primatesperu

Primates Peru is an unincorporated nonprofit organisation founded on the dissertation field research of Mrinalini Watsa, as affiliated with Washington University in Saint Louis. The project focuses on a previously unstudied population of saddle-back tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis) in south-east Peru, at a state-of-the-art biological field station (CICRA) on the Rí­o Madre de Dí­os. In 2010, the project took a broad approach to the study of all callitrichids through collaboration with Dr. Jennifer Rehg, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.  Rehg began an investigation of Goeldi's monkeys and emperor tamarins at CICRA and is now assisting in the expansion of PrimatesPeru research to two additional sites in south-east Peru.  During the 2012 field season, Gideon Erkenswick, Graduate Student in Biology at the University of Missouri- St. Louis, will add a new component of research and conservation by analyzing the assemblage of primate pathogens and parasites within the population of these three sympatric species.

The goals of the project are five-fold:

1. The acquisition of suitable genetic material from subgroups within the tamarin population.

2. Observation of behavior in the context of reproduction, infant care and alloparenting.

3. Evaluation of plant ecology in the context of food resources for the tamarin population.

4. Documentation of Callitrichid viral, fungal, and bacterial pathogens, and potential disease vectors.

5. Assessment of the conservation status and population viability of all three callitrichid species at this site.

Distribution of Saguinus fuscicollis (adapted from Campbell et al., 2007)

Its has 12 subspecies, with Saguinus fuscicollis weddelli present at CICRA (Rowe, 1996)

A quick summary of species information is listed below

The emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator) is found closely associated with S. fuscicollis, and one full time study has evaluated the population at this site (Aragón, 2007). Further studies on this species begin in January 2011, led primarily by Dr. Rehg. Emperor tamarins were supposedly named for their unerring likeness to German emperor Wilhem II. Their vivacious attitude and moustached faces make them one of the most interesting animals to work with in the field.   Much is yet to be discovered about this endearing primate.

Saguinus imperator

Group size 4-8

1-4 males, 1-2 females

Monogamy/Polygyny/Polyandry/Polygynandry

Aragón, I. 2007. Comportamiento de Saguinus imperator (Callithricidae: Primates) en el Centro de Investigación y Capacitación Río Los Amigos, Madre de Dios. Tésis en Biología. LaUniversidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco.

 

---

Goeldi's monkey (Callimico goeldii) is the most cryptic of all callitrichids at this site. It was only recently followed for the first time at CICRA, by our team during our 2009-10 field season.  Rare, black, and quiet, this is one of the least studied mammals across South America.  In our coming field season led by Dr. Rehg, we hope to not only identify groups but habituate them for further study.

Her work on this species in Acre, Brazil, has greatly helped our understanding of this species' ecology.

Photographed by Jennifer Rehg