Costs and Benefits of Radio-collaring on the Behavior, Demography and Conservation of Owl Monkey (Aotus azarai) in Formosa, Argentina

CECILIA PAOLA, JUAREZ; EDUARDO, FERNANDEZ-DUQUE; MARCELO A. , ROTUNDO; BERG WENDY

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY

Springer

Año: 2009

0164-0291

The benefits of capturing and collaring free-ranging primates are numerous, but so are the actual and potential costs. There are two main contributions from our study: 1- a thorough qualitative evaluation of the short-term costs and overall benefits of the procedures that results from monitoring a large number of groups (n=20) during many years (2000-2009) and, 2- the results of the first quantitative evaluation of the possible long-term costs of radio-collaring a free-ranging primate species. Since 2000 we have captured, re-captured and radio-collared 223 owl monkeys (Aotus azarai azarai) to study the behavior, demography, and genetics of this sexually monomorphic taxon.  To evaluate the potential long-term effects of the procedures on the population we compared basic demographic parameters of study groups (n=20) with those of control undisturbed groups in the same general area of study (n=20). Groups in both areas ranged in size between two and five individuals. Group size tended to be larger among study groups and there were more infants and juveniles in those groups than in the control ones. The short-term costs have, without doubts, been outweighed by benefits (e.g. identification of individuals, increased sample sizes, recovery of specimens, studies of dispersal, outreach activities, conservation). Still, many of the benefits only become tangible when the project persists on time, is fully approved and supported by local authorities, has broad community participation, as well as conservation and education goals. Unless there are concrete plans for a long-term presence, the costs can easily exceed the benefits.