Applying statistical models for the conservation of the endangered red-billed curassow

• Grant number: 13/09970-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: September 05, 2013
• End date: January 04, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology
• Principal Investigator: Luís Fábio Silveira
• Grantee: Fernanda Alves de Amorim
• Supervisor: German Manuel Lopez Iborra
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad de Alicante (UA), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/08265-0 - Population density, social organization and habitat selection by the Red-billed Curassow, in the Reserva Natural Vale, Linhares, Espírito Santo, BP.MS

Abstract

The lack of information regarding the ecology of many endangered species represents a problem when planning conservation strategies. The Red-billed Curassow is a member of the Cracidae family one of the most endangered groups in the Neotropics. This species is endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic forest and once was found in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia and Espírito Santo, however due to deforestation and hunting pressure now the Red-billed Curassow is restricted to a few remnants in Southern Bahia and North Espírito Santo and is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List. Little is known about the biology and status of this species that had never been studied in the wild. From March 2012 to February 2013 we conducted field work to collect data regarding population density and habitat selection in the Reserva Natural Vale. This project is part of a master's project (Process: 2012/08265-0) funded by FAPESP and aims to carry out an internship in the laboratory of Ecology at the University of Alicante in Spain in order to improve the knowledge of the principal investigator in statistical analysis using the program DISTANCE and the free software R. The results will be of paramount importance to develop and implement management strategies for the conservation of the Red-billed Curassow. Besides the experience with statistical analyses that will be gained during the internship will have immediate application in conservation projects of other endangered species enabling the dissemination of knowledge in other Brazilian research groups. (AU)