Abstract
In January through February 1994, we conducted the first broad-scale survey of Guyanese primates since 1975. Our goals were (1) to follow up questions raised in the earlier survey, (2) to compare population densities, and (3) to locate potential sites for future long-term research. We used distributional survey methods along trails and rivers and interviewed local inhabitants in each region. We surveyed five general areas, two of which had been studied in 1975. The distribution reported in 1975 for five monkey species—Alouatta seniculus, Cebus olivaceus, Pithecia pithecia, Chiropotes satanas,and Saimiri sciureus—was confirmed. However, questions were raised concerning the western extent of the range of three species: Ateles paniscus, Cebus apella,and Saguinus midas.In comparing densities between 1994 and 1975, we found a significant drop in group densities over the past 20 years and a shift in relative proportions of individual primate species over time. For example, although the total number of kilometers surveyed was identical, group densities were three times higher in 1975 than in 1994. Further, group densities of Ateles, Alouatta,and Pitheciawere much lower, while those of Saguinuswere similar in both years. These findings strongly suggest that habitat destruction and continued hunting pressure are affecting the primate populations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baal, L. J., Mittenneier, R. A., and van Roosmalen, M. G. M. (1988). Primates and protected areas in Surinam.Oryx 22: 7–14.
Beebe, W. (1921).Edge of the Jungle, H. Holt, New York.
Beebe, M. B., and Beebe, C. W. (1910).Our Search for a Wilderness: An Account of Two Ornithological Expeditions to Venezuela and British Guiana, H. Holt, New York.
Bodini, R., and Pérez-Hernandez, R. (1987) Distribution of the species and subspecies of cebids in Venezuela.Fieldiana Zool. n.s. 39: 231–244.
Bourne, G. R. (1975). The red-billed toucan in Guyana. InThe Living Bird, 13th Annual, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY.
Bourne, G. R. (1992). Lekking behavior in the neotropical frog,Ololygon rubra.Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 31: 173–180.
Bourne, G. R. (1993). Proximate costs and benefits of mate acquisition at leks of the frog,Ololygon rubra.Anim. Behav. 45: 1051–1059.
Brockelman, W. Y., and Ali, A. (1987). Methods of surveying forest primates. In Marsh, C. W., and Mittermeier, R. A. (eds.),Primate Conservation in the Tropical Rain Forest, Alan R. Liss, New York.
Defier, T. R., and Pintor, D. (1985). Censusing primates by transect in a forest of known primate density.Int. J. Primatol 6: 243–260.
Emmons, L. H. (1990).Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: A Field Guide, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Ford, S. M., and Hobbes, D. G. (1994). Species differentiation in the postcranial skeleton ofCebus.Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. Suppl. 88.
Fowler, J. M., and Cope, J. B. (1964). Notes on the harpy eagle in British Guiana.Auk 81: 257–273.
Garcia, J. E. (1993). Comparisons of estimated densities computed forSaguinus fuscicollis andSaguinus labiatus using line-transect sampling.Primate Rep. 37: 19–29.
Hershkovitz, P. (1976).Living New World Monkeys (Platyrrhini), Vol. 1, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Hoogmoed, M. S. (1979). The herpetofauna of the Guianan region. In Duellman, W. E. (ed.),The South American Herpetofauna: Its Origin, Evolution, and Dispersal, Mass. Nat. Hist. Univ. Kans. Monogr. 7, pp. 241–279.
Iwokrama Report (1993).The Commonwealth and Government of Guyana Iwokrama Rain Forest Programme.
Kinzey, W. G., Norconk, M. A., and Alvarez-Cordero, E. (1988). Primate survey of Eastern Bolivar, Venezuela.Primate Conserv. 9: 66–70.
Lindeman, J. C., and Mori, S. A. (1989). The Guianas. In Campbell, D. G., and Hammond, H. D. (eds.),Floristic Inventory of Tropical Countries: The Status of Plant Systematics, Collections and Vegetation, Plus Recommendations for the Future, New York Botanical Garden, pp. 375–390.
Maguire, B. (1970). On the flora of the Guiana highlands.Biotrop. 2: 85–100.
Mittermeier, R. A. (1987). Hunting and its effects on wild primate populations in Suriname. In Robinson, J. G., and Redford, K. H. (ed.),Neotropical Wildlife Use and Conservation, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp. 93–110.
Mittermeier, R. A., Kinzey, W. G., and Mast, R. B. (1993). Neotropical primate conservation. In Arambulo, P., Encarnacion, F., Estupinan, J., Samame, H., Watson, C. R., and Weller, R. E. (eds.),Primates of the Americas: Strategies for Conservation and Sustained Use in Biomedical Research, Battelle Press, Columbus, pp. 11–28.
Moonen, J. M. (1987). Hybrid capuchin in Paramaribo Zoo, Suriname.Primate Conserv. 8: 57.
Muckenhirn, N. A., and Eisenberg, J. F. (1978). The status of primates in Guyana and ecological correlations for neotropical primates. In Chivers, D. L., and Lane-Petter, W. (eds.),Recent Advances in Primatology, Vol. 2, Conservation, Academic Press, London, pp. 27–30.
Muckenhirn, N. A., Mortensen, B. K., Vessey, S., Fraser, C. E. O., and Singh, B. (1975). Report on a primate survey in Guyana.Report to the Pan American Health Organization (unpublished).
Napier, P. H. (1976).Catalogue of Primates in the British Museum (Natural History). Part 1: Families Callithricidae, Cebidae, Br. Mus. Nat. Hist., London.
National Research Council (1981).Techniques for the Study of Primate Population Ecology, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.
Norconk, M. A., Sussman, R. W., Phillips-Conroy, J. (1995). Primates of Guyana Shield forests. In Rosenberger, A., Norconk, M. A., and Garber, P. (eds.),Adaptive Radiations of Neotropical Primates: Essays in Honor of W. G. Kinzey, Plenum Press, New York (in preparation).
Rapid Assessment Program Survey (1993).A Biological Assessment of the Kanuku Mountains Region of Southwestern Guyana, RAP Working Papers 5, Conservation International, Washington, DC.
Redford, K. H. (1992). The empty forest.Bioscience 42: 412–422.
Redford, K. H., and Robinson, J. G. (1987). The game of choice: Patterns of indian and colonist hunting in the neotropics.Am. Anthropol. 89: 650–667.
Rettig, N. L. (1978). Breeding behavior of the Harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja).Auk 95: 629–643.
Rodway, J. (1987).In the Guiana Forest: Studies of Nature in Relation to the Struggle for Life, 3rd ed., Fisher Unwin, London.
Sarmiento, G. (1983). The savannahs of tropical America. In Bourliere, F. (ed.),Tropical Savannas, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 245–288.
Skorupa, J. P. (1987). Do line-transect surveys systematically underestimate primate densities in logged forest?Am. J. Primatol. 13: 1–9.
Snyder, D. (1966).The Birds of Guyana, Peabody Museum, Salem.
Tate, G. H. H. (1939). The mammals of the Guiana region.Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 76(5): 151–229.
Ter Steege, H. (1993).Patterns in Tropical Rain Forest in Guyana, Tropenbos Series 3, Tropenbos Foundation.
Thomas, O. (1901). On a collection of mammals from the Kanuku Mountains, British Guiana.Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist Ser. 7, 7: 139–154.
Tropenbos (1991).Guyana and Tropenbos, Tropenbos Foundation, Utrecht.
Vessey, S. H., Mortenson, B. K., and Muckenhirn, N. A. (1978). Size and characteristics of primate groups in Guyana. In Chivers, D. L., and Lane-Petter, W. (eds.),Recent Advances in Primatology, VoL 2. Conservation, Academic Press, London, pp. 187–188.
Whitesides, G. H., Oates, J. F., Green S. M., and Kluberdanz, R. P. (1988). Estimating primate densities from transects in a West African rain forest: A comparison of techniques.J. Anim. Ecol. 57: 345–367.
Wolfheim, J. H. (1983).Primates of the World: Distribution, Abundance and Conservation, University of Washington Press, Seattle.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sussman, R.W., Phillips-Conroy, J.E. A survey of the distribution and density of the primates of Guyana. Int J Primatol 16, 761–791 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02735719
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02735719