Universitas Scientiarum (Apr 2009)
Densidad y estatus poblacional de monos aulladores rojos en un guadual, fragmento aislado, La Tebaida, Quindío, Colombia
Abstract
Density and population status of red howler monkeys in an isolated bamboo forest fragment in La Tebaida, Quindío, Colombia.The majority of forest remnants in the coffee growing region in Colombia are guaduales, forests with a predominance of thorny bamboos(Guadua spp.). These remnants support the last remaining populations of red howler monkeys found between 800 and 1,300 m of altitudein the Central Cordillera of Colombia. Objective: To assess the population status of howler monkeys in a 51.4 ha-bamboo forest fragmentat 1,100 m of altitude. Methods and results: The estimated howler population density in the fragment, based on direct counts, was of 163.4individuals and 16.9 groups per km2, which is higher than that commonly reported for this species in continuous forests, although similarto the estimated density in isolated fragments of mountain forests. In spite of the high density, the group size and composition are similarto those usually reported for this species, with more immature individuals than female adults (1.13:1). This finding suggests that thepopulation is under a stable condition. We estimated an abundance of just 84 howlers in the fragment. The guadual, narrow and elongated,is isolated by surrounding productive systems and has a low plant diversity. Nevertheless, guadua plants provide a suitable structure for thedisplacement and shelter of howlers. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the tolerance of this species to the fragmentation and its plasticity in persisting in altered environments. However, the high density of individuals, low plant diversity, forest isolation, edge effect, and closecontact with anthropic productive systems, are all possible threats to the persistence of this population.
