Leonardo Oliveira
Ecology and Behaviour of Golden-Headed Lion Tamarins in Cabruca Agroforest, Bahia State, Brazil
Boa pequena.
Forraging in Bromeliad.
| Town/Region | Country | Categories | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ilhéus, Bahia | Brazil | Biodiversity, Central and Latin America, Forests | 24 Mar 2010 |
Results from my studies show that the golden-headed-lion tamarin (GHLT) an endangered primate endemic to Brazil’s Atlantic Forest can live and reproduce in some types of cabruca agroforest, the predominant forest habitat in the region. Populations living in different habitats may present diferent behaviors which allow them to survive in those habitats—or not. The knowledge of these behaviours allow us to understand how the environment affect the species and to determine the minimum requeriments for the species’ survival.
This information is essential for conservation actions on behalf of the species. I will collect specific behaviors from groups of GHLTs that live exclusively in cabruca areas to address this issue. The goal of this research is to identify minimum requirements in terms of resources for the GHLTs in cabruca agroforest. Specifically, I want to know what are the key resources for the tamarins in cabruca and if bromeliads are important for the tamarins in cabruca as they have been reported for other habitas. I will address this question by studying the behaviour of three habituated groups of GHLTs living exclusively in cabruca. One individual of each group has a radio-collar that allow us to follow them in the field. Groups will be followed on full and partial days of observation. Group scans will be done at 20-min intervals and their behaviors will be noted. All resources used by the tamarins in cabruca will be marked and identified. Our behavioral data collection will focus on foraging in Bromeliads.
The behavioral data will be collected for a period of one year. I expect to identify what are the charcteristics of cabruca and key resources for the GHLTs in cabruca to be used on the management of cabruca on behalf of species.
Read about Leonardo's previous work with the Golden-Headed Lion Tamarins http://www.ruffordsmallgrants.org/rsg/projects/leonardo_oliveira or for further information contact leoecol@umd.edu