The hooded capuchin is a candidate flagship species for an agroforestry reforestation programme to reconnect BAAPA fragments. As Paraguayan deforestation involves the creation of large crop fields separating BAAPA fragments, the probability that the hooded capuchin can move between those fragments is low. The monkeys were less likely to be found in degraded areas, even though they were still forested. The capuchin was a forest obligate species and avoided crop fields. The capuchins showed a preference for more mature forest, bamboo dominated forest and flooded forest (that has experienced little selective logging in the past).
#PLANTACION DE YERBA MATE TRANSLATE DRIVER#
Wetness (mean and standard deviation), a measure of soil moisture and canopy closure, was found to be the most important driver at both sites. The model was fitted to presence‐only observations at two sites, Rancho Laguna Blanca and Nueva Gambach, to determine how hooded capuchin distribution is associated with remotely sensed habitat features in BAAPA fragments. We develop a species distribution model using MAXENT to determine the remotely sensed microhabitat features associated with habitat suitability in forests that had experienced different levels of degradation.
Given its charismatic characteristics, the capuchin species is a candidate flagship species for this ecoregion however, its habitat preferences in BAAPA degraded fragments are unknown. BAAPA is one of the world's most critically endangered terrestrial habitats with more than 90% of its original cover lost to industrial agriculture. The hooded capuchin (Sapajus cay) is an adaptable, generalist primate species found throughout eastern Paraguay with preferences for the Paraguayan Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest (BAAPA). Landowners would profit from the pine timber/yerba mate and wildlife would benefit from increased forest connectivity. Use of the pine plantation highlights opportunity for reforestation programs that can benefit local economies, creating corridors between forest fragments using native trees, mixed with shade-grown yerba mate bordered by pine plantations. The capuchin is suitable as a flagship and umbrella species for BAAPA conservation and restoration. Capuchins should be considered ‘Vulnerable’ in Paraguay given the high fragmentation of habitat, large distance between fragments, small amount of suitable forest remaining, and extreme, rapid habitat loss. In Paraguay 58.4% of highly suitable forest was lost over 2000-2019 leaving an EOO of 9,368km2.
The Extent of Occurrence (EOO), estimated from suitable habitat availability (IUCN Red List Criterion B), matches expectation for ‘Near Threatened’. Number of suitability fragments increased, as did the distance between highly suitable fragments.
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Between 2000-2019, across its full range, 25% of highly suitable forest was lost. The probability of capuchins occupying any area decreased to <50% when <33% of the forest remained.
They used the forest more uniformly at the more pristine site, frequently exploiting pine plantations for food and sleeping. Capuchins don’t use degraded forest homogenously, preferring older growth areas, larger trees with more canopy connections for sleeping in degraded areas, and areas with higher soil and canopy moisture – a measure of forest maturity. Results show the capuchin is an adaptable, forest obligate, requiring some level of forest cover. This study examined the ecology of hooded capuchins at two sites comparing dietary and sleeping site preferences and estimated habitat use, developing species distribution models, underpinned by LANDSAT 8 data. Its Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest (BAAPA) had one of the world’s highest deforestation rates. Paraguay is heavily reliant on industrial agriculture. Habitat loss is the number one threat to terrestrial mammalian species.
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