Population ecology of free-ranging brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba clamitans) in southern Brazil / Ecologia Populacional de Bugios-Ruivos (Alouatta guariba) nos Municípios de Porto Alegre e Viamão, RS, Brasil

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2005

RESUMO

Population parameters are important indicators of how populations are overcoming unfavourable conditions and of their perspectives of long term survival. Ten groups of brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba clamitans) living in three forest fragments around the cities of Porto Alegre and Viamão, RS, were followed bimonthly from December 1999 to December 2001. Thirteen expeditions were carried out and the following information was registered: date, time, location, and social composition of each group. The average interval between the expeditions was 50.2 days, with a total of 142 days on site and 214 encounters with groups of howler monkeys. The groups had an average size of 8.2 individuals, 1.3 adult males; 2.6 adult females; 0.3 subadult males; 0.8 juveniles II; 2.3 juveniles I; 0.6 infants II and 0.4 infants I. All groups presented alterations in social composition during the two-year period. Thirty-one births were registered, with an annual birth rate of 0.6 per adult female. The average interval between births was estimated in 14.7 months. Sixteen disappearances cases (emigrations and/or deaths) and the immigration of one adult female were observed during this period. Five additional disappearances cases within the study groups were considered in order to enhance the analysis. They all occurred in 1999 and were observed during the pilot period or reported by other researchers. The estimated average home range of all ten groups during the two-year monitoring was 4.4 ha using the minimum convex polygon method, and 4.2 ha using the grid method (25x25m). The area of individual use varied between 0.2 and 1.1, with an average of 0.5 ha per individual. The overlap of home range varied between 0 and 39%. Population density and size of fragments were the most important factors determining the size of use area and seem to be better predictors for the species as a whole. The results demonstrated an average group size superior to that found in literature, high reproductive rates and relevant variations in the social composition of groups, indicating population increase and intense group dynamics. However, the long term survival of these populations is uncertain due to the high pressure of urban occupation and the consequent fragmentation of their habitat, making the effective dispersal of individuals more difficult, and increasing the chances of depression by inbreeding

ASSUNTO(S)

sexual behavior in animals alouatta guariba biologia - população alouatta guariba comportamento sexual dos animais population ecology home range

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