Download April 2006 - Rufford Small Grants

The Red Uakari Monkey Project – End of Year Report
22nd May 2006
Introduction & Project History
Uakaris (Cacajao) are the largest members of the subfamily Pitheciinae and are one of the
least-known Neotropical primate genera. There are two Uakari species; C. melanocephalus,
which has two subspecies (melanocephalus and ouakary) and C. calvus, which has four
subspecies (calvus, rubicundus, novaesi and ucayalii) (Hershkovitz 1987). Of these, only C c.
calvus has been studied in any detail (Ayres 1986). All species are specialist feeders on hardshelled fruit, range over large areas of varied forest habitats within the Amazon basin, and
form large groups which often fission into smaller groups (Ayres, 1986; Barnett & BrandonJones, 1997). Uakaris are listed as Indeterminate/Vulnerable by the IUCN (Red List 1994)
and are in Appendix I of CITES. Red uakaris appear to have been exterminated from much of
their range (Aquino, 1988), and are threatened by hunting, logging and habitat disturbance.
The importance of key plant species and habitat types, which are highlighted by this project,
should be considered when planning for the management of the remaining populations.
A year-round ecological study on red uakaris (subspecies rubicundus, novaesi and ucayalii)
has never been completed, because attempts to establish a site at which sufficient
observations are possible, have consistently failed. The species has a patchy distribution, and
combined with very large range sizes this has made data collection difficult. This project has
established an area where several large groups of uakaris are habituated and we have
collected 945 hours good ecological data during the first two years of the project. This data at
last gives us knowledge on red uakari ecology, on which we base our conservation strategies.
Much of the Yavari river basin is designated as logging concession, and one of the key aims
of the project was to predict how the selective logging in these areas would impact on the
populations of this endangered primate. In addition to ecological data on the monkeys, we
surveyed tree composition in terra firme, aguajal and varzea forests and estimated the
volume of standing timber for hardwoods and softwoods timber species. Using the values of
timber in sawmills on the lower Yavari, and looking at current logging practices on the Yavari,
we made attempts to predict which species would be removed from logging concessions. We
examined the overlap in uakari diet with timber species to make predictions on how logging in
the Yavari might affect populations of this primate. One of the most striking findings of the first
two years of research was the red uakaris’ dependence on the ripe pulp of the aguaje palm
fruit (Mauritia flexuosa). This palm fruit is also harvested in large numbers by people, to be
made into sweet drinks and ice-cream, or eaten raw. Aguaje fruit bunches are generally
collected by felling the palm, reducing next years harvest for animals and people alike. In
certain parts of the red uakaris range the removal of this non-timber resource will have a more
serious impact on uakari populations than logging. A paper discussing these findings is
currently in preparation.
The Red Uakari Monkey Project began with a Rufford small grant of £4990 in 2003 awarded
to Mark Bowler of the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE). Following two
years of ecological research, several scientific papers are in preparation (see below), but one
of the greatest achievements during the first two years of the project was that the study area,
and 10,000 hectares surrounding it, was awarded to DICE and WCS-Peru to manage as a
conservation concession; “Lago Preto Conservation Concession”. This was a result of a long
process lead by WCS-Peru and DICE. The main purpose of the concession is to protect the
unique density of red uakari monkeys, and the presence of our research project, and the work
we are doing proved instrumental in the success of the proposals. Our research continues to
be used in technical proposals for the management of the concession, and it is important that
we continue to work with DICE and WCS-Peru providing information for these plans and
official documents for the Peruvian authorities.
Research conducted in the area by DICE and WCS demonstrated that the continuous
presence of our project researchers in the area also had positive effects on other species.
Fish surveys showed that the closest lake to the study area (Lago Preto itself) contained by
far the highest populations of the huge, endangered and highly sought after food-fish ‘Paiche’
(Arapaima gigas). There were also high densities of ‘Arowanna’ (Osteoglossum bicirrosum), a
fish often threatened by over fishing for the ornamental fish trade. These differences are,
without doubt, due to the protection given simply by our presence at the site. In addition
spider monkeys, rarely seen in the area, started to be observed more often towards the end
of the two years, and casual observations of giant otters and some game bird species
appeared much more frequent in the second year than the first.
Following the success of WCS-Peru and DICE in securing the conservation concession, a
continuation grant was sought to work with the DICE & WCS team to gather the information
necessary to manage the uakari monkey population within the concession area. A Rufford
Continuation Grant of £2483 was awarded on May 17th 2005 (ref. 120.01.05).
Objectives

To erect signs and mark the boundaries of the Lago Preto Conservation Concession.

To locate additional uakari monkey groups within the new conservation concession and to
find out which areas might be important for the species.

To estimate the number of uakari groups within the conservation concession.

To record the age structure of other groups for further evidence for the seasonality of
births.

To observe the logging and hunting activities of logging concession holders near to the
conservation concession.

To train and co-ordinate with Peruvian staff, including those of WCS-Peru in data
collection to monitor the uakari populations at Lago Preto.
The study area
The 10,000ha Lago Preto Conservation Concession is on the Peruvian side of the Yavari
River, Southeast of Iquitos, close to the mouth of the Yavarí Mirim river (427’S, 7145’W).
The area has three distinct habitat types: ‘aguajal’ palm swamp forest, seasonally flooded
riparian white-water forests commonly referred to as ‘varzea’ and higher ‘terra firme’ forests,
consisting, in part, of old alluvial terraces with clay soils, poor in nutrients. Average rainfall is
around 240.7mm per year varying from 157.2mm in July to 307.8mm in April (data from
Jenaro Herrera, Marengo 1983). Water levels generally peak around April, when the varzea,
sometimes including the higher restingas (levees or areas of higher ground in the varzea
forest), are completely inundated. The length of the high water season, when the varzea is
flooded, can vary greatly depending on rainfall locally and in the Andes. Generally it starts
between December and February and lasts until around June.
The behavioural and ecological data collected by Mark Bowler during the first two years of the
project were collected at a study site of around 1500ha close to Lake Preto itself within the
Lago Preto Conservation Concession. There are over 40km of trails through the three
habitats at this study site.
Methods
Using the Rufford Continuation Grant awarded in May 2005, principal researcher Mark Bowler
joined two extended joint expeditions up the Yavari with Dr. Richard Bodmer and biologists
from DICE and WCS. The expeditions were run from research boats ‘Lobo del Rio’ and
‘Nutria’ run by DICE, WCS-Peru and AmazonEco. One expedition was made in June and July
2005 during the low water season, and one in April 2006 at the peak of the high water
season.
June and July 2005
During June and July the research boats were moored downriver from the study site at Lake
Preto close to Lake Ipiranga. Trails were cut here to create a new study area joined to the trail
system at Lake Preto. This area has large areas of seasonally flooded varzea forest and is
separated from the Preto site by a large area of Aguajal palm swamp forest.
Census data on all primates was taken by DICE and WCS-Peru researchers on new trails at
the Lake Ipiranga study area. Uakari densities will be estimated using this data along with
data taken at the Lago Preto Study area.
Ecological data was taken on the uakari groups at both study sites. Mark Bowler and Chris
Barton from DICE located groups of uakari each day by walking the trail systems, with each
researcher working on a different trail system. We followed the groups until they settled into
their sleeping trees at dusk or the group was lost, returning to find the group at dawn the next
day. We used point scan sampling, collecting data at ten-minute intervals (Altmann 1974).
Allowing one minute to complete the scans, we recorded location, group size, habitat, and the
behaviour of each visible individual. We recorded feeding as the behaviour when an animal
was ingesting or processing food, including reaching, masticating, swallowing or carrying food
items. Where possible we recorded the species, plant parts (seeds, pulp, arils, flowers, leaves
or otherwise) and the maturity of the fruit eaten by the individual. For all new tree species
consumed we tagged the first two or more examples and recorded the location so that the
tree could be identified by a botanist at a later date. We photographed and preserved fruits
and leaves for identification later.
Uakari groups at Lago Preto are habituated to varying degrees. In many cases the monkeys
tolerated our presence at ranges of 20-30m, but would flee or mob us at closer range. We
could not generally observe the monkeys from directly below the group, without disturbing
them, unless the canopy was thick enough to obscure us. This often meant that we were not
close enough, or did not have a clear enough view, to identify food items eaten by individuals
during instantaneous scan sampling. For these reasons one-zero sampling (Altmann 1974)
was employed in addition to the scan sampling methods in which a ‘1’ was recorded for each
food item if it was seen used during a ten-minute period. The one-zero data probably
underestimates the importance of certain species that had crowns full of fruit that were fed on
intensively by large uakari groups.
April 2006
Census data on all primates was taken on trails at the Lago Preto Study area. Uakari
densities will be estimated using this data. When uakaris were encountered, researchers
attempted to record the age-sex composition of the group, paying particular attention to
females with dependent and independent young. Numbers of young were recorded along with
their sizes (as a percentage of the size of the mother), the position in which they were being
carried and the colour of their faces. All of these help to give an idea of the age of the young.
This data, in the long term, will help us gain an idea of the recruitment into the population at
Lago Preto and of the seasonality of births. Things we were not able to look at with just two
years data.
Mark Bowler coordinated with, and gave instruction in methodology to, Jorge Flores and
Pedro Perez of WCS-Peru. They will continue to monitor the uakari populations at Lago Preto
between May and June. In May, training was also given in the UK to research assistant
Shona McCann-Wood from DICE who will be collecting ecological data of red uakaris for the
project during June and July. Special attention will be given to the age-sex composition of the
groups.
Discussions with people from the communities of Esperanza and Carolina were conducted by
WCS staff in order to learn more about the logging activities in the area.
Results and Discussion
June and July 2005
Signs were erected on the boundaries of the concession, and at the entrances to the main
lakes. At the Lago Preto research site, a large sign and map showing the area of the Lago
Preto Conservation Concession was erected.
Signs on the concession boundary
Uniquely, our census data shows that the Red Uakari Monkey Cacajao calvus ucayalii is the
most abundant primate in the Lago Preto Conservation Concession (308.97 ind./100km). The
next most abundant of the 13 species found in the reserve are; common squirrel monkey
Saimirí sciureus (226.90 ind./100km), saddleback tamarin Saguinus fuscicollis (38.62
ind./100km), monk saki monkey Pithecia monachus (27.59 ind./100km), woolly monkey
Lagothrix lagothricha (24.83 ind./100km) and brown capuchin Cebus apella (20.69
ind./100km).
Just over one half the area of the concession was searched over the duration of the
expedition, and several new uakari groups were located with a total of around 75 individuals.
During this time period 160 to 200 uakari monkeys were also using the area of the original
study site, and these are thought to be the original groups studied. Using these figures, and
taking the distribution of habitat into account, we estimated conservatively that about 350 red
uakari monkeys might be using the conservation concession area in June and July 2005.
The age structure in the groups observed provided further evidence that births occur mainly
between August and November. Few young that would have been born between August and
November 2004 were observed.
The North-eastern corner of the conservation concession is close to a logging concession and
timber is floated out on a stream that runs through the conservation concession. The
timbermen are entitled to pass through the conservation concession, but must not extract
timber from it or hunt there. We discovered a small logging camp inside the conservation
concession, in which we found evidence of hunting, including red uakari monkey fur. The
camp was not in use, but had been used when the water levels were high enough to float out
timber. We also discovered that timber trees had been felled within the Lago Preto
Conservation Concession. Peruvian biologists from WCS-Peru will negotiate with the logging
concession owners to try to ensure that they do not hunt or extract timber from the
conservation concession, and that they do not make further camps within the reserve
boundaries.
Logging camp with the conservation concession
April 2006
At least two separate uakari groups were encountered during the census on separate
occasions. On no occasion was an accurate count possible, but one group contained a
minimum of 70 individuals and the other a minimum of 30 individuals. It is possible that these
two groups represented the whole population of 150 plus individuals because the groups
often spread over a large area and are difficult to count. Upper estimates of groups
encountered simultaneously would suggest that this is the case.
Our observations suggested that a very high proportion of the females in the larger of the two
groups had young between the ages of about 6 to 9 months. Many of these young were
travelling indepentenly except to cross large gaps, or when researchers were spotted by the
monkeys. A minimum count of 5 babies being carried by their mothers was made, but the
actual number would have been larger given that a large proportion of females observed were
with young. The age of these young, combined with data from the first two years of the project
support the observation that births are seasonal (though one relatively new-born baby was
observed in April 2004). The number of young observed is even more interesting. Between
August and November 2003 several new-born babies were observed, whereas between
August and November 2004 only one new-born uakari was observed during many hour of
observation of the groups at the Lago Preto study site. The sighting of several babies that
would have been born between August and November 2005 in relatively few hours of
observation is therefore very interesting. 2004 was a year of extremely low rainfall in the
Amazon, and it is possible this is why few births occurred.
Discussions with people from the communities of Esperanza and Carolina revealed that one
of the logging companies in the area was starting to extract ‘cumala’ timber (Myristicaceae)
on the Yavari and Yavari Miri Rivers. We had previously believed that logging operations
were removing almost exclusively hardwood species described by the common name ‘cedro’
(Cedrela spp.) and possibly ‘tornillo’ (Cedrelinga spp). If only these species were harvested,
our survey conducted in 2004 suggests that around one tree every seven hectares would be
extracted, with relatively little impact on the red uakaris. If softwood trees like cumala of
diameter >40cm were also harvested 1.4 trees/ha would be extracted, with much greater
impact on the red uakaris. Our research from 2003 to 2005 has shown that red uakaris eat
many species of Myristicaceae, and the effects of removing this timber should be considered.
This new information about the logging activities will have an important bearing on our
conservation strategy in the area and changes the conclusions we make in the paper were
are currently preparing on the potential effects of logging and resource extraction on red
uakari monkeys.
Dissemination of results
Symposium and Book
Mark Bowler will be attending a symposium entitled ‘Pitheciins: Ecology & Conservation’ at
the 21st Congress International Primatological Society held in Uganda 24th June to 1st July.
The main objective of the symposium is to consolidate current knowledge on the pitheciines
and plan future research and conservation. The proceedings from the symposium will be
published in book form, with supplementary papers on specific species. The Red Uakari
Monkey Project will be contributing in the following presentations and book chapters:
First Author:
Uakaris for real: Conservation initiatives in Peru and Brazil
Bowler, M., H. Queiroz, R. Bodmer & P. Puertas
Other papers:
Veiga, L.M., M. Bowler, E. Cunningham, A. Di Fiore & E. Fernandez-Duque
Variability in Pitheciine Social Organization
Setz, E.Z., L.P. Pinto, M. Bowler, J. Vié & A.A. Barnett
Pitheciines: Comparing use of Time and Space
Barnett, A.A., E.Z. Setz, L.P. Pinto, A. Di Fiore, J. Vié, E. Fernandez-Duque & M. Bowler
Picky, Picky: The Bases For Diet Choice in Pitheciins
Papers in preparation
Predicting the impact of selective logging and non-timber resource extraction on an
endangered primate.
Bowler, M., R. Bodmer & P. Puertas
A report for INRENA (the Peruvian department for the environment).
Papers planned for 2006
The Feeding Ecology of Cacajao calvus ucayalii
Social Behaviour and Communication in Cacajao calvus ucayalii
A Comparison between the Ecology of the Red Uakari Monkey and the White Uakari Monkey
Popular Articles
BBC Wildlife Magazine April 2006
“Gentleman biologists prefer redheads”
Bowler, M.
An article on red uakari ecology and conservation designed to raise awareness of the species
and the Yavarí area.
Illustreret Videnskab
“Why the red face?” (In Danish)
Bowler, M.
A short article speculating on the reasons for the red uakaris’ bright red face.
Other Outputs
Data, reports and publications produced by the Red Uakari Monkey Project were used
extensively in, and were essential to, a technical proposal for the management of the Lago
Preto Conservation Concession:
Propuesta Técnica de la Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) para la Concesión de
Conservación de Lago Preto-Paredón, en el Río Yavarí, Nor-oriente del Perú.
Pablo Puertas, Richard Bodmer, Annie Escobedo, Claudia Ríos, Pedro Pérez y Miguel
Antúnez en colaboración técnica y logística con el Durrell Institute of Conservation and
Ecology (DICE), de la Universidad de Kent, Canterbury, UK.
Acknowledgements
Various parts of this project have been funded by The Rufford Foundation, The LA Zoo,
Primate Conservation Inc., Conservation International & WCS.
The Red Uakari Monkey Project is run in close consultation with Dr. Richard Bodmer of DICE
and Pablo Puertas of WCS-Peru. The project would not be possible without their help and
guidance.
Thanks are due to: Clare Riddall, Paddy Brock, Alfonso Mendez, Nestor Melendez, Olivia
Curno, Nigel Pitman, Robin Foster, Corine Vriesendorp, Freddy Arevelo, Lito Pacaya, Juan
Huanaquiri, Claudia Rios, Pedro Perez, Annie Escobedo, Marcos Rios, Ricardo Zarate, Bob
Smith, Edwin ‘Gato’ Pinedo Vela, Joan England, Chris Williams, Susan Simpson, I.W.J.
Gibbs, Roosevelt Garcia, Maribel Recharte, Chris Barton, Shona McCann-Wood, Rosie
Hayes, the crew of the Lobo del Rio and the Nutria, the communities of Carolina and
Esperanza, The Rapid Biological Intentory team & WCS Peru.
Mark Bowler
DICE
University of Kent
Canterbury
[email protected]
www.uakari.co.uk
Bibliography
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Aquino, R. 1988. Prelimianry survey on the population densities of Cacajao calvus ucayalii.
Primate Conservation. Vol. 9, 24-26.
Ayres, J.M. 1986. The White Uakaris and the Amazonian Flooded Forests. Unpublished PhD
thesis, Cambridge University.
Barnett, A.A. and Brandon-Jones, D. 1997. The ecology, biogeography and conservation of
the uakaris, Cacajao (Pitheciinae). Folia Primatologica. Vol. 68, 223- 235.
Groombridge, B. 1994. IUCN red list of threatened animals, IUCN
Hershkovitz, P. 1987. Uacaries, New World monkeys of the genus Cacajao (Cebidae,
Platyrrhini): A preliminary taxonomic review with the description of a new subspecies.
American Journal of Primatology. Vol.12, 1-53.
Marengo Orsini, J. 1983. Estudio agroclimático en la zona de Jenaro Herrera (Requena,
Loreto) y climático en la selva baja norte del Perú. Thesis, Univ. Nacional Agraria La Molina,
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