The situation of field primatology in Argentina: recent studies, status and priorities

OKLANDER, LUCIANA I; PEKER, SILVANA M; KOWALEWSKI, M MARTIN

A Primatologia no Brasil. Vol. 12

UFPR/SBpr Press

Lugar: Curitiba; Año: 2011; p. 31 - 50

     In this article we present a review of the research developed on wild primate populations in Argentina. This article compiles information on which primate species and which research topics, as ecology, behavior, genetics, parasitology and conservation, have been priory studied by primatologists in the last 13 years, in the only five primate species that inhabit Argentina: Alouatta caraya (Humboldt, 1812), Alouatta clamitans Cabrera, 1940, Aotus azarai (Humboldt, 1812), Cebus nigritus (Goldfuss, 1809) and Cebus cay (Illiger, 1815). This review also presents the current status of primatological studies in Argentina, the areas that need further studies, and the conservation status of these primate species in our country. We observed that there is a bias focusing research on Alouatta caraya and deficient information on less known and more vulnerable primates in Argentina, such as Alouatta clamitans and Cebus cay. We find few studies focusing primarily in conservation. As a result, the application of current research into conservation initiatives has been scarce. The high rates of deforestation in Argentina indicate the urgent need of further studies on the effects of antropic habitat alteration on primates in order to develop future management strategies, and to advise Provincial and National government on the conservation status of these species in Argentina.