Spatial patterns of primate hunting in riverine communities in Central Amazonia

Abstract

In many regions primates are an important dietary resource for isolated human populations, and they are among the most hunted species by traditional and indigenous communities in the Neotropics. Little is known about the characteristics or the spatial and temporal patterns of hunting, which limits a more detailed evaluation of its impact. We describe, quantify and analyse the spatial dynamics of primate hunting in the várzea (seasonally flooded forest) and paleovárzea (characterized by a series of low-lying ridges interspersed with flooded depressions, which result from cyclical depositional processes) environments of Central Amazonia, based on the monitoring of riverine communities at the Amanã and Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserves over an 11-year period. During this time 402 primate hunting events were recorded, involving the harvesting of 541 individuals of nine species: Alouatta juara, Aotus cf. vociferans, Ateles chamek, Cacajao ouakary, Callicebus lucifer, Cebus albifrons, Saguinus inustus, Saimiri cassiquiarensis and Sapajus macrocephalus. Two hundred and forty of these hunts occurred in the paleovárzea and 162 in the várzea. The distances travelled by the hunters from their communities to the kill sites were significantly different between the environments, with longer distances being covered in the paleovárzea. Hunters in the paleovárzea also hunted across significantly larger areas than those in the várzea. The continuous monitoring of hunting areas and the gathering of data on the exploitation of species are necessary to understand the effects of hunting, as well as to support decision making in the management of the local fauna by traditional communities, and the development of effective conservation strategies for the local game species.

Hunting Agreements as a Strategy for the Conservation of Species: The Case of the Cazumbá-Iracema Extractive Reserve, State of Acre, Brazil

“…The results indicate a greater slaughter of species without a hunting ban. However, this result may be masked by other factors, such as abundance and spatial distribution of prey and the dynamics of hunting territories (Collinge 2001, Constantino 2015, Pereira et al 2017, as later evidenced by the justifications for not hunting certain species. These factors will also influence the rate of slaughter.…”

Negative seroprevalence forToxoplasma gondiiin free‐living primates from Central Amazonia

“…Into the One Health context, T. gondii infection in primates poses a direct risk to human health, especially for traditional populations in Amazonia, for which primates can be important source of protein 26 . Furthermore, infected primates can indirectly help to spread the pathogen by infecting their natural predators, the big cats, which are the parasite's definitive hosts and play an essential role in the maintenance and stability of ecosystems 27 .…”

“…a direct risk to human health, especially for traditional populations in Amazonia, for which primates can be important source of protein. 26 Furthermore, infected primates can indirectly help to spread the pathogen by infecting their natural predators, the big cats, which are the parasite's definitive hosts and play an essential role in the maintenance and stability of ecosystems. 27 This study found no evidence that primate populations in the region have had contact with the parasite, although the low sampling of individuals per species (1-4 individuals) may have resulted in inaccurate estimates of T. gondii prevalence in these populations.…”

The sustainable development goals in two sustainable development reserves in central amazon: achievements and challenges

“…Wild meat is other important protein source for rural Amazonian populations; however, uncontrolled hunting may lead to a decrease in populations of some species—such as the paca Cuniculus paca [ 18 ]. Thus, it is necessary to quantify the target fauna [ 19 ] and establish the management of the main hunted species [ 20 ]. The regulation and management of subsistence hunting are imperative to ensure food security to the forest inhabitants and the wildlife resources on which they depend.…”