km2 with a population of ~76 individuals. Despite contrasting abundance, both species’ conservation in this isolated fragment will depend on landscape-level management to decrease isolation and increase habitat availability in the long term.

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The Department of Caldas, Central Andes of Colombia, has two National Natural Parks protecting strategic Andean ecosystems.  However, the available information on mammals in these protected areas has not been compiled or updated recently.  Here, we present an updated inventory of the mammals present in the Selva de Florencia National Natural Park.  To construct the inventory, we used historical (museum vouchers) and recent records obtained during field activities over the last 20 years.  We used several trapping methods including Sherman and Tomahawk traps, mist nets, and camera traps.  We documented 81 mammal species belonging to nine orders, 25 families and 59 genera.  Bats (Chiroptera: 30 spp.), rodents (Rodentia: 17 spp.), and carnivores (Carnivora: 13 spp.) were the most diverse groups, representing 73.2 % of recorded species.  We also recorded orders such as Didelphimorphia (8 species), Primates (5), Pilosa (3), Artiodactyla (2), Cingulata (2), and Eulipotyphla (1).  Also, we recorded two endemic species (Marmosops chucha and Cryptotis colombianus) and two new species for the Department of Caldas (Bassaricyon neblina and Heteromys aff. anomalus).  These species constitute elements of the Andean region and the Nor-Andean and Chocó-Magdalena biogeographic provinces.  We highlight the presence of four endangered primates (Aotus lemurinus, Ateles hybridus, Cebus versicolor, and Saguinus leucopus), two of which are endemic to Colombia: S. leucopus and C. versicolor. This work is the baseline to update the management plan of the protected area, from the review of its conservation targets, the definition of the specific management goals, to its effective monitoring.

No abstract