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Births during 7 years after the translocation of a pair of black-and-gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) to a forest fragment in southeast Brazil

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Abstract

Fecundity in female primates is influenced by the nutritional condition. If when translocated howler monkeys exhibit the same breeding patterns as non-translocated members of the same genus, it is an indication that the translocated monkeys have become well adapted to their release site and that they are likely in good nutritional condition. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate this pattern by recording copulations (over 5 years) and births (over 7 years) after the translocation of a pair of black-and-gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) and to evaluate their gestation period, seasonality of births, and intervals between births. The pair was released in November 2009 on the campus of the University of São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil. Data on copulations were collected from January 2010 to March 2011 and from January 2012 to December 2014. Births were collected from January 2010 to December 2016. During the 5-year observation period, 25 copulations were recorded. Seven births were recorded over a period of 7 years, which included reproduction of the offspring of the translocated pair. Births occurred in the dry season between April and August. The interval between births was approximately 1 year. Our data provide insight into the reproduction of howler monkeys that have been translocated to a new habitat. Translocation can provide a valuable approach for rescuing or restoring Alouatta, whose populations have been detrimentally impacted by long-term habitat fragmentation.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES-Brazil; scholarship to MJR). The protocol for this study was submitted to the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), according to the legal provisions in force in Brazil, and was approved in compliance with the Biodiversity Authorization and Information System (SISBio) (Protocol no. 22019) and to the local university animal care committee [Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Campus de Ribeirão Preto (RP)] according to Brazilian guidelines for the care and use of animals in scientific research.

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Correspondence to Wagner Ferreira dos Santos.

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Rossi, M.J., dos Santos, W.F. Births during 7 years after the translocation of a pair of black-and-gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) to a forest fragment in southeast Brazil. Primates 59, 541–547 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-018-0687-2

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