Conservation

Question 1

How many species of primates are there?

Answer 1

~504

Question 2

How many genera and families of primates exist?

Answer 2

79 genera, 16 families

Question 3

Where do 2/3 of all primate species occur?

Answer 3

1) Brazil
2) Madagascar
3) Indonesia
4) Democratic Republic of Congo

Question 4

Which factors predispose species to extinction risk?

Answer 4

1) Small pop size, low pop density
2) Small geographic range (e.g., island endemism)
3) Higher trophic levels (chain of extinction)
4) Slow life histories
5) Diurnality (overlap with other predators)
6) Complex social structures

Question 5

What are the 4 factors that account for ~50% of total between-species variation in extinction risk?

Answer 5

1) Low population density
2) Slow life history
3) Small geographic range
4) High trophic level

Question 6

What did Darwin suggest about the impact of humans on primates?

Answer 6

“The apes will be no doubt exterminated”

Question 7

What did Wallace suggest about the impact of humans on primates?

Answer 7

“Should civilized man every reach these distant lands…he will disturb the nicely-balanced relations…to cause disappearance”

Question 8

Which of the great apes are lowest in number?

Answer 8

The bonobos and orangutans have a population size of ~50k

Question 9

Which of the great apes are highest in number?

Answer 9

Chimpanzees and gorillas have a population size of ~200k

Question 10

What may the reason as to why orangutans are so low in number?

Answer 10

They are solitary (low density population)

Question 11

By analyzing reports by Wallace, what could be a reason why Orangutans are mostly found to be solitary?

Answer 11

1) Wallace’s repots indicate there were much more abundant around ~1800s
2) The solitary feature of their socioecology may be due to extermination

Question 12

What is an example of the ecological importance of primates?

Answer 12

Endozoochory (seed dispersal), where they swallow and defecate seeds

Question 13

What are seed predators?

Answer 13

Animals that eat seeds but destroy them - do not contribute to seed dispersal

Question 14

What was the diet of extinct lemurs?

Answer 14

1) Extinct lemurs were larger (therefore a larger mouth), and the size of the food they consumed was also large
2) Extinct lemurs were dispersers of larger seeds from plants which no longer have dispersers today

Question 15

What is the main threat to primates?

Answer 15

Humans (urban and population growth)

Question 16

What are principal threats?

Answer 16

Agriculture, logging/wood harvesting, hunting/trapping, livestock farming

Question 17

What are secondary threats?

Answer 17

Climate change, roads and rails, pollution, civil unrest

Question 18

What is the problem with oil palm expansion when the resource is “green”?

Answer 18

Oil palm plantations do not provide an equivalent ecosystem service as primary rainforests do, supporting much fewer species

Question 19

On a global scale, what % of species are threatened at what % of species are declining?

Answer 19

~50% are threatened, ~75% declining

Question 20

Which species of great ape are the only ones to be increasing in number over the past few years?

Answer 20

Mountain gorillas

Question 21

Why are mountain gorillas in Rwanda (Karisoke) increasing in size?

Answer 21

In part due to the legacy of Dian Fossey (one of the researchers for Louis Leakey)

Question 22

Why is conservation of primary forests important?

Answer 22

Complex food webs with various species, which is important for resistance

Question 23

What are 3 approaches to primate conservation?

Answer 23

1) Protected areas
2) Law enforcement
3) Payments for ecosystem services

Question 24

What are 3 main threats to primate habitats?

Answer 24

1) Total loss (clear cut logging, agriculture)
2) Degradation (logging/mining)
3) Fragmentation (loss of surrounding habitat or roads)