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Niche overlap between two sympatric frugivorous Neotropical primates: improving ecological niche models using closely-related taxa

Biodiversity and Conservation volume 29, pages 2749–2763 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Ecological niche models (ENMs) are widely used tools for predicting species geographic distribution as a function of environmental variables. The inclusion of biotic factors in the predictor suite can significantly increase the predictive power of such models, leading to a model closer to the realized niche for the species under investigation. In this study, we provide evidence of niche overlap between gray woolly monkeys (Lagothrix cana) and black-faced black spider monkeys (Ateles chamek) based on locality and ecological data covering their complete geographic range in the Amazon forests of Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. We also estimate the potential distribution of L. cana using environmental predictors, and the distribution of A. chamek as a biotic factor. Finally, we quantified current and future habitat loss and areas under legal protection. We found that only 39% of the L. cana area of occupancy is under legal protection and that the species could potentially lose up to 58% of habitat in the next 30 years. We also show that the use of a closely-related species that has a more robust dataset can improve ENMs of poorly studied, rare and/or cryptic species. The framework developed here can be applied to a wide range of sympatric species if they share similar ecological requirements. Since our focal species are the most frugivorous primates in our study region and especially vulnerable to habitat loss, the identification of highly suitable areas for both taxa can help to protect other forest-dwelling species, reducing the rate of overall biodiversity loss.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express sincere thanks to the Handling Editor and two anonymous reviewers for comments that greatly improved the manuscript. Carlos Augusto Tuyama and Marco Rodrigo are acknowledged for providing valuable occurrence records for this study. José de Sousa e Silva Júnior is also acknowledged for help in specimen’s identification from Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. RMR thanks the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq, #142352/2017-9). ASJ would like to thank to the Fundação Amazônia de Amparo a Estudos e Pesquisa do Pará (FAPESPA), and DF thanks the logistical support provided by the Interligação Elétrica do Madeira—IEMAD and by Group Biocev Smart Projects Services. JV and ASJ thank the Grant Agreement for Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá (#5344) of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Amazonian Mammals Research Group, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo, 2936, Manaus, AM, 69067-375, Brazil

    Thiago Cavalcante & Adrian A. Barnett

  2. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo, 2936, Manaus, AM, 69067-375, Brazil

    Thiago Cavalcante & Rafael M. Rabelo

  3. Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia e Conservação de Primatas, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Estrada do Bexiga, 2584, Tefé, AM, 69553-225, Brazil

    Anamélia de Souza Jesus

  4. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Produção Animal na Amazônia, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Av. Perimetral, 2501, Belém, PA, 66077-830, Brazil

    Anamélia de Souza Jesus

  5. Grupo de Pesquisa em Ecologia de Vertebrados Terrestres (ECOVERT), Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá (IDSM), Estrada do Bexiga, 2584, Tefé, AM, 69553-225, Brazil

    Anamélia de Souza Jesus, Rafael M. Rabelo & João Valsecchi

  6. Laboratório de Mastozoologia e Vertebrados Terrestres, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Av. Presidente Dutra, 2967, Porto Velho, RO, 76801-016, Brazil

    Mariluce Rezende Messias

  7. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais (UEMG), Unidade Carangola, Praça dos Estudantes, 23, Carangola, MG, 36800-000, Brazil

    Daniel Ferraz

  8. Centro Técnico de Educação Rural Abaitará, RO 010, km 32, Pimenta Bueno, RO, 76970-000, Brazil

    Almério C. Gusmão

  9. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ambiente e Sistemas de Produção Agrícola, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, MT 358, km 7, Tangará da Serra, MT, 78300-000, Brazil

    Odair Diogo da Silva

  10. Consultor Autônomo, R. Antônio Santana Costa, 210/201, Pará de Minas, MG, 35660-476, Brazil

    Luciano Faria

Authors
  1. Thiago Cavalcante
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  2. Anamélia de Souza Jesus
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  3. Rafael M. Rabelo
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  4. Mariluce Rezende Messias
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  5. João Valsecchi
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  6. Daniel Ferraz
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  7. Almério C. Gusmão
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  8. Odair Diogo da Silva
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  9. Luciano Faria
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  10. Adrian A. Barnett
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Contributions

Contributions to the early planning of the study were made by TC, ACG and DF. TC, ASJ and RMR developed the overall research framework and designed the methodology. TC, MRZ, JV, DF, ACG, ODS, LF provided new species occurrence data. All data was gathered by TC, ASJ and RMR. RMR performed all the statistical models and data analyses. TC, ASJ, RMR and AAB led the writing of the manuscript. All authors gave final revision and approval for publication and are accountable for all aspects of the work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thiago Cavalcante.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Communicated by Mukunda Dev Behera.

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Cavalcante, T., de Souza Jesus, A., Rabelo, R.M. et al. Niche overlap between two sympatric frugivorous Neotropical primates: improving ecological niche models using closely-related taxa. Biodivers Conserv 29, 2749–2763 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-020-01997-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-020-01997-5

Keywords

  • Ateles chamek
  • Biotic interactions
  • Lagothrix cana
  • Potential geographic distribution
  • Predicted habitat loss

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