Pitheciine Action Group
Pitheciins: The Challenge of Living in Fragments
Ferrari, S.F., S. Boyle, L.K. Marsh, M. Port-Carvalho, R.S. Santos,
S.S. Silva, T.M. Vieira, J.C. Vié & L.M. Veiga
Pitheciins are specialized frugivores, in many ways similar in their
ecological requirements to the atelins. Together, these platyrrhines are
seen as the most vulnerable to anthropogenic habitat fragmentation
(AHF). However, many recent studies have revealed that species of both
tribes are relatively tolerant of AHF, at least in the absence of hunting
pressure. Recent data have shown that Chiropotes is able to survive in
fragments of reduced size, often less than 20 hectares. Pithecia, the
least specialized for seed predation, appears to be at least as tolerant of
AHF, as might be expected. Little is known of the effects of AHF on
Cacajao, although this genus is specialized for survival in a dynamic
environment characterized by shifting landscapes, and reduced species
diversity. How this may translate to the man-made setting remains to be
seen. In all cases, tolerance is mediated by hunting pressure, and
populations are rare or absent from even large fragments, when hunting
is significant. Pitheciins are more difficult targets than atelines, and less
lucrative in terms of body weight, but AHF may make them more
lucrative, through the loss of preferred game, and more easily hunted,
through the loss of cover and canopy continuity. Where hunting
pressure is controlled, long-term toleration of AHF will ultimately depend
on fragment size and connectivity, which will determine genetic variability
and the role of stochastic events.
Return to symposium programme
Ferrari, S.F., S. Boyle, L.K. Marsh, M. Port-Carvalho, R.S. Santos,
S.S. Silva, T.M. Vieira, J.C. Vié & L.M. Veiga
Pitheciins are specialized frugivores, in many ways similar in their
ecological requirements to the atelins. Together, these platyrrhines are
seen as the most vulnerable to anthropogenic habitat fragmentation
(AHF). However, many recent studies have revealed that species of both
tribes are relatively tolerant of AHF, at least in the absence of hunting
pressure. Recent data have shown that Chiropotes is able to survive in
fragments of reduced size, often less than 20 hectares. Pithecia, the
least specialized for seed predation, appears to be at least as tolerant of
AHF, as might be expected. Little is known of the effects of AHF on
Cacajao, although this genus is specialized for survival in a dynamic
environment characterized by shifting landscapes, and reduced species
diversity. How this may translate to the man-made setting remains to be
seen. In all cases, tolerance is mediated by hunting pressure, and
populations are rare or absent from even large fragments, when hunting
is significant. Pitheciins are more difficult targets than atelines, and less
lucrative in terms of body weight, but AHF may make them more
lucrative, through the loss of preferred game, and more easily hunted,
through the loss of cover and canopy continuity. Where hunting
pressure is controlled, long-term toleration of AHF will ultimately depend
on fragment size and connectivity, which will determine genetic variability
and the role of stochastic events.
Return to symposium programme
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SYMPOSIUM
Pitheciins: Ecology & Conservation
XXI Congress of the International Primatological Society
Pitheciins: Ecology & Conservation
XXI Congress of the International Primatological Society
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