Predator-prey interaction between two threatened species in a Brazilian hotspot

Gustavo Rodrigues Canale,Christine Steiner São Bernardo

doi:10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2015-0059

Gustavo Rodrigues Canale, Christine Steiner São Bernardo

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2015-0059

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Abstract

Conflicts in conservation may arise if two or more threatened species are involved in prey-predator interaction. Predators may have a profound effect on small prey populations, thus conservation actions must consider inter-specific interactions involving threatened species. Here we report nest predation events on a wild population of the Endangered red-billed curassow Crax blumenbachii Spix, 1825 by a group of the Critically Endangered yellow-breasted capuchin monkeys Sapajus xanthosternosWied-Neuwied, 1820 in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. This is the first study to report egg predation of an threatened gamebird by an threatened primate. We recommend that systematic conservation planning for these threatened species consider interactions, especially considering upcoming reintroduction programs indicated in the National Action Plans for these species conservation.

Highlights

Species conservation action plans generally focus on ranking conservation priorities, and the loss of one species may be dire, the loss of species interactions may be even more problematical (Souleet al. 2003)
The study was developed in Una Biological Reserve (UBR; 18,500 ha) one of the largest forest fragments legaly protected in the range of S. xanthosternos and C. blumenbachii in the Atlantic Forest of southern Bahia (Figure 1)
Capuchins fed on four animal items: invertebrate eggs, invertebrates, lizards and bird eggs (Figure 2); the latter summed 6% of total of 86 events of consumed animal items identified and recorded during scan samples

Summary

Introduction

Species conservation action plans generally focus on ranking conservation priorities, and the loss of one species may be dire, the loss of species interactions may be even more problematical (Souleet al. 2003). Conservation actions must consider the interactions between species (e.g. predator-prey), especially when populations of both of them may be threatened. Researchers have reported conflicts in conservation, when predation influences population survival of threatened prey species (Chades et al 2012, Roemer & Wayne 2003, Verissimo et al 2012), most interactions involving threatened species remain understudied. Fragmentation and isolation of forest remnants might lead to mesopredator release due to the reduced density of populations of apex predators (Crooks & Soule 1999). In the northern Atlantic Forest, local extinction of top predators are widespread (Canale et al 2012) and capuchin monkeys are one of the extant mesopredators known to prey on small vertebrates and bird eggs (Canale et al 2013a)

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