Session 17: Conservation

1.  Key Concepts:

"Of the nearly 600 species and subspecies of primate recognized today, nearly one-third are in grave danger of going extinct." (Strier, 2007)

2.  Terms & Definitions:

Vulnerable 

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild due to any of the following:

• Reduction in population size of 30-50% over the last 10 years or three generations depending on the causes and reversibility of the reductions.
• Extent of occurrence less than 20,000 km² or area of occupancy less than 2,000 km²; Population size estimated to number fewer than 10,00 mature individuals and declining or unevenly distributed.
• Population size estimated to number fewer than 1,000 mature individuals or restricted area of occupancy or number of locations.
• Probability of extinction at least 10% within 100 years or three generations.

Endangered

Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild due to any of the following:

• Reduction in population size of 50-70% over the last 10 years or three generations depending on the causes and reversibility of the reductions.
• Extent of occurrence less than 5000 km² or area of occupancy less than 500 km²; Population size estimated to number fewer than 2500 mature individuals and declining or unevenly distributed.
• Population size estimated to number fewer than 250 mature individuals.
• Probability of extinction at least 20% within 20 years or three generations.

Critically endangered:

Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild due to any of the following:

• Reduction in population size of 80-90% over the last 10 years or three generations depending on the causes and reversibility of the reductions.
• Extent of occurrence less than 100 km² or area of occupancy less than 10 km².
• Population size estimated to number fewer than 250 mature individuals and declining or unevenly distributed.
• Population size estimated to number fewer than 50 mature individuals.
• Probability of extinction at least 50% within 10 years or three generations.

3. Conservation needs--the planet:

• A total of 15,589 species (7,266 animal species and 8,323 plant and lichen species) are now considered at risk of extinction. This represents an increase of 3,330 since the previous year’s IUCN Red List, due to a combination of first-ever species evaluations as well as reassessments.
• One in three amphibians (32%) and almost half (42%) of turtles and tortoises are now known to be threatened with extinction, along with one in eight birds (12%) and one in four mammals (23%).
• Approximately 30% of all primate taxa are threatened or endangered.  And 195 endangered and critically endangered taxa face extremely high risks of extinction.

Top 25 endangered primates 2004-2006:

From Strier(2007), course text.  Originally from Mittermeier et al. 2004.

Endangered and critically endangered taxa of primates largely come from Asia (~45%), Africa (~22%), and Malagasy (~16%).  More than 86% of the world’s endangered and critically endangered primates occur in just 10 countries.

4.  Primate patterns: what we’ve been studying

Primate population losses due to habitat destruction, exploitation, human encroachment, climate change, and other environmental degradations have impacted primates at every level.  In addition to direct population declines, remaining non-human primates' sustainability is threatened.  The following aspects of primate behavioral ecology have been negatively impacted by anthropogenic changes to their environment:

• Grouping patterns.
• Ecology/diet and its impact on behavior.
• Reproduction and relationships to demography, diet and habitat.
• Dispersal and philopatry.
• Ability to reside alongside humans.

5. Humanity and conservation:

Humans are negatively impacting the global environment or local populations of primates via:

• Habitat modification and niche construction.
• Global and local climate change.
• Human population food needs including hunting and economic resource exploitation.
• Disease introductions.
• Occupation of or conversion of forested lands.
• Biomedical uses or ”traditional” medicine via the collecting and farming of primates.

What is the role of the primatologist?

Is it always appropriate to see current behavior as adapted to particular circumstances?  Should we consider relationships between behavioral plasticity and survival?  What about the role or impact of opening new field sites?  Is a primatologist obligated to be an activist?

6.  Additional Material:

Required Reading:

Primates in Perspective.  2007.  C.J. Campbell, A. Fuentes, K.C. MacKinnon, M. Panger. S.K. Bearder.  Oxford University Press.

Chapter 30: Conservation - Strier