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Threats and Conservation of Owl Monkeys (Aotus spp.) in the Andes

2023; Springer Nature; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/978-3-031-13555-2_22

1574-3497

Sam Shanee,

Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation

The montane forests of the Andes extend from northern Colombia, south through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, and include parts of the distributions of Aotus azarae, A. brumbacki, A griseimembra, A. jorgehernandezi, A. nigriceps, A. vociferans, and A. zonalis, with A. lemurinus and A. miconax restricted to elevations >900 and >1400 m.a.s.l, although more research is still needed on the elevational distributions of most of these species. The Andes support relatively high human population densities even in rural areas (avg. 101.6 people/km2). The main threats to owl monkeys and their habitats in the Andes are from farming, human population expansion, mining, and logging. However, protected areas and the genus’ relatively small body size, nocturnal habits, and behavioral plasticity may help owl monkeys survive in the region. Locally managed conservation projects and less damaging agricultural practices, such as shade-grown crops, could prove key to successful conservation efforts for owl monkeys in the Andes.