Primate richness and abundance is driven by both forest structure and conservation scenario in Costa Rica

Area of Science:

• Tropical ecology
• Conservation biology
• Primate ecology

Background:

• Tropical forest management significantly impacts biodiversity and ecosystem services globally.
• Comparing different conservation strategies is crucial for effective biodiversity preservation.
• Existing conservation approaches include protected areas, payments for ecosystem services (PES), ecotourism, and areas without formal plans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of different tropical forest conservation approaches.
• To examine forest structure and tree recruitment across various management strategies.
• To assess primate species richness and encounter rates as indicators of habitat suitability.

Main Methods:

• Studied 78 plots in 18 Costa Rican forests under protected areas, PES/ecotourism, or no formal conservation.
• Assessed forest structure: canopy cover, height, tree density (seedling, sapling, adult), and diameter at breast height (DBH).
• Conducted primate surveys (species richness, group encounter rate) for howler, spider, and capuchin monkeys in eight forests.

Main Results:

• Protected areas had significantly taller forests, indicating older growth.
• Canopy height correlated with mantled howler and spider monkey encounter rates.
• Total primate group encounter rates were higher in incentivized forests (PES/ecotourism) than protected areas.

Conclusions:

• Conservation approaches like PES, ecotourism, and protected areas influence forest structure and primate communities.
• Incentivized private lands and protected areas support primate populations and their dietary needs.
• Forest management strategies differentially affect primate species, with implications for conservation planning.