Demographic population structure of black howler monkeys in fragmented and continuous forest in Chiapas, Mexico: Implications for conservation.

摘要: For wild primates, demography studies are increasingly recognized as necessary for assessing the viability of vulnerable populations experiencing rapid environmental change. In particular, anthropogenic changes such habitat loss and fragmentation can cause ecological behavioral in small, isolated populations, which may, over time, alter population density demographic structure (age/sex classes group composition) fragment relative to continuous forest populations. We compared our study Endangered black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) 34 fragments around Palenque National Park (PNP), Mexico (62 groups, 407 individuals), adjacent PNP, protected primary (21 134 previous research on howlers area (18 115 individuals). used χ2 Mann-Whitney U tests address questions: (a) what is current unprotected PNP? (b) How does it compare PNP's stable, population? (c) has changed time? Compared PNP population, showed higher density, a significantly lower proportion multimale fewer adult males per group. The population's age/sex fragmented landscape been stable last 17 years, but differed multifemale patch occupancy present. context conservation, some results may be positive they indicate possible growth time. However, long-term scarcity associated effects might concern, that affect gene flow genetic diversity. stem from increased mortality while dispersing landscape, whereas females becoming more philopatric fragments.