Influence of landscape attributes on occurrence of primates and density of Callicebus nigrifrons in the northeast of São Paulo State, Brazil

Carla Cristina Gestich

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Author(s):	Carla Cristina Gestich Total Authors: 1
Document type:	Doctoral Thesis
Press:	Campinas, SP.
Institution:	Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia
Defense date:	2016-10-24
Examining board members:	Eleonore Zulnara Freire Setz; Júlio César Bicca Marques; Erica Hasui; Alexandre Uezu; Marina Corrêa Côrtes
Advisor:	Eleonore Zulnara Freire Setz; Rogério Grassetto Teixeira Da Cunha
Abstract
Currently, the habitat loss and fragmentation, driven by intense human land use, is the main threat to biodiversity. Forest specialists, such as the Neotropical primates, are particularly vulnerable to changes in landscape structure. In the northeast of São Paulo State, region under intense fragmentation and deforestation, four species (Alouatta caraya, Sapajus nigritus, Callicebus nigrifrons, and Callithrix penicillata) occur in sympatry. We evaluated the influence of landscape attributes on these primate species. We surveyed 17 forest patches to determine the presence of primates species, and where titi monkeys (C. nigrifrons) were detected we estimated titi monkeys density and evaluated their respose to playback stimlus. Firstly, we evaluated the landscape size (scale of effect) that best predicted the primates responses to changes in landscape attributes. After that, we tested the influence of landscape structure on species richness, titi monkeys density, and titi monkeys¿ vocal behavior (representing their resource defense behavior). Primates response to landscape change are scale dependent, having strong effects in different spatial scales according to the landscape variables and biological response evaluated. Species richness was strongly associated to the vegetation type of focal patch and negatively to the forest cover and forest edge density. The structural complexity and higher plant diversity in the focal patch possibly support a high number of species. Moreover, the probability of registering a species in the focal patches is increased in landscapes with low habitat availability. Titi monkeys density was strong and negatively affected by landscape forest cover, a relationship potentiated by the magnitude of forest partitioning. In the short term, this landscape features can lead to an increase in the number of individuals in the few remnants. But, this increase of animals density can also be promoted by other processes occurring under this landscape scenario, such as the reduction on predation rate. However, the increase of primates density should be observed with cautions, because in the long term this situation can have a negative effect to the species. Besides, the forest cover also influenced the titi monkeys¿ vocal behavior, which increased according to the increment of forest cover in the landscapes. This behavioral response suggests that resource availability in the landscape may influence the resource defense behavior of primates species. Therefore, landscape structure affected primates in different levels, from behavioral patterns to population dynamics and community (AU)

FAPESP's process:	12/14245-2 - Influence of landscape parameters on the occurrence of primates and density of Callicebus nigrifrons in the Northeast of São Paulo State
Grantee:	Carla Cristina Gestich
Support Opportunities:	Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate

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