Demographic monitoring of wild muriqui populations: Criteria for defining priority areas and monitoring intensity

Abstract

Demographic data are essential to assessments of the status of endangered species. However, establishing an integrated monitoring program to obtain useful data on contemporary and future population trends requires both the identification of priority areas and populations and realistic evaluations of the kinds of data that can be obtained under different monitoring regimes. We analyzed all known populations of a critically endangered primate, the muriqui (genus: Brachyteles) using population size, genetic uniqueness, geographic importance (including potential importance in corridor programs) and implementability scores to define monitoring priorities. Our analyses revealed nine priority populations for the northern muriqui (B. hypoxanthus) and nine for the southern muriqui (B. arachnoides). In addition, we employed knowledge of muriqui developmental and life history characteristics to define the minimum monitoring intensity needed to evaluate demographic trends along a continuum ranging from simple descriptive changes in population size to predictions of population changes derived from individual based life histories. Our study, stimulated by the Brazilian government’s National Action Plan for the Conservation of Muriquis, is fundamental to meeting the conservation goals for this genus, and also provides a model for defining priorities and methods for the implementation of integrated demographic monitoring programs for other endangered and critically endangered species of primates.

The what and where of primate field research may be failing primate conservation

“…It can also be argued that there are advantages to keeping some field sites free of scientific monitoring. Strier et al argue that researchers should consider local context and the ramifications of habituation and/or bringing attention to a given primate populations. They suggest that researchers assess both the scientific and conservation value of monitoring primate individuals.…”

Phylogeographic evidence for two species of muriqui (genusBrachyteles)

“…While the northern‐most B. arachnoides population overlaps B. hypoxanthus latitudinally at Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos (PARNASO) and Parque Estadual do Desengano in Rio de Janeiro (Cunha, Grelle, & Boubli, ), the species are nonetheless separated by approximately 160 km to both the east (PARNASO) and south (São Francisco Xavier, SP). Given the geographic proximity between southern and northern muriqui populations both in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo—and given the large extent of forest remnants in this region—it is still plausible that a small contact zone exists between the two species in this region (Strier et al, ), a possibility that is also suggested by species distribution models (Ingberman et al, ). Future research in the region near the PNI is warranted to better characterize this population, primarily focusing on a possible hybrid zone.…”

“…(a) Inset of South America highlighting Brazil (green), the Atlantic Forest domain (light green), and an approximated region where muriquis are found (rectangle). (b) Historic distribution of B. hypoxanthus (pink polygons) and B. arachnoides (brown polygon) according to (Ingberman et al, ; Strier et al, ). Yellow dots mark sampling sites for northern and southern muriquis, respectively, and crosses mark unsampled muriqui sites based on recent surveys (Jerusalinsky et al, and references therein).…”

“…In 2005, a group of stakeholders including scientists, zookeepers, public agents, NGOs, and managers of protected areas began discussions to establish a series of priorities and strategies to protect muriquis from extinction. In 2010, this effort resulted in the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Muriquis which was officially recognized by the Brazilian Government (Jerusalinsky, Talebi, & Melo, ; Strier et al, ). One of the goals set by this plan was to measure the genetic diversity within and between southern and northern muriquis to test the species boundaries and inform both in situ and ex situ conservation actions.…”

Primates in peril: the significance of Brazil, Madagascar, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for global primate conservation

“…For example, almost 80% of the total localities of Atlantic Forest where muriquis ( Brachyteles spp.) presently inhabit are protected areas (private or governmental—state and federal units, Strier et al, 2017 ). In Central Africa, a long-term study (2007–2014) in which camera traps were used to census terrestrial mammals found strong evidence of stability in several threatened African primates such as the l’Hoest’s monkey, mandrills ( Mandrillus sphinx ) and chimpanzees ( Beaudrot et al, 2016 ).…”