Primate community of the tropical rain forests of Saracá-Taqüera National Forest, Pará, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil is the richest country in the world in terms of primate species and the Amazonian rain forest is one of the richest biomes containing 15 (ca. 90%) of the Neotropical primate genera. Although considered key elements in conservation strategies, there is only anecdotal information on primates for several protected areas within the region. Here we present new data on the community composition of the primates in the Saracá-Taqüera National Forest (429,600 ha), an actively mined, bauxite rich area, in Pará, Brazil. We used information from the literature, technical reports, museum data, and interviews conducted with agents from the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Natural Renewable Resources (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis -IBAMA) and members of the local "Quilombo" community. In addition, from July 2003 to June 2007, we carried out 19 field trips ranging from 10 to15 days each, amounting to a total effort of 1,230 hours and 1,420 km of censuses, resulting in 1,034 records of eight primate species (Saguinus martinsi, Saguinus midas, Saimiri sciureus, Cebus apella, Pithecia pithecia, Chiropotes sagulatus, Ateles paniscus, and Alouatta macconelli). Two other species (Cebus olivaceus and Aotus trivirgatus) were recorded only indirectly, through interviews and literature data. In all, Alouatta macconelli was the most frequently recorded species (43% of all records); while Saguinus midas and P. pithecia were the least (ca. 0.4 and 0.6% of all records). Based on our results, we discuss group sizes as well as taxonomic problems concerning the genera Pithecia and Chiropotes, for which we registered individuals displaying phenotypic geographical variation and two different forms, respectively. Despite the deforestation inherent in bauxite mining, the Saracá-Taqüera National Forest still has a remarkable richness of primate species. Our study results place this National Forest amongst the richest reserves, in terms of primate species, in the Amazon region.

How Different Are Robust and Gracile Capuchin Monkeys? An Argument for the Use ofSapajusandCebus

“…In particular, C. olivaceus sightings were greatly reduced in areas where they co‐existed with S. apella ; Lehman's explanation was scramble competition rather than intergroup competition between the two species. Oliveira et al's [] survey of Saracá‐Taqüera National Forest, Pará, Brazil, found S. apella to be the most abundant primate, and they never directly observed C. olivaceus , despite reports of it living in the area and C. olivaceus museum specimens from there. Surveys in northern French Guiana showed that in 15 of 16 sites where both capuchin species were present, S. apella was more abundant than C. olivaceus .…”

Mammals of the Saracá-Taquera National Forest, northwestern Pará, Brazil

“…Type of record: VO = visual observation, V = vocalization, T = track, F = feces, B = burrow, C = carcass, CT = camera trap, LT = live trap, PT = pitfall trap, I = interview. Global (IUCN 2016), National (MMA 2014) and Regional (Pará 2006) only by interviews and published records (Oliveira et al 2009). The wedge-capped capuchin, C. olivaceus, has been recorded from the left margin of the Trombetas River (Oliveira et al 2009), although the STNF is located on the right margin.…”

“…Global (IUCN 2016), National (MMA 2014) and Regional (Pará 2006) only by interviews and published records (Oliveira et al 2009). The wedge-capped capuchin, C. olivaceus, has been recorded from the left margin of the Trombetas River (Oliveira et al 2009), although the STNF is located on the right margin. In the Amazon, rivers typically act as geographic barriers to primates (Peres et al 1996;Boubli et al 2015).…”

Ficha de Alouatta belzebul

“…Dessa forma, a espécie ocorre nas florestas de várzea e em manchas de floresta inseridas em matriz de savana nos municípios de Santana, Macapá, Mazagão, Itaubal, Cutias, Ferreira Gomes e Porto Grande. O registro da espécie no município de Oriximiná, no Pará, é provavelmente um equívoco, pois a espécie que ocorre naquela região é A. macconnelli (Oliveira et al, 2009), que é amplamente distribuída ao longo da margem norte do rio Amazonas. É preciso uma maior amostragem no interflúvio Iriri-Xingu, pois não se sabe ao certo qual espécie de Alouatta ocorre nessa região.…”