Nest sites of Brumback night monkey (Aotus brumbacki, Primates, Aotidae) in fragmented landscapes of Colombian Llanos

Abstract

Aotus brumbacki is an endemic nocturnal monkey from Colombian Llanos, which use tree holes in dead and live trees to sleep. This study aim is to describe the type of nesting sites used by A. brumbacki in fragmented and relictual landscapes at Colombian Llanos. Observations were made during census in San Martin landscapes, and nest searches using interviews in Villavicencio, Acacias and Cumaral landscapes. Landscapes in which nest were found were classified according to percentage of forest cover present in the landscape as fragmented: 10.2-29% and relictual: 1.9–7.3%. A total of 24 nests of were characterized in this study. In Villavicencio, Acacias and Cumaral landscapes, nest sites were located inside forest fragments, at its edges or in living fences (2–8m height). While in San Martin landscapes nest were found inside forest and Mauritia flexuosa swamp fragments and at its edges (8–18m). Plant species used includes species from Moraceae, Fabaceae, Combretaceae, Meliaceae, Poaceae, Apocynaceae and Arecaceae families. This study highlights nest sites diversity influenced by plant species availability, that need to be considered in reforestation and connectivity projects.

Keywords

• Aotus brumbacki
• Brumback night monkey
• nests sites
• fragmented landscapes
• relictual landscapes