Faces na Floresta (Faces in the Forest: The Endangered Muriqui Monkeys of Brazil), by Karen B. Strier. Portuguese translation by Luiz Roberto Mendes Gonçalves and Thäis Costa; preface by Miriam Leitão. Rio de Janeiro: Sociedade para a Preservação do Muriqui — “Preserve Muriqui”, 2007. ISBN: 978-85-7650-101-5. If interested in obtaining a copy of the Portuguese version, contact: <preservemuriqui@hotmail.om.br>.
English version: Karen Strier, 1999. Harvard University Press. 170 pp. ISBN: 978-0674290082. The woolly spider monkey, or muriqui, is one of the most threatened primate species in the world. Because of deforestation in their natural habitat (the Atlantic coastal forests of southeastern Brazil) the muriquis are confined to less than three percent of their original range. As of 1987, there were only a dozen forest fragments known to support a total muriqui population of about 500. As of 1998, at least 20 forests are known to support at least 1000 muriquis. This book traces the natural history of the muriqui from its scientific discovery in 1806 to its current, highly endangered status. Karen Strier provides a case study of this scientifically important primate species by balancing field research and ecological issues. Through her accessible presentation, readers gain a broad understanding of primate behavior and tropical conservation.
Life in the Cerrado, a South American Tropical Seasonal Ecosystem, by Gerhard Gottsberger and I. Silberbauer-Gottsberger. 2005. The book describes the Cerrado (one of the top biodiversity hotspots in the world), a large scale South American ecosystem, its formation and origin, its plants and their adaptations, their rhythms of life, and their interactions with animals. The Central Brazilian Cerrado should be considered as a distinct vegetation type, distinguished from other topographically similar Central and South American vegetation types by its ecology, species composition and floristic diversity. Cerrado occurs frequently in savanna-like forms, but also as forest (closed arboreal canopy), woodland (open arboreal canopy), scrub and open grassland forms. Floristic similarities of Cerrado and Central and South American savannas and savanna-like vegetation are the result of a common origin of all these vegetation types and also testify to the floristic exchange between Neotropical savannas and Cerrado during the Tertiary and Quaternary. In the first volume is a detailed examination of its vegetation, its structure, dynamics and presumed origin. Emphasis is on the adaptational features of plants in relation to their physical environment, in particular climate, soil conditions and fire. Further, the utility to humans of Cerrado plants is discussed, as well as the influence of humans upon this ecosystem. We also discuss some of the issues associated with conservation politics. In the second volume, pollination and seed dispersal phenomena are described, and emphasis is placed on how these processes, essentially plant-animal relationships, are critical to the maintenance and regeneration of this ecosystem. Contents: Vol. 1. Origin, Structure, Dynamics and Plant Use; Vol. 2. Pollination and Seed Dispersal. For more information and ordering of the book contact: Prof. Dr. Gerhard Gottsberger <gerhard.gottsberger@uni-ulm.de>.
The Mammals of Costa Rica: A Natural History and Field Guide, by Mark Wainwright and Oscar Arias. 2007. Cornell University Press. ISBN: 978-0801473753. From the raucous mantled howler monkeys and the charismatic white-nosed coatis to the elusive jaguar, The Mammals of Costa Rica offers authoritative accounts of the fascinating creatures of the Neotropics. With more than four hundred spectacular illustrations and a wealth of detailed information drawn from firsthand observation, new research, and synthesis of the scientific literature, this book describes all of Costa Rica's readily identifiable terrestrial and freshwater mammals. The clear and entertaining text is perfectly suited to meet the needs of naturalists, students, and researchers, as well as both experienced and first-time visitors to Costa Rica and the American tropics. The mammal descriptions include key identification features, range maps, vocalizations, local folklore and mythology, and comprehensive information about natural history and conservation. The color illustrations show not only the mammals themselves but also their tracks, foods, and skulls. Also included are illustrations of numerous other animals and plants with which the mammals have close ecological links. By presenting mammals in a broader context, The Mammals of Costa Rica provides an entry point into a general study of tropical ecology and conservation.
Feeding Ecology in Apes and Other Primates. Ecological, Physiological and Behavioural Aspects, edited by G. Hohmann, M. M. Robbins and C. Boesch. 2006. Cambridge University Press. 540 pp. ISBN: 978-0521858373. The book focuses on evolutionary perspectives of the complex interactions between the environment, food sources, physiology and behaviour in primates. This highly interdisciplinary volume provides a benchmark to assess dietary alterations that affected human evolution by putting the focus on the diet of hominid primates. It also offers a new perspective on the behavioural ecology of the last common ancestor by integrating corresponding information from both human and non-human primates. The potential of innovations of applied biotechnology are also explored to set new standards for future research on feeding ecology, and new information on feeding ecology in humans, apes and other primates is synthesized to help refine or modify current models of socioecology. By taking a comparative view, this book will be interesting to primatologists, anthropologists, behavioural ecologists and evolutionary biologists who want to understand better non-human primates, and the primate that is us. Contents: 1. Variability of the feeding ecology of eastern gorillas — M. M. Robbins, J. Bosco Nkurunungi and A. McNeilage; 2. Sympatric western gorilla and mangabey diet — D. M. Doran-Sheehy, N. F. Shah and L. A. Heimbauer; 3. Effects of fruit scarcity on foraging strategies of sympatric gorillas and chimpanzees — J. Yamagiwa and A. K. Basabose; 4. Chimpanzee feeding ecology and comparisons with sympatric gorillas in the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo — D. Morgan and C. Sanz; 5. Frugivory and gregariousness of Salonga bonobos and Gashaka chimpanzees — G. Hohmann, A. Fowler, V. Sommer and S. Ortmann; 6. Feeding ecology of savanna chimpanzees at Fongoli, Senegal — J. D. Pruetz; 7. Food choice in Taï chimpanzees: are cultural differences present? — C. Boesch, Z. B. Goné Bi, D. Anderson and D. Stahl; 8. The effects of food size, rarity, and processing complexity on white-faced capuchins' visual attention to foraging conspecifics — S. Perry and J. C. Ordoñez; Part II. 9. Primate foraging adaptations: two research strategies — S. A. Altmann; 10. The predictive power of socioecological models: a reconsideration of resource characteristics, agonism, and dominance hierarchies — A. Koenig and C. Borries; 11. Hunger and aggression in capuchin monkeys — C. Janson and E. Vogel; 12. How does food availability limit the population density of white-bearded gibbons? — A. J. Marshall and M. Leighton; 13. Influence of fruit availability on Sumatran orangutan sociality and reproduction — S. A. Wich, M. L. Geurts, T. M. Setia and S. S. Utami-Atmoko; 14. Central place provisioning: the Hadza as an example — F.W. Marlowe; Part III. 15. Estimating the quality and composition of wild animal diets — S. Ortmann, B. J. Bradley, C. Stolter and J. U. Ganzhorn; 16. The possible application of novel marker methods for estimating dietary intake and nutritive value in primates — R. W. Mayes; 17. Energy intake by wild chimpanzees and orangutans — N. L. Conklin-Brittain, C. D. Knott and R. W. Wrangham; 18. The role of sugar in diet selection in redtail and red colobus monkeys — L. Danish, C. A. Chapman, M. B. Hall, K. D. Rode and C. O'Driscoll; 19. Primate sensory systems and foraging behavior — N. J. Dominy, P. W. Lucas and N. S. Noor.
New Perspectives in the Study of Mesoamerican Primates: Distribution, Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation, edited by Alejandro Estrada, Paul A. Garber, Mary Pavelka, and Leandra Luecke. 2006. Springer, New York. xvi + 600pp. ISBN-10: 0-387-25854-X (hardback, US$139.00). The ninth volume in the series Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects, Series Editor Russell H. Tuttle, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. A timely overview of the taxonomy and biogeography of approximately 21 primates of the genera Saguinus, Saimiri, Cebus, Aotus, Alouatta and Ateles which occur in Mesoamerica and northwestern Colombia, and of the behavior, ecology and conservation of Mesoamerican Cebus, Alouatta and Ateles. Following a summary review by the editors (“Overview of the Mesoamerican primate fauna, primate studies and conservation concerns”, pp. 1–22), the book has a further 22 chapters divided into five parts (each with a short introduction) as follows. Part 1. Taxonomy and Biogeography. Chapter 2. Taxonomy and distributions of Mesoamerican primates — A. B. Rylands, C. P. Groves, R. A. Mittermeier, L. Cortés-Ortiz and J. J. H. Hines, pp.29–79; Chapter 3. The biogeographic history of Mesoamerican primates — S. M. Ford, pp.81–114. Part 2. Population Responses to Disturbance. Chapter 4. Demographic features of Alouatta pigra populations in extensive and fragmented forests — S. Van Belle and A. Estrada, pp.121–142; Chapter 5. Population structure of black howlers (Alouatta pigra) in southern Belize and response to Hurricane Iris — M. S. M. Pavelka and C. A. Chapman, pp.143–163; Chapter 6. The effects of forest fragment age, isolation, size, habitat type, and water availability on monkey density in a tropical dry forest — H. N. DeGama-Blanchet and L. M. Fedigan, pp.165–188; Chapter 7. Forest fragmentation and its effects on the feeding ecology of black howlers (Alouatta pigra) from the Calakmul area in Mexico — A. Rivera and S. Calmé, pp.189–213; Chapter 8. Intestinal parasitic infections in Alouatta pigra in tropical rainforest in Lacandona, Chiapas, Mexico: Implications for behavioral ecology and conservation — K. E. Stoner and A. G. di Pierro, pp.215–240. Part 3. Behavior and Ecology. Chapter 9. Average body weight for mantled howling monkeys (Alouatta palliata): An assessment of average values and variability, K. E. Glander, pp.247–263; Chapter 10. An exploratory analysis of developmental plasticity in Costa Rican mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata palliata) — C. B. Jones, pp.265–285; Chapter 11. Travel patterns and spatial mapping in Nicaraguan mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) — P. A. Garber and P. E. Jelinek, pp.287–309; Chapter 12. Use of landmark cues to locate feeding sites in wild capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus): An experimental field study — P. A. Garber and E. Brown, pp.311–332; Chapter 13. Leap, bridge or ride? Ontogenetic influences on positional behavior in Cebus and Alouatta — M. F. Bezanson, pp.333–348; Chapter 14. Food choice by juvenile capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus) in a tropical dry forest — K. C. MacKinnon, pp.349–365; Chapter 15. Why be alpha male? Dominance and reproductive success in wild white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) — K. M. Jack and L. M. Fedigan, pp.367–386; Chapter 16. Post-conceptive mating in white-faced capuchins, Cebus capucinus: Hormonal and sociosexual patterns of cycling, noncycling, and pregnant females — S. D. Carnegie, L. M. Fedigan and T. E. Zeigler, pp.387–409. Part 4. Conservation and Management Policies. Chapter 17. Growth of a reintroduced spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) population on Barro Colorado Island, Panama — K. Milton and M. E. Hopkins, pp.417–435; Chapter 18. Primates in agroecosystems: Conservation value of some agricultural practices in Mesoamerican landscapes — A. Estrada, J. Saenz, C. Harvey, E. Naranjo, D. Muñoz and M. Rosales-Meda, pp.437–470; Chapter 19. Primate populations in the protected forests of Maya archaeological sites in southern Mexico and Guatemala — A. Estrada, S. van Belle, L. Luecke and M. Rosales-Meda, pp.471–488; Chapter 20. Mapping primate populations in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico: A first assessment — J. C. Serio-Silva, V. Rico-Gray and G. Ramos-Fernández, pp.489–511; Chapter 21. A metapopulation approach to conserving the howler monkey in a highly fragmented landscape in Los Tuxtlas, Mexico — S. Mandujano, L. A. Escobedo-Morales, R. Palacios-Silva, V. Arroyo-Rodríguez, and E. M. Rodríguez-Toledo, pp.513–538; Chapter 22. Quantifying fragmentation of black howler (Alouatta pigra) habitat after Hurricane Iris (2001), southern Belize — S. M. Alexander, M. S. M. Pavelka and N. M. Bywater, pp.539–560. Part 5. Synopsis and Perspectives. Chapter 23. New perspectives in the study of Mesoamerican primates: Concluding comments and conservation priorities — P. A. Garber, A. Estrada and M. S. M. Pavelka, pp.563–584. There are indices for species and for subjects. Available from: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA, Tel: 1-212-460-1500 or 1-800-SPRINGER, Fax: 1-212-460-1575, e-mail: <service-ny@springer.com>. More information available on the Springer website at <http://www.springer.com>.