Cabruca is an agroforest of cacao trees shaded by native forest trees. It is the predominant vegetation type throughout eastern part of the range of the golden-headed lion tamarins, Leontopithecus chrysomelas, an endangered primate endemic to Atlantic Forest. Understanding how lion tamarins use this agroforest is a conservation priority. To address this question, we documented the diet, home range size, group sizes and composition, density, number of litters and body condition of lion tamarins living in cabruca, and other habitats. Jackfruit, Artocarpus heterophyllus, was the most used species used by lion tamarins in cabruca and was widely available and used throughout the year. In cabruca, home range size was the smallest (22-28 ha) and density of lion tamarins was the highest (1.7 ind/ha) reported for the species. Group size averaged 7.4 individuals and was not significantly different among the vegetation types. In cabruca, groups produced one or two litters a year, and all litters were twins. Adult males in cabruca were significantly heavier than males in primary forest. Our study is the first to demonstrate that breeding groups of golden-headed lion tamarins can survive and reproduce entirely within cabruca agroforest. Jackfruit proved to be a keystone resource for lion tamarins in cabruca, and bromeliads were important as an animal prey foraging microhabitat. In cases where cabruca contains concentrated resources, such as jackfruit and bromeliads, lion tamarins may not only survive and reproduce but may fare better than in other forest types, at least for body condition and reproduction.

We investigated the effects of forest fragmentation on golden-headed lion tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) by qualitatively and quantitatively characterizing the landscape throughout the species range, conducting surveys, and exploring predictive models of presence and absence. We identified 784 forest patches that varied in size, shape, core area, habitat composition, elevation, and distance to neighboring patches and towns. We conducted 284 interviews with local residents and 133 playback experiments in 98 patches. Results indicated a reduction in the western portions of the former species range. We tested whether L. chrysomelas presence or absence was related to the aforementioned fragmentation indices using Monte Carlo logistic regression techniques. The analysis yielded a majority of iterations with a one-term final model of which Core Area Index (percent of total area that is core) was the only significant type. Model concordance ranged between 65 and 90 percent. Area was highlighted for its potential predictive ability. Although final models for area lacked significance, their failure to reach significance was marginal and we discuss potential confounding factors weakening the term's predictive ability. We conclude that lower Core Area Index scores are useful indicators of forest patches at risk for not supporting L. chrysomelas. Taken together, our analyses of the landscape, survey results, and logistic regression modeling indicated that the L. chrysomelas metapopulation is facing substantial threat. The limited vagility of lion tamarins in nonforest matrix may lead to increasingly smaller and inbred populations subject to significant impact from edge effects and small population size. Local extinction is imminent in many forest patches in the L. chrysomelas range.Abstract in Portuguese is available at

foram listadas como as principais ameaças para os mamíferos da Bahia. Trinta e três das 45 espécies ameaçadas ou 'Quase Ameaçadas' tiveram registros em 21 Unidades de Conservação (UC) de proteção integral, localizadas inteira ou parcialmente na Bahia, e 32 das 45 espécies são cobertas por Planos de Ação Nacional (PAN). A lista de mamíferos ameaçados de extinção na Bahia inclui percentual elevado de carnívoros, mamíferos aquáticos, primatas e ungulados, seguindo o padrão observado em listas vermelhas. O alto número de espécies 'Dados Insuficientes' e a concentração de esforços de pesquisa em regiões restritas do estado são alarmantes e sugerem ausência de planejamento e baixa aplicação de recursos para descrever a biodiversidade, resultando em um conhecimento limitado sobre as populações de mamíferos e suas distribuições geográficas. A Bahia ocupa uma posição de destaque para a conservação de alguns taxa cuja distribuição é total ou majoritariamente incluída no estado. Os biomas Caatinga, Cerrado e Marinho carecem de UC de proteção integral para representar sua mastofauna característica. A publicação da lista de mamíferos ameaçados de extinção, investimentos para a criação e proteção efetiva de UC existentes e outras ações previstas em PAN são instrumentos complementares que devem ser fomentados por instituições governamentais e não-governamentais no intuito de proteger a rica diversidade de mamíferos da Bahia. Palavras-chave: conservação de biodiversidade; espécies ameaçadas; Mammalia. ABSTRACT-FIRST EVALUATION OF MAMMALS CONSERVATION STATUS IN BAHIA, BRAZIL Endangered species lists identify real and potential taxa extinction risks at global and regional scales, supporting decision-making processes and public policy. The construction of the first list of threatened species in Bahia state started in 2013. This paper describes the evaluation of conservation status of mammals in Bahia and its main results. The list was built in three phases: (1) preparatory, (2) evaluation and (3) final (validation). One species was considered regionally extinct, 41 were included in categories of threat ('Critically Endangered', 'Endangered' or 'Vulnerable') and four were considered 'Near Threatened'. Moreover, 51 species were classified as 'Data Deficient'. Habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting and roadkill were listed as the main threats for mammals in Bahia state. Thirty three out of 45 threatened or 'Near Threatened' species were recorded in 21 strictly protected areas (PA), completely or partially located in Bahia, and 32 of the 45 species are included in National Action Plans (PAN). The list of threatened mammals of Bahia includes a high percentage of carnivores, aquatic mammals, primates and ungulates, following the pattern of red lists. The high number of 'Data Deficient' species and research effort concentration in relatively small regions along the state are alarming and suggest the absence of planning and insufficient resource destination for biodiversity description, resulting in a limited knowledge on mammal populatio...

In southern Bahia, Brazil, rapid deforestation of the Atlantic Forest threatens a variety of endemic wildlife, including the Endangered golden-headed lion tamarin (GHLT; Leontopithecus chrysomelas) and the Near Threatened Wied's blacktufted-ear marmoset (Wied's marmoset; Callithrix kuhlii). Identifying high quality areas in the landscape is critical for mounting efficient conservation programs for these primates. We constructed ecological niche models (ENMs) for GHLTs and Wied's marmosets using the presence-only algorithm Maxent to (1) locate suitable areas for each species, (2) examine the overlap in these areas, and (3) determine the amount of suitable habitat in protected areas. Our models indicate that 36% (10, 659 km 2) of the study area is suitable for GHLTs and 53% (15, 642 km 2) for Wied's marmosets. Suitable areas were strongly defined by presence of neighboring forest cover for both species, as well as annual temperature range for GHLTs and distance from urban areas for Wied's marmosets. Thirty-three percent of the landscape (9,809 km 2) is overlapping suitable habitat. Given that the focal species form mixed-species groups, these areas of shared suitability may be key locations for preserving this important behavioral interaction. Protected areas contained 6% (651 km 2) of all suitable habitat for GHLTs and 4% (682 km 2) for Wied's marmosets. All protected areas were suitable for the focal species, excepting Serra do Conduru, which had low suitability for GHLTs. Our results highlight that suitable habitat for GHLTs and Wied's marmosets is limited and largely unprotected. Conservation action to protect additional suitable areas will be critical for their persistence.