Fragment shape and size, landscape permeability and fragmentation level as predictors of primate occupancy in a region of Brazilian Cerrado

Human activities result in the formation of a mosaic of forest patches within a non-habitat matrix. The response of the local biodiversity to changes in land-use may occur at different scales. It is important to evaluate the effects of the attributes of both the patches and the surrounding landscape on the occupancy of forest patches by animal populations. Here, we assessed the predictive potential of local (basal area, tree density), patch (size, shape) and landscape scale (total area of forest, number of patches, matrix permeability, patch proximity) variables on the occupancy of forest patches by the syntopic primates Alouatta caraya, Sapajus libidinosus and Callithrix penicillata in the city of Goiânia in the Cerrado region of central Brazil. We used playback to survey primate populations in 22 focal patches and assessed the landscape within a 1000 m buffer zone around each site. In A. caraya, occupancy was influenced by the shape of the focal patches, the amount of forest and fragmentation level of the landscape. Focal patch size and the permeability of the matrix were the principal determinants of the occupancy of S. libidinosus. None of the predictors influenced patch occupancy in C. penicillata, and the structure of the vegetation did not influence occupancy in any of the species. The preservation of as many forest patches as possible, both large and small, as well as gallery forests, and the enhancement of matrix permeability will be essential for the long-term conservation of the syntopic primates of the Cerrado of central Brazil.

Fragment shape and size, landscape permeability and fragmentation level as predictors of primate occupancy in a region of Brazilian Cerrado

Human activities result in the formation of a mosaic of forest patches within a non-habitat matrix. The response of the local biodiversity to changes in land-use may occur at different scales. It is important to evaluate the effects of the attributes of both the patches and the surrounding landscape on the occupancy of forest patches by animal populations. Here, we assessed the predictive potential of local (basal area, tree density), patch (size, shape) and landscape scale (total area of forest, number of patches, matrix permeability, patch proximity) variables on the occupancy of forest patches by the syntopic primates Alouatta caraya, Sapajus libidinosus and Callithrix penicillata in the city of Goiânia in the Cerrado region of central Brazil. We used playback to survey primate populations in 22 focal patches and assessed the landscape within a 1000 m buffer zone around each site. In A. caraya, occupancy was influenced by the shape of the focal patches, the amount of forest and fragmentation level of the landscape. Focal patch size and the permeability of the matrix were the principal determinants of the occupancy of S. libidinosus. None of the predictors influenced patch occupancy in C. penicillata, and the structure of the vegetation did not influence occupancy in any of the species. The preservation of as many forest patches as possible, both large and small, as well as gallery forests, and the enhancement of matrix permeability will be essential for the long-term conservation of the syntopic primates of the Cerrado of central Brazil.(AU)

Human perception of the conservation and biodiversity state of forest remnants under different levels of urbanization / Percepção humana sobre o estado de conservação e a biodiversidade de remanescentes florestais sob diferentes níveis de urbanização

Human perception of local environmental biodiversity and conservation may provide another dimension to understanding the ecology of urban ecosystems. This perception can vary according to the environmental urbanization level and may contribute towards its conservation. We investigated the relationship between the human perception of the conservation and state of animal richness in urban remnants and level of landscape urbanization, and between the human perception of animal richness and the remnants area. In addition, we tested the effectiveness of interviews as the means for evaluating animal richness. The subjects" perception of the conservation of remnants did not correlate with the level of urbanization. Richness was reported as high and varied with the remnants area - indicating maintenance of a possible species-area relationship in the studied landscape - but did not correlate with the level of urbanization. Urbanization can standardize the popular knowledge about conservation. Interviews with local residents proved to bring efficient insights into urban animal richness, especially for primates, and can be supplemented by camera-trapping. Human perception, obtained through interviews, is relevant and useful for the description of ecological aspects of urban regions and supports environmental awareness, actions, research projects, and management for conservation purposes(AU)

A percepção humana da biodiversidade e conservação do ambiente possibilita o acesso e entendimento da ecologia dos ecossistemas urbanos. Esta percepção pode variar de acordo com o nível de urbanização do ambiente e colaborar com a sua conservação. Investigamos a relação entre a percepção humana do estado de conservação e da riqueza animal de remanescentes urbanos e o grau de urbanização da paisagem; e entre a percepção humana da riqueza animal dos remanescentes e a sua área. Testamos também a eficácia de entrevistas como via de levantamento da riqueza. A percepção dos sujeitos acerca da conservação das áreas não variou com o nível de urbanização. A riqueza relatada foi alta e variou com a área do remanescente, mas não se relacionou com o nível de urbanização. A urbanização pode padronizar o conhecimento popular e a fauna remanescente pode ser suficientemente generalista e tolerante às pressões antrópicas. As entrevistas se mostraram eficientes para o levantamento da riqueza urbana, especialmente para primatas, podendo ser complementadas por armadilhamento fotográfico. A percepção humana, apreendida por entrevistas, é uma via relevante para a descrição de aspectos ecológicos das regiões urbanizadas e para fundamentar ações de sensibilização ambiental, investigação e manejo para fins de conservação.(AU)