Habitat use by Callicebus coimbrai (Primates: Pitheciidae) and sympatric species in the fragmented landscape of the Atlantic Forest of southern Sergipe, Brazil

Abstract

Anthropogenic habitat fragmentation is a chronic problem throughout the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. In the present study, four forest fragments of 60-120 ha were surveyed on a rural property in southern Sergipe, where two endangered primate species, Callicebus coimbrai Kobayashi & Langguth, 1999 and Cebus xanthosternos Wied-Neuwied, 1826, are found. Two transects were established in each fragment, and the predominant habitat in 50 m sectors was assigned to one of three categories (mature forest, secondary forest and anthropogenic forest). Standard line transect surveys of the resident primate populations - which included a third species, Callitrhix jacchus Linnaeus, 1758 - were conducted, with a total of 476 km walked transect, resulting in 164 primate sightings. At each sighting of a primate, the habitat class was recorded and the height of the individual above the ground was estimated. The analysis indicated a significant (p < 0.05) preference for mature forest in C. xanthosternos which was also observed more frequently in the larger and better preserved fragments. No clear habitat preference was verified in the other two species, although both were relatively more abundant in the smaller fragments. However, a tendency to avoid anthropogenic forest was observed in C. coimbrai. Callitrhix jacchus used significantly lower (p < 0.05) forest strata than the other species, although other differences were unclear, presumably because of the reduced stature of the forest in the fragments. Overall, the results of the study indicate that C. xanthosternos is tolerant of the effects of habitat fragmentation, and that differential habitat use may play an important role in niche partitioning

Responses of wild titi monkeys, Callicebus coimbrai (Primates: Platyrrhini: Pitheciidae), to the habituation process

“…data), and has been reported by local residents at a number of other sites, indicating that it may be a typical predator-avoidance strategy in this genus, although one which may vary considerably among individuals or groups, depending on either intrinsic (individual variation or experience) or environmental factors. Titis generally prefer the lower forest strata (KINZEY 1981, PALACIOS et al 1997, FERRARI et al 2000, a pattern that may be reinforced at the present study site, due to the low stature of the forest (CHAGAS & FERRARI 2010).…”

“…Habitat quality was evaluated within each study area based on the approach of CHAGAS & FERRARI (2010), which was applied to the assessment of habitat at the same study site. The procedure is based on the comparative assessment of a series of variables: mean canopy height; percentage canopy cover; understory density; and the density of lianas and pioneer trees (e.g.…”

Estimating Population Density of the San Martin Titi Monkey (Callicebus oenanthe) in Peru Using Vocalisations

“…Callicebus is found in disturbed, fragmented, secondary and primary forests [Heiduck, 2002;Michalski and Peres, 2005;Chagas and Ferrari, 2010;Kulp and Heymann, 2015]. We found most groups in the border between primary and sec- ondary forest.…”

Predator-prey interaction between two threatened species in a Brazilian hotspot

“…Indeed, capuchins change foraging areas to those where birds nests are more likely to be found (Jason & Boinski 1992). Despite that populations of capuchins are reported to increase in small forest fragments, this is not the case for S. xanthosternos that is more commonly seen in large blocks of forests, from where most of the apex predators have already been wiped out, and are often absent from small fragments (Chagas andFerrari 2010, Canale et al 2012). Due to overhunting in the northeastern Atlantic Forest, the yellowbreasted capuchin and the red-billed curassow are currently restricted to large forest patches (IBAMA 2004, Canale et al 2012.…”