Efeito da estrutura do hábitat sobre a riqueza e composição de comunidades de primatas da RDS Piagaçu-Purus, Amazônia Central, Brasil

Abstract

In tropical rainforests, a pronounced gradient of biotic and abiotic factors can be found. A great heterogeneity is generated and natural differences between areas are showed, creating niches with specific characteristics. Thus, the hábitat can be use virtually differentiated, with high potential to modify the species distribution and density. The present work analyzed the effect of the forest structure on primate communities in two different scales: local and regional. The work was carried through 21 transectos, totalizing 112 km in unflooded forests, 112 km in várzeas and 112 km in igapós (336 km of cumulative census). 11 species of primates were found, organized in different communities. Under a local perspective, it was verified that the forest structure had a relation in abundance of some species and in richness and composition of communities. Moreover, the fitofisionomias had shown that they can be strong indicators of species density and biomass. Under a regional perspective, the primates modeled showed a potential segregation in hábitats occupation between species: guaribas, pregos and cheiros have higher probability of occurrence in várzeas; e parauacus, sauins and cairaras in unflooded forests and igapós. Using the predict maps of richness and following the principles of complementarities, it was indicated three potential areas for the primate conservation in the focal area of the RDS Piagaçu-Purus.