Research Article |
Corresponding author: Atilla C. Ferreguetti ( atilla.ferreguetti@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Valeria Da Cunha Tavares
© 2020 Atilla C. Ferreguetti, Amanda B. M. de Oliveira, Bruno C. Pereira, Ricardo T. Santori, Lena Geise, Helena G. Bergallo.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Ferreguetti AC, de Oliveira ABM, Pereira BC, Santori RT, Geise L, Bergallo HG (2020) Encounter rate and behavior of Alouatta guariba clamitans in the Ilha Grande State Park, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Zoologia 37: 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3897/zoologia.37.e36846
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Alouatta guariba clamitans Cabrera, 1940 is an endemic species of the Atlantic Forest that occurs from south Bahia, Brazil, extending south to the province of Misiones, Argentina. In Rio de Janeiro state, the species was classified as threatened, indicating that attention is needed for the conservation of this taxon. Additionally, an outbreak of yellow fever spread throughout the southeastern states of Brazil from January 2017 until March 2018 seriously threatening Rio de Janeiro populations of the species. Herein, we aimed to provide the first estimates of A. g. clamitans encounter rate, density, and population size in the Ilha Grande State Park (PEIG), which is part of the Atlantic Forest biome of Brazil. Data were collected in two different periods, the first between December 2003 and May 2005, and the second from August 2009 to May 2010, and information on encounter rates and behavior was collected to better understand aspects of species' ecology. The estimated encounter rate in the first period through the distance sampling method was 0.04 ± 0.01 individuals per kilometer. Nine groups were recorded in the second period of the study, with 47 individuals along 3 km. Our estimates of encounter rate, density and population size were low and reinforces the need to initiate species monitoring and assess the impact that yellow fever outbreaks may have on PEIG populations. The results presented here can be a starting point to support future strategic actions for the species, to measure impacts and to the management of the species, and for a conservation program.
Distance sampling, linear transect, primates, scan-sampling, Southern brown howler monkey
Alouatta guariba clamitans Cabrera, 1940 is an endemic primate species of the Atlantic Forest (
In the Rio de Janeiro state, A. g. clamitans occurs throughout the coast (
Among South American primates, the genus Alouatta Lacépède, 1799 (howler monkeys) appears to be the most susceptible (
Information for A. g. clamitans on the island named Ilha Grande is restricted to its occurrence and there are no systematized works on the ecology and behavior of the species (
In the Ilha Grande State Park (PEIG in Portuguese, Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande), at least 28 individuals of A. g. clamitans were found dead in trails in 2017 (personal communication, T. Barradas – Head of Ilha Grande State Park at the time). This number is probably underestimated, because possibly individuals who died inside the forest, away from tracks, were not accounted for. In this context, we aimed to provide the first estimate of the encounter rate and information about the behavior of the species in PEIG.
We conducted the study in the Ilha Grande State Park (PEIG hereafter), located in the Ilha Grande island, southwestern coast of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil (Fig.
We collected data between December 2003 and May 2005, using 127 samplings, totaling 397.3 km walked in 382 hours of effort. We performed samplings on five existing trails in Ilha Grande to minimize the impact of opening new trails (Fig.
For each observation of A. g. clamitans, we recorded the perpendicular distance of the first animal sighted from the transect using a measure tape, the length of the transect walked to that point where the animal was observed, date and time of the observation. Encounter rate, density and population size were estimated using the total number of individuals observed within the PEIG (120.52 km2) using the DISTANCE software version 7 (
Characteristics of transects (length and coordinates), number of times each transect was walked (N of samples) and total kilometers walked. The coordinates refer to a central point of the tracks. The study was conducted from December 2003 to May 2005, Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Transect | T01 | T02 | T03 | T04 | T05 | Total |
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Coordinates | 23°07'37.4"S, 44°10'47.3"W | 23°08'43.3"S, 44°08'53.5"W | 23°10'07.9"S, 44°10'24.9"W | 23°11'26.2"S, 44°13'43.5"W | 23°09'25.4"S, 44°14'19.6"W | |
Length (km) | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 6.7 | 2.1 | 15.9 |
N of samples | 27 | 23 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 128 |
Total effort walked (km) | 56.7 | 52.9 | 72.9 | 160.8 | 56.7 | 401 |
Observed groups | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 16 |
We collected data from August 2009 to May 2010. We used the first 3 km of the T04 transect (Fig.
We performed groups identification according to their gender-age composition, based on
We performed behavioral records with direct observation and using Bushnell™ 10 × 50 mm binoculars. Observations consisted of records for each group found, characterizing an observation session, which consisted of the first visualization of any group or individual, until it was no longer within the reach of the observer, thus characterizing the end of the session. Therefore, we recorded behaviors of distinct groups that used the area close to the trail walked.
We used the method of scan-sampling (
We grouped the data from each scan by the number of individuals in the group who were performing a certain activity at a given time. Then, we analyzed these records obtained by scan-sampling of each behavioral category for the total period of study. For calculating the percentage of each category i, we consider: pi = ni/N × 100, where pi: percentage of category i, ni: the number of records of category i during the period under analysis, and N: the total number of records of all categories during the same period. Where: i = resting, feeding, movement or social behavior.
We performed Spearman correlations between pairs of activity variables to determine possible relationships between activities (
Behavior categories of Alouatta guariba clamitans sampled using the scan-sampling method in the Ilha Grande State Park, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.
Category | Description |
Resting | Individual inactive, standing, sitting, lying, quadruped or hanging by tail |
Feeding/Foraging | The act of selecting and picking up the food, chewing it and swallowing it |
Movement | Displacement in the same tree or between trees |
Social behavior | Behaviors that involve some type of interaction between animals, such as the categories of grooming, playing, agonistic behaviors, sexual behaviors and vocalization |
We obtained 16 observations of groups of A. g. clamitans in the 397.3 km covered. The effective strip width (ESW) was 8.42 ± 2.14 m with records obtained from 0 to 18.5 m from the transect line. The data were best fitted to a half normal curve with cosine adjustment and a correction following the Poisson distribution. The estimated density was 1.09 ± 0.39 groups/km2 (Confidence Interval – CI 0.7–1.48), with an estimated group size of 4.21 ± 1.76 individuals (CI 2.45–5.97) and total estimated density was 4.58 ± 1.58 individuals/km2 (CI 3.00–6.16). The estimated population size for the whole PEIG was 505 ± 211 individuals, with a confidence interval of 294 to 716 individuals. However, the coefficient of variation for density, size of groups and population size was 36.17%. In cases where the coefficient of variation was above 20%, which is considered the limit for a reliable estimate we used the encounter rate. The encounter rate in the PEIG was 0.04 ± 0.01 groups per km traveled (CI 0.03–0.05).
We obtained 2,268 individual records in 698 scan-samplings. Using the “all occurrences Method", we obtained 190 records of social behaviors distributed over 31 days. We identified 47 individuals, distributed in nine distinct groups and two solitary male individuals. All nine groups observed were composed of individuals of both sexes. The mean groups size (± standard deviation) was 5 ± 1.7 individuals (ranging from 2 to 7 individuals). Social composition per group was represented by one to two adult males (1.1 ± 0.3 individuals), one to three adult females (1.9 ± 0.6 individuals) and from zero to four immatures of different age (2 ± 1.3 individuals). Only one observed group consisted of two adult males. The groups were composed of 22% of adult males, 38% of adult females, 4% of subadult males, 27% of juveniles, and 9% of infants. Only one group of adults was observed. The sex ratio between males and females was 1: 1.7. Considering infants, juveniles and subadults as immature, the immature-to-female ratio (IFR) was 1.06 and immature-to-adult ratio (IAR) was 0.67.
The most common behavior observed was resting (45.2%), followed by feeding (28%), movement (21.7%) and social behavior, which occurred in a small fraction of the day (5.1%). Significant negative correlations were found between the percentages allocated for resting and feeding (rs = -0.77, p = 0.021, df = 7, n = 9), as well as for the combination between resting and movement (rs = -0.9, p = 0.002, df = 7, n = 9). The correlation analyzes between the other activities did not present statistically significant correlations (Table
Spearman Correlation values (upper right) and level of significance (lower left) among the percentages displayed for each activity of Alouatta guariba clamitans behavior in Ilha Grande State Park, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Bold values were statistically significant.
Behavior | Resting | Feeding/Foraging | Movement | Social |
Resting | – | -0.77 | -0.90 | -0.37 |
Feeding/Foraging | 0.021 | – | 0.52 | 0.60 |
Movement | 0.002 | 0.162 | – | -0.02 |
Social | 0.336 | 0.097 | 0.982 | – |
Feeding was characterized predominantly by the consumption of leaves (young or mature), besides sprouts, fruits and flowers. We were able to identify in field three plant species used as food resources: flowers and fruits of Miconia prasina (Sw.) DC. (Melastomataceae), embaúba leaves (Cecropia glazioui Snethl.: Urticaceae) and, most commonly, fig leaves and fruits (Ficus vermifuga (Miq.) Miq.: Moraceae).
There was a significant difference in the display of categories of social behavior. The most commom social behavior was vocalization, with 45.8% of the records, followed by grooming (33.7%), agonistic (7.9%), playing (5.8%), marking (4.2%) and sexual behavior (2.6%) (χ2= 192.10, p < 0.001, df = 5).
To compare densities among studies, it is very important that the studies be conducted following the same methodologies. Therefore, estimated density of individuals of A. g. clamitans for the PEIG using the distance sampling (average of 5 ind./km2) can be considered low compared to other studies with this taxon (Table
Estimates of population density and encounter rate for Alouatta guariba clamitans in different areas of the Atlantic Forest
Locality | Density (ind/km2) | Encounter rate | Study |
Ilha Grande State Park, RJ | 4.58 | 0.04 | Present study |
Vale Natural Reserve, ES | 60 | – |
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Ilha do Cardoso State Park, SP | 10.6 | – |
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União Biological Reserve, RJ | 44.1 | 0.07 |
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Poço das Antas Biological Reserve, RJ | 42.1 | 0.11 |
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Viraeiro/Tabatingüera, SP | 27.1 | 0.14 |
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Sara, SP | 34.6 | 0.22 |
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Água Sumida, SP | 10.42 | 0.01 |
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Monal, SP | 8.32 | 0.006 |
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Morro do Diabo, SP | 15.6 | 0.07 |
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Tucano Farm, SP | 10.9 | 0.07 |
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Mosquito Farm, SP | 36.3 | 0.07 |
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Caetetus Ecological Station, SP | 0.6 | 0.07 |
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Rio Claro Farm, SP | 16.3 | 0.07 |
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Paranacicaba, SP | 0.8 | 0.02 |
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Vale Natural Reserve, ES | 15 | 0.01 |
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Serra do Brigadeiro, MG | 7.5 | – |
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Caratinga, MG | 149 | – |
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Rio Doce State Park, MG | 49 | – |
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Augusto Ruschi Biological Reserve, ES | 10.1 | 0.18 |
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Cantareira State Park, SP | 81 | – |
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The occurrence of solitary male individuals in this study is consistent with the predominance of disappearances of young males, subadult and adult observed by
Studies developed with Alouatta guariba and A. guariba clamitans in other localities that evaluated the same behavioral parameters of the present study at Ilha Grande State Park, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.
Locality | Groups with one adult male (%) | Sex ratio (M/F) | Immature to female ratio (IFR) | Immature to adult ratio (IAR) | Study |
Ilha Grande State Park, RJ | 90 | 1 : 1.7 | 1.06 | 0.67 | Current study |
Cantareira Reserve, SP | 64 | 1 : 1.31 |
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Caratinga Biological Station, MG | 84 | 1 : 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.9 |
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Intervales State Park, SP | 83 | 1 : 1.85 | 1.2 | 0.8 |
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Morro da Extrema, RS | 60–90 | 1 : 2.25 |
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Fragmento Mata do Lami, RS | 1 : 3 |
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Parque Estadual de Itapuã, RS | 1 : 2.6 |
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Chácara Payquerê do Bugre, PR | 1 : 1.57 | 1.4 | 0.8 |
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Parque Estadual da Ilha do Cardoso, SP | 80 | 1 : 1.58 |
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The ratio between the sex-age classes of the individuals, such as the ratio between males and females, the proportion of IFR and the proportion of IAR are relevant factors to be considered in the composition of the groups, which are used as indicators of population status (
In general, the activity pattern of the groups observed was similar with most results obtained in other studies for the species and for the genus, because higher frequency activity was resting, followed by feeding activities, movement and social behaviors (
Our estimates of the encounter rate, density and population size of A. g. clamitans in the PEIG were low and reinforce the need to initiate a monitoring of the species to assess the impact that outbreaks of yellow fever may have on PEIG populations. The PEIG is an important area for the conservation of the species in the Rio de Janeiro state, and it should be noted that some individuals were victims of yellow fever in 2017. The risk of the species being locally extinct may be higher if new outbreaks of yellow fever reach the Ilha Grande, because it is an island population isolated without immigration from mainland individuals. Therefore, the results presented here can be a starting point to support future action plans for the species A. g. clamitans. Population estimates and behavioral information presented here could help to understand species relationships within the PEIG and may be important for assist management measures for the conservation of this species.
We thank the Center for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development (CEADS) and the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) for the logistical support during the execution of this research. We also thank the Biomas Institute for financial support. To the State Environmental Institute and to the Ilha Grande State Park, for authorization to research. To the American Organization Idea Wild, for the equipment used during the study. LG thanks for the PQ Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) grant (306161/2016-8) and UERJ Prociência. BCP also thanks the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for the post-graduate scholarship. HGB thanks Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) scholarships (E26/201.267/2014), CNPq (307781/2014-3) and UERJ Prociência. RTS thanks UERJ Prociência. This study was nanced in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Finance Code 001). The English was reviewed by Brandon LaBumbard from University of Massachusetts Boston.