A dataset of new occurrence records of primates from the arc of deforestation, Brazil

​​​​​​​The so-called arc of deforestation is a major agricultural and industrial frontier in southern Amazonia and northern Cerrado of Brazil. As arboreal mammals, the primates in this region are therefore threatened by forest loss and fragmentation. At the same time, knowledge about the taxonomic diversity and distribution ranges of these taxa is incomplete, which might hamper efficient conservation measurements. New species have been recently discovered in this region, and their ranges remain imprecise because only a few occurrence records are available for each species. Here we present 192 new records of 22 species and subspecies of Alouatta, Aotus, Ateles, Cebus, Chiropotes, Lagothrix, Leontocebus, Pithecia, Plecturocebus, Saimiri, and Sapajus, collected in 56 different localities during 10 field expeditions across the arc of deforestation between 2015 and 2018. Based on these new records, we extend the ranges of Alouatta puruensis, Ateles chamek, and Saimiri collinsi; identify potential hybridization zones between A. puruensis and A. discolor, and between At. chamek and At. marginatus; redefine the range of Plecturocebus moloch; and clarify the ranges of P. baptista and P. hoffmannsi. Moreover, these results and the dataset are valuable for further research on, for example, species distribution and habitat use modeling, for assessing species extinction risks, and for supporting efforts for the conservation of species increasingly threatened on a global deforestation frontier.</p

Down from the treetops: Red langur (Presbytis rubicunda) terrestrial behaviour

Using direct observations and camera traps at eight sites across Indonesian Borneo we show how red langurs (Presbytis rubicunda) are more terrestrial than previously believed, regularly coming to the ground. This unusual behavior has been found at six of the eight sites surveyed. We find that red langurs come to the ground more frequently in disturbed forests, specifically ones which have been impacted by logging, fire, and hunting, though more data are needed to confirm this as a direct correlation. We also found a trend towards decreased ground use with increased elevation of the habitat. When on the ground, red langurs are predominantly engaged in feeding (50% direct observations, 61% camera traps) and traveling (29% direct observations, 13% camera traps). Red langurs are found on the ground throughout the day, at similar times to activity periods of the apex predator, the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi). We suggest that ground use by red langurs could be an adaptation to disturbed forest to exploit additional food sources and to facilitate travel

Effects of local habitat variation on the behavioral ecology of two sympatric groups of brown howler monkey (alouatta clamitans)

Although the brown howler monkey (Alouatta clamitans) is a relatively well-studied Neotropical primate, its behavioral and dietary flexibility at the intra-population level remains poorly documented. This study presents data collected on the behavior and ecology of two closely located groups of brown howlers during the same period at the RPPN Feliciano Miguel Abdala in southeastern Brazil. One group occupied a primary valley habitat, henceforth the Valley Group (VG), and the other group occupied a regenerating hillside habitat, the Hill Group (HG). We hypothesized differences in the behavior and ecological parameters between these sympatric groups due to the predicted harsher conditions on the hillside, compared to the valley. We measured several habitat parameters within the home range of both groups and collected data on the activity budget, diet and day range lengths, from August to November 2005, between dawn and dusk. In total, behavioral data were collected for 26 (318 h) and 28 (308 h) sampling days for VG and HG, respectively. As we predicted, HG spent significantly more time feeding and consumed less fruit and more leaves than VG, consistent with our finding that the hillside habitat was of lower quality. However, HG also spent less time resting and more time travelling than VG, suggesting that the monkeys had to expend more time and energy to obtain high-energy foods, such as fruits and flowers that were more widely spaced in their hill habitat. Our results revealed that different locations in this forest vary in quality and raise the question of how different groups secure their home ranges. Fine-grained comparisons such as this are important to prioritize conservation and management areas within a reserve

Terrestrial behavior in titi monkeys (Callicebus, Cheracebus, and Plecturocebus) : potential correlates, patterns, and differences between genera

For arboreal primates, ground use may increase dispersal opportunities, tolerance to habitat change, access to ground-based resources, and resilience to human disturbances, and so has conservation implications. We collated published and unpublished data from 86 studies across 65 localities to assess titi monkey (Callicebinae) terrestriality. We examined whether the frequency of terrestrial activity correlated with study duration (a proxy for sampling effort), rainfall level (a proxy for food availability seasonality), and forest height (a proxy for vertical niche dimension). Terrestrial activity was recorded frequently for Callicebus and Plecturocebus spp., but rarely for Cheracebus spp. Terrestrial resting, anti-predator behavior, geophagy, and playing frequencies in Callicebus and Plecturocebus spp., but feeding and moving differed. Callicebus spp. often ate or searched for new leaves terrestrially. Plecturocebus spp. descended primarily to ingest terrestrial invertebrates and soil. Study duration correlated positively and rainfall level negatively with terrestrial activity. Though differences in sampling effort and methods limited comparisons and interpretation, overall, titi monkeys commonly engaged in a variety of terrestrial activities. Terrestrial behavior in Callicebus and Plecturocebus capacities may bolster resistance to habitat fragmentation. However, it is uncertain if the low frequency of terrestriality recorded for Cheracebus spp. is a genus-specific trait associated with a more basal phylogenetic position, or because studies of this genus occurred in pristine habitats. Observations of terrestrial behavior increased with increasing sampling effort and decreasing food availability. Overall, we found a high frequency of terrestrial behavior in titi monkeys, unlike that observed in other pitheciids

Response of frugivorous primates to changes in fruit supply in a northern Amazonian forest

Few attempts have been made to understand how spatiotemporal changes in fruit supply influence frugivores in tropical forests. The marked spatiotemporal variation in fruit supply can affect frugivore abundance and distribution, but studies addressing the effects of this variation on primates are scarce. The present study aimed to investigate how the spatiotemporal distribution of fruits influences the local distribution of three frugivorous primates in the eastern part of the Maracá Ecological Station, a highly seasonal Amazonian rainforest. Specifically, it was hypothesised that primate distribution will track changes in fruit supply, resulting that sites with high fruit availability should be heavily used by primates. During a 1-year study, fruit supply (ground fruit surveys) and primate density (line-transects) were monitored in twelve 2 km-long transects at monthly intervals. Fruit supply varied seasonally, being low during the dry season. The density of Ateles belzebuth was positively related to fruit supply during fruit shortage, but Cebus olivaceus and Alouatta macconnelli did not follow the same pattern. The supply of Sapotaceae fruit was an important component determining local distribution of A. belzebuth during the overall fruit shortage. Highly frugivorous primates such as A. belzebuth respond to seasonal decline in fruit supply by congregating at places with high fruit supply in this forest, particularly, those with many individuals of species of Sapotaceae. This study underscores the importance of small-scale spatiotemporal changes of fruit supply as a key component of frugivorous primate ecology in highly seasonal environments

Qualidade nutricional e estabilidade oxidativa de manteigas produzidas do leite de vacas alimentadas com cana-de-açucar suplementada com óleo de girassol.

RESUMO - O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o perfil de ácidos graxos (AG), os índices de qualidade nutricional e a estabilidade oxidativa (EO) de manteigas produzidas do leite de vacas alimentadas com dietas à base de cana-de-açúcar contendo níveis crescentes de óleo de girassol (OG): 0 (controle); 1,5; 3,0 e 4,5% da matéria seca (MS). O perfil de AG das manteigas foi analisado por cromatografia gasosa, e a EO foi determinada utilizando-se o equipamento Rancimat®, modelo 743, operado a 120ºC e fluxo de ar de 20L/h. As concentrações dos AG rumênico (CLA cis-9, trans-11), vacênico (C18:1 trans-11) e oleico (C18:1 cis-9) na gordura das manteigas foram aumentadas em 867, 687 e 148%, respectivamente, à medida que se aumentou de 0 para 4,5% o nível de OG na dieta. Por outro lado, as concentrações dos AG saturados de cadeia média foram linearmente reduzidas (P<0,0001) na gordura das manteigas, em razão do incremento de OG nas dietas. Quanto aos índices de qualidade nutricional, houve redução linear (P<0,0001) no índice de aterogenicidade e no de trombogenicidade e aumento da relação entre AG hipo e hipercolesterolêmicos, em resposta ao aumento do nível de OG na dieta. Consistente com o incremento (P<0,0001) nas concentrações totais dos AG mono e poli-insaturados, a EO da gordura das manteigas foi linearmente reduzida (P<0,0001) em razão do incremento de OG nas dietas. Concluiu-se que a suplementação com OG melhorou a qualidade nutricional das manteigas produzidas do leite de vacas Holandês x Gir devido a mudanças positivas no perfil de AG da gordura. Entretanto, tais mudanças na composição dos AG da gordura foram acompanhadas de redução da EO das manteigas, associada à menor vida de prateleira. ABSTRACT - The objective of this study was to evaluate the fatty acid (FA) profile, nutritional quality and oxidative stability (OE) indexes of butter obtained from milk of cows fed sugar cane-based diets containing increasing levels of sunflower oil (SO): 0 (Control); 1.5; 3.0 and 4.5% of diet DM. The butter FA profile was analyzed by gas chromatography and OE was determined using the Rancimat® equipment (model 743) operated at 120ºC and air flow of 20 L/h. The concentrations of rumenic acid (cis-9 trans-11 CLA), vaccenic acid (trans-11 C18:1) and oleic acid (cis-9 C18:1) in butter fat were increased by 867, 687 and 148%, respectively, as the dietary SO level increased from 0 to 4.5%. In contrast, the concentrations of medium chain saturated FA were linearly reduced (P<0.05) in butter fat from cows fed increasing levels of SO. Regarding the butter nutritional quality, a linear decrease (P<0.0001) in atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indexes and a linear increase (P<0.0001) in the hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio were observed compared to control, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5% SO, respectively. Consistent with the increased (P<0.0001) concentration of mono and polyunsaturated FA, the OE of butter fat was linearly reduced (P<0.0001) as the dietary SO level increased. It was concluded that diet supplementation with SO improved the nutritional quality of butter fat of Holstein x Gir dairy cows as a result of positive changes in milk FA profile. However, these changes in milk FA composition were accompanied by a reduction in the SO of butter, which in turn is associated with a shorter shelf life