Conservation Flashcards
How many species of primates are there?
~504
How many genera and families of primates exist?
79 genera, 16 families
Where do 2/3 of all primate species occur?
1) Brazil
2) Madagascar
3) Indonesia
4) Democratic Republic of Congo
Which factors predispose species to extinction risk?
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
What are the 4 factors that account for ~50% of total between-species variation in extinction risk?
1) Low population density
2) Slow life history
3) Small geographic range
4) High trophic level
What did Darwin suggest about the impact of humans on primates?
“The apes will be no doubt exterminated”
What did Wallace suggest about the impact of humans on primates?
“Should civilized man every reach these distant lands…he will disturb the nicely-balanced relations…to cause disappearance”
Which of the great apes are lowest in number?
The bonobos and orangutans have a population size of ~50k
Which of the great apes are highest in number?
Chimpanzees and gorillas have a population size of ~200k
What may the reason as to why orangutans are so low in number?
They are solitary (low density population)
By analyzing reports by Wallace, what could be a reason why Orangutans are mostly found to be solitary?
1) Wallace’s repots indicate there were much more abundant around ~1800s
2) The solitary feature of their socioecology may be due to extermination
What is an example of the ecological importance of primates?
Endozoochory (seed dispersal), where they swallow and defecate seeds
What are seed predators?
Animals that eat seeds but destroy them - do not contribute to seed dispersal
What was the diet of extinct lemurs?
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
What is the main threat to primates?
Humans (urban and population growth)
What are principal threats?
Agriculture, logging/wood harvesting, hunting/trapping, livestock farming
What are secondary threats?
Climate change, roads and rails, pollution, civil unrest
What is the problem with oil palm expansion when the resource is “green”?
Oil palm plantations do not provide an equivalent ecosystem service as primary rainforests do, supporting much fewer species
On a global scale, what % of species are threatened at what % of species are declining?
~50% are threatened, ~75% declining
Which species of great ape are the only ones to be increasing in number over the past few years?
Mountain gorillas
Why are mountain gorillas in Rwanda (Karisoke) increasing in size?
In part due to the legacy of Dian Fossey (one of the researchers for Louis Leakey)
Why is conservation of primary forests important?
Complex food webs with various species, which is important for resistance
What are 3 approaches to primate conservation?
1) Protected areas
2) Law enforcement
3) Payments for ecosystem services
What are 3 main threats to primate habitats?
1) Total loss (clear cut logging, agriculture)
2) Degradation (logging/mining)
3) Fragmentation (loss of surrounding habitat or roads)
