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Population density and group composition of three red howler monkey populations, in Valle and Cauca, Colombia. In Spanish

TitlePopulation density and group composition of three red howler monkey populations, in Valle and Cauca, Colombia. In Spanish
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsGómez-Posada C, Roncancio N, P H, Betancourt A
JournalBoletín Científico del Centro de Museos, Universidad de Caldas
Volume14
Issue1
Pagination79-91
ISSN 0123-3068
KeywordsAlouatta seniculus, bamboo forest fragment, forestry plantations, group composition, mountain forest, population density
Abstract

In the Valle del Cauca and Cauca departments in Colombia, three populations of red howler monkey were studied: two bamboo fragments (Nana Luisa Farm with 9.7 hectares, and the Montegrande municipal rural settlement with 60.3 hectares) and one area of continuous forests with forestry plantations and secondary forests (Cuenca del Nima). In 2004, population densities and group composition were evaluated using direct counts; additionally, information of the vegetation structure
was collected. In the Nana Luisa Farm, a singlegroup of five individuals (51.5 indv/km2) was found. The structure and composition of the group, the total isolation and small size of the forest, indicates a decreasing population. This population is considered in danger. In the Montegrande municipal rural settlement had a population of 154 individuals and a high density of howlers (254.9 indv/km2). In this fragment, some groups tended to be numerous, probably due to the impossibility of dispersion of the young individuals (effect of the isolation). The plant diversity of this forest and the number of trees for howlers was low, suggesting a limited offer of resources. This population is considered vulnerable. The continuous forest presented a density of 22.6 individuals/km2, this value and the composition of the howler groups are similar to those usually reported for the species (in spite of the small sample size). This population is considered “healthy”.