Browsing by Author "McGoogan, Keriann Charlotte"

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    A census of the howler monkey population in damaged forests on Monkey River, Belize
    (2005) McGoogan, Keriann Charlotte; Pavelka, Mary S. McDonald
    Five forest transects were surveyed in Monkey River, Belize to document the population parameters of Alouatta pigra. This area experienced extensive habitat damage due to Hurricane Iris in 2001 and a forest fire that occurred in 2003. The population density for the watershed is 12.31 individuals/km2. Group sizes are small, the majority of groups are unimale, age ratios are skewed towards adults, and there is an even sex ratio. A. pigra in the watershed area are probably under dietary stress due to a lack of resources since the hurricane and the fire. The monkeys were most frequently observed inactive, likely due to an increased consumption of low-quality foods: they were rarely seen eating higher quality food items like fruit or flowers. It is clear that conservation action needs to be taken to protect the future of this population.