Forest disturbance and Amazonian primates

Abstract

The economic development of the world’s rainforests continues unabated, and is reflected in the increasing importance attached to studies of the ability of primates to survive in disturbed habitats. Most of the geographical range of some primates, such as those of Brazil’s Atlantic forests, is already degraded; the same will become true for many more species as we approach the next century. Fortunately, primates are resilient animals; recent summaries of available data suggest that many species may persist in light to moderately degraded forest (Marsh et al., 1987; Johns and Skorupa, in press).