The Impact of Land Conversion on Primate Habitats: Refining the Extent of Occurrence Data for Four Capuchin Species in North and Northeastern Brazil

Sagittal crests are observed among some primate species, including early extinct hominins, however the majority of research investigating sagittal cresting among extant primates has been confined to catarrhines. Sagittal cresting has not been well-investigated among capuchin monkeys, and understanding whether there are taxonomic differences in the frequency and pattern of sagittal cresting among gracile and robust capuchin species, or whether sagittal crest expression is only confined to the males of some species, may yield important insights in a comparative context, to better understand the underlying basis for the frequency and pattern of sagittal cresting among australopithecine species. In the research presented here, I investigate whether there are interspecific differences in the frequency and pattern of sagittal cresting, and sexual dimorphism in cresting frequency among six capuchin species, representing three gracile capuchin species (Cebus albifrons, Cebus capucinus and Cebus olivaceus) and three robust capuchin species (Cebus apella, Cebus macrocephalus and Cebus libidinosus). I collected sagittal cresting data for 279 dentally mature cranial specimens using 3D models. There are interspecific differences in the frequency of sagittal cresting among capuchin species, with four out of the six species investigated (C. capucinus, C. apella, C. macrocephalus and C. libidinosus) showing sagittal crests. There are significant sex differences in the frequency of sagittal cresting in C. capucinus and robust capuchin species (C. apella, C. libidinosus, C. macrocephalus). I further show that there are interspecific differences in the pattern of sagittal cresting among the four species that exhibit sagittal crests. Sagittal cresting in C. capucinus occurs in the posterior region of the neurocranium, in contrast to the robust capuchin species, whose sagittal crests mainly extend from anterior to bregma, to the posterior cranial region at the midline. The underlying reasons for interspecific and sex differences in the frequency and pattern of sagittal cresting among species are yet to be elucidated, and may be associated with dietary, habitat or socioecological differences among capuchin groups.

The Jantho STIK educational forest is an important habitat for the kedih primate species (Presbytis thomasi), the gray langur (Christatus auratus), and the long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis). The destruction of these primate habitats through forest encroachment is also carried out by the community around the educational forest. The conservation status for these three species is listed as vulnerable in the IUCN and Appendix II in CITES. They are protected animals. Habitat disturbance in the form of forest encroachment is often carried out by the community. This encroachment results in a decline in the quality of primate habitats, due to the loss of food sources and the loss of sleeping trees. In order for the protection of primate species and habitats to take place properly, and the economic value of the community can increase with the presence of primates, as well as to suppress the rate of forest encroachment, it can be done by building ecological barriers in the primate habitat. This ecological barrier is basically made to improve the habitat of wildlife that is experiencing fragmentation. In addition, it is to keep wildlife in their home range, and not to leave their habitat into community agricultural areas. The community service was conducted on August 22-24, 2025, at the STIK education forest in Boeng Jantho village. Community service included socialization of ecological barriers, planting vegetation on ecological barriers, mentoring, evaluation and monitoring. The ecological barrier was made in an area of ​​one hectare and planted with types of vegetation that are not favored by primates (pine, sugar palm and candlenut). The community's enthusiasm was quite high to participate in the socialization and planting. The vegetation developed on ecological barriers can control animals from leaving their natural habitat, so that hunting can be suppressed and forest encroachment can decrease.

Biodiversity is severely threatened by habitat destruction. As a consequence of habitat destruction, the remaining habitat becomes more fragmented. This results in time-lagged population extirpations in remaining fragments when these are too small to support populations in the long term. If these time-lagged effects are ignored, the long-term impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation will be underestimated. We quantified the magnitude of time-lagged effects of habitat fragmentation for 157 nonvolant terrestrial mammal species in Madagascar, one of the biodiversity hotspots with the highest rates of habitat loss and fragmentation. We refined species' geographic ranges based on habitat preferences and elevation limits and then estimated which habitat fragments were too small to support a population for at least 100 years given stochastic population fluctuations. We also evaluated whether time-lagged effects would change the threat status of species according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessment framework. We used allometric relationships to obtain the population parameters required to simulate the population dynamics of each species, and we quantified the consequences of uncertainty in these parameter estimates by repeating the analyses with a range of plausible parameter values. Based on the median outcomes, we found that for 34 species (22% of the 157 species) at least 10% of their current habitat contained unviable populations. Eight species (5%) had a higher threat status when accounting for time-lagged effects. Based on 0.95-quantile values, following a precautionary principle, for 108 species (69%) at least 10% of their habitat contained unviable populations, and 51 species (32%) had a higher threat status. Our results highlight the need to preserve continuous habitat and improve connectivity between habitat fragments. Moreover, our findings may help to identify species for which time-lagged effects are most severe and which may thus benefit the most from conservation actions.

BackgroundCITES is an international agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Regarding spiders, all species listed in CITES are tarantulas. They are included in Appendix II, meaning that they are species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that they may become so unless trade is closely controlled.Many tarantulas are legally and illegally traded in the pet market and they are one of the most traded invertebrate groups. Originally, the CITES list published in 1995 included all the current species of the genus Brachypelma Simon, 1891 plus Aphonopelmapallidum (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) and the so-called Aphonopelmaalbiceps (Pocock, 1903). After that, some taxonomic changes were done, as well as descriptions of new species in the genus Brachypelma. The objective of this paper is to assess the 21 taxonomically valid spider species listed on CITES according to the IUCN criteria, study the general patterns and trends and advise on possible future conservation actions critical for the survival of endangered species.New informationAmongst all 21 species assessed, 16 had sufficient data on their distribution, ecology and threats to properly understand their current status and suggest possible conservation measures. A decline in the area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) was inferred to almost all species, caused mostly by human activities (urbanisation, roads, agricultural and touristic activities), which often lead to the complete loss of subpopulations across their range. Hurricanes and frequent rising water, which are increasing in frequency due to climate change, can cause decline in habitat quality and consequent change in EOO and AOO of some species and should also be considered when planning conservation actions. Severe fragmentation was detected in 13 species and is therefore one of the most relevant threats to the most endangered Brachypelma species and should be made a priority aspect to deal with when proposing conservation actions for the group. Regarding the loss of individuals in wild populations, the main cause seems to be the overharvesting to meet the illegal trade.The most important conservation actions identified across species include preserving their natural habitat through protected areas, establishing management plans for both the species and their habitats and undertaking systematic monitoring to provide information about population recovery and species re-introduction programmes. In general, we propose to prioritise and support research on the population trends and distribution, as well as on the impact of land use and habitat degradation. Special attention regarding conservation actions and research plans has to be given to the central Pacific coastal area of Mexico, particularly around Guerrero State where five species of Brachypelma occur. Critically, for some of the most endangered species, such as B.baumgarteni and B.hamorii, there is no official protected area in their range of occurrence. It would therefore be highly recommended to establish at least one conservation unit which focuses on protecting each of these species in situ. In some cases, basic taxonomic research is needed before development of any appropriate conservation action can be proposed.

Amphibian diversity, distribution and conservation in the Ethiopian highlands : morphological, molecular and biogeographic investigation on Leptopelis and Ptychadena (Anura)

Habitat loss is one of the main threats to biodiversity. Fragmentation resulting from this process may restrict available habitat for primates, limiting their persistence in a given region. In this study, we aimed to quantify deforestation and fragmentation by identifying forest remnants capable of maintaining populations of the endangered crested capuchin monkey (Sapajus robustus) within its distributional limits in the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, and Minas Gerais, Brazil. We used Landsat images from 1985 to 2010 to generate three time-interval mosaics classified by natural and non-natural vegetation. We then calculated the size of the forest remnants and the distance of each fragment of natural vegetation to its nearest neighbor. Between the first (1985-1990) and second (1995-2000) mosaics there was a vegetation loss of 41.4%, and between the second and third (2005-2010) mosaics there was a natural vegetation gain of 1%. The third mosaic showed smaller and more isolated fragments in comparison to the first mosaic. Across the three periods, Bahia was the state with the highest rate of deforestation. While Espírito Santo had fewer identified forest remnants, it retained the most natural vegetation within these small fragments. The landscape within the currently recognized distributional limits of the crested capuchin monkey is dominated by agriculture and livestock. Both decreasing fragment size and increasing species isolation by distance between fragments can negatively affect primate populations, increasing their risk of extinction. Isolation makes it difficult for migration and recolonization events to occur. Therefore, habitat restoration should be prioritized to reduce isolation between populations. Our findings may serve as a resource for future conservation efforts and management of the crested capuchin monkey.

Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve (LTBR) in southeast Mexico is characterized by high rates of deforestation and habitat deterioration, containing two Mexican primate species, <i>Alouatta palliata </i>and <i>Ateles geoffroyi.</i> In this study, we integrate the analysis of landscape dynamics with primate population research covering a period of 21 years (1986-2007), assessing the impacts of habitat transformation on primate populations in a study area located in the southeast region of the LTBR. We found the higher deforestation rate (1.5%) from 1986 to 2000, compared to 2000-2007 (0.5%), but reduction in primate’s habitat was of 62% from 1986-2007. Land cover changes have modified the landscape in such a way that current available habitat for primates is constituted by small forest patches, immersed in a pasture matrix. A total of 37 <i>A. palliata</i> and 68 <i>A. geoffroyi</i> individuals were counted; these data were compared with information available for the same primate populations in 1987 and 2000, revealing that despite habitat loss, primate population sizes have remained relatively stable. The analysis of occupation and colonization of forests fragments by primates suggests that fragment size and connectivity are key landscape features for the persistence of primates in the region. Our results imply that strong anthropogenic pressure against primate habitat is still taking place in this portion of LTBR; and that habitat availability, as well as primate population viability in this region, are linked to political and socioeconomic factors affecting land use and production systems adopted by locals, as well as to the management efforts of the LTBR.

Capuchins rub particular plant materials into their pelage, a behavior for which most authors have proposed a medicinal function (Baker in American Journal of Primatology 38:263–270, 1996, Baker, M. (1998). Fur Rubbing as Evidence for Medicinal Plant Use by Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus capucinus): Ecological, Social, and Cognitive Aspects of the Behavior. Dissertation thesis. University of California Riverside; DeJoseph et al. in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 46:924–925, 2002). Individuals fur-rub solitarily or in groups, but researchers have not conducted studies to understand the differences. We investigated the link between the form of fur-rubbing and other social variables in 2 capuchin species. We supplied 2 captive groups —white-faced capuchins and tufted capuchins— with citrus fruit and onions and explored the behavioral processes and social aspects underlying the activity. We documented the occurrence, number of participants, and effect of recruitment behaviors in fur-rubbing subgroups. We investigated the role of kinship, affiliation, and dominance relationships in accounting for fur-rubbing groups. There is a significant difference in the form of fur-rubbing between white-faced and tufted capuchins. White-faced capuchins fur-rubbed mainly in subgroups and performed a particular behavior to recruit prospective participants, whereas tufted capuchins fur-rubbed mainly alone, and showed no particular motivation to be joined by other group members. White-faced capuchins could fur-rub together frequently, whatever their degree of kinship, affiliation, or dominance interval. In tufted capuchins, fur-rubbing appeared to be significantly affected by kinship and dominance.

Background and Aims The conservation of species increasingly demands integrated approaches that rely on collaboration accros multiple areas of knowledge. In this context, we adopted a multidisciplinary approach to address key knowledge gaps in the biology and conservation of Vellozia sessilis, an Endangered (EN) and microendemic species native to the highlands of Chapada dos Veadeiros in Central Brazil. Methods We combined field surveys, citizen science, species distribution modelling, satellite-based estimates of habitat loss, and ex situ seed conservation. Key results Our fieldwork recorded four new populations of V. sessilis, two of which were identified with the help of citizen science. The species has an Area of Occupancy (AOO) of 24 km² and Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of 88.6 km². Land use analysis, indicated a modest habitat reduction of 1.3%within the species’ EOO between 1985 and 2023. However, several threats to habitat quality were observed, including invasive alien grasses, human disturbances from tourism and nearby agricultural activities, and fire-induced mortality. A seed conservation protocol was developed to enable long-term ex situ preservation of accessions in germplasm banks. Conclusions Collaboration among institutions, researchers, and citizens was essential at all stages of the study, resulting in the discovery of new populations of V. sessilis and the identification of 29 other rare and/or endangered plant species in biodiversity hotspot of Chapada dos Veadeiros. This comprehensive strategy confirmed the conservation status of V. sessilis as EN. Despite new occurrence data, the number of locations, AOO and EOO, remain below the critical thresholds for the EN category, further reinforced observed threats in the field. This multidisciplinary approach offers a replicable model for the conservation of other microendemic and threatened plant species facing similar challenges, thereby contributing to broader biodiversity conservation efforts.

I investigated canine dimorphism and interspecific canine form in adult specimens from 4 capuchin species (Cebus albifrons, C. apella, C. capucinus, and C. olivaceus). I used various univariate and multivariate statistics, which are based on 6 variables, to test several hypotheses that are based upon the finding that canine dimorphism is strongly associated with intermale competition in platyrrhines (Kay et al., 1988), Greenfield (1992a), Plavcan and van Schaik (1992, 1994). Results from the indices of canine dimorphism and the unpaired t-tests corroborate the prediction that males of each species possess significantly larger canines than those of females. Large male canines are especially prominent in 2 variables, maxillary and mandibular canine height. Greene's t-test (1989) does not support the prediction that Cebus apella and C. olivaceus possess a larger degree of canine dimorphism relative to C. albifrons and C. capucinus. No interspecific differences in degree of canine dimorphism are indicated by this test. Results of the discriminant function analyses (DFA) do not find that Cebus apella and C. olivaceus possess different canine form relative to C. albifrons and C. capucinus as predicted. However, Cebus apella is differentiated from the untufted capuchins (C. albifrons, C. capucinus, and C. olivaceus) by the DFA. I suggest that intermale competition is the primary selective force underlying the observed morphological patterns; however, it does not explain all the variation associated with canine dimorphism in Cebus.

Enneapogon cenchroides (Roem. &amp; Schult.) C.E. Hubb. is an herb native from Africa to India. In Brazil, this species invades areas of the Caatinga in the states of Pernambuco and Bahia. Its ability to affect the germination and development of other species makes it a threat to native flora. This article reports the first record of the invasion of E. cenchroides in the state of Sergipe and aims to (i) map the current distribution of this species in Northeast Brazil through Extent of Occurrence (EOO) and (ii) determine its potential distribution in the region through Species Distribution Modeling (SDM). The record of E. cenchroides in Sergipe was carried out in a riparian zone in the municipality of Canindé de São Francisco. Georeferenced points of E. cenchroides were obtained in its native and invaded environment. The points located in Brazil were used to delimit its EOO through the convex polygon. All points were used to develop the SDM through the Maxent, ANN, GLM, and CTA algorithms. With the new record in Sergipe, the EOO of E. cenchroides reached 124,145 km², a value 87.32% higher than that obtained in its first evaluation. According to the SDM, the areas of greatest suitability (0.60–1.0) were concentrated in the states of Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, and Rio Grande do Norte, mainly in the Caatinga. The results indicate that E. cenchroides has been invading new areas since its initial introduction. Furthermore, the climatic suitability in Northeast Brazil may favor its spread in new areas.

Amphibians are the most threatened group of vertebrates in the world. In Sri Lanka, 67% of the amphibians are threatened with extinction largely due to anthropogenic activities. Fundamental to the conservation of amphibians is an understanding of habitat preferences and fine scale distribution of species. Pseudophilautus zorro is an endangered, endemic frog species restricted to Kandy district, Sri Lanka. Thus, a study was initiated to assess the (a) habitat preferences (type of vegetation, leaf litter thickness (LLT), percentage of canopy cover (PCC)), (b) model the fundamental ecological niche to unravel potential areas of occupancy using Ecological niche modeling (ENM) and then to (c) estimate the extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) of P. zorro with new locality data and predicted data. Fieldwork was conducted in Gannoruwa Forest Reserve, Udawattakele Forest Reserve and Hanthana Conservation Area from December 2016 to August 2017. Habitat preferences were determined by randomly placing quadrats in different habitats and assessing the number of individuals in each quadrat. Occurrence localities of P. zorro from published records and localities from this study were used for ENM in Maxent. At α=0.05level, the results indicate that there is a positive relationship (r=0.427, p≤0.013) between LLT and number of individuals of P. zorro in quadrats. However, there was no significant relationship (r=0.078, p≥0.666) between PCC and number of individuals of P. zorroin quadrats and no significant variation (p≥0.404) in the occurrences of P. zorro among the three habitat types (forest, mahogany and pine plantations) suggesting that vegetation type is not a major determinant of P. zorro distribution. ENM predicted highly suitable areas (suitability >75%) in the central province in the Kandy and Matale districts. The EOO and AOO of P. zorro with new occurrence data was 22 km2 and 4 km2respectively, and with predicted data, 1,229.34 km2 and 117 km2, indicating an increase in EOO and AOO. However, the increase in EOO and AOO should be interpreted with caution as the presence of P. zorro is yet to be physically confirmed in the predicted areas. The data on habitat preferences and predicted habitats will be useful in formulating in-situ and ex-situ conservation measures, and serves as a useful starting point for future studies on niche modeling of endangered amphibians and similar taxa in Sri Lanka. Keywords: Maxent, Fundamental ecological niche, Leaf litter thickness, Extent of occurrence, Area of occupancy

Critical shifts on spatial traits and the risk of extinction of Andean anurans: an assessment of the combined effects of climate and land-use change in Colombia

Panama is a habitat for nine primate species, and most of them are threatened. This has shown a fundamental concern in primate conservation by Panamanian-based conservation projects. Among them is the project Conservación del Mono Cariblanco en Agroecosistemas (COMOCA) which initiated a primate conservation education program in Southwestern Panama in 2022. The first stage of this program consisted of evaluating the perceptions that 102 children aged 8-12 years old have about primate habitat. Ianalyzed drawings made by these children exploring three different themes: (1) description of primate species, (2) primate habitat, and (3) food related to primates. The results indicate that children are more familiar with the white-faced capuchins and squirrel monkeys. Despite 89.2% of the children drawing trees, most of them painted tree crops. Thus, the top three most mentioned foods eaten by monkeys were mango, plantain/banana, and apple. These findings highlight the importance of addressing the relationship between primates and native trees in the content of the conservation education program. Additionally, the study illustrates how children's depiction of their reality has implications for the management of human-primate interfaces.

The close phylogenetic relationship between humans and nonhuman primates, coupled with the exponential expansion of human populations and human activities within primate habitats, has resulted in exceptionally high potential for pathogen exchange. Emerging infectious diseases are a consequence of this process that has the capacity to threaten global health and drive primate population declines. Integration of standardized empirical data collection, state-of-the-art diagnostics, and the comparative approach offers the opportunity to create a baseline for patterns of infection in wild primate populations; to better understand the role of disease in primate ecology, behavior, and evolution; and to examine how anthropogenic effects alter the zoonotic potential of various pathogenic organisms. We review these technologies and approaches, including noninvasive sampling in field conditions, and we identify ways in which integrative research activities are likely to fuel future discoveries in primate disease ecology. In addition to considering applied aspects of disease research in primate health and conservation, we review how these approaches are shedding light on parasite biodiversity and the drivers of disease risk across primate species.