Knowledge of mammalian diversity is still surprisingly disparate, both regionally and taxonomically. Here, we present a comprehensive assessment of the conservation status and distribution of the world's mammals. Data, compiled by 1700+ experts, cover all 5487 species, including marine mammals. Global macroecological patterns are very different for land and marine species but suggest common mechanisms driving diversity and endemism across systems. Compared with land species, threat levels are higher among marine mammals, driven by different processes (accidental mortality and pollution, rather than habitat loss), and are spatially distinct (peaking in northern oceans, rather than in Southeast Asia). Marine mammals are also disproportionately poorly known. These data are made freely available to support further scientific developments and conservation action.

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Two subpopulations of blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis), located 10 km apart, were studied in Kibale Forest, Uganda, for most of a 6—yr period (1978—1984). This study was undertaken (1) to assess and evaluate the major differences in the environment and in the behavioral ecology of blue monkeys living at high and low densities and (2) to explain the differences in blue monkey densities in the two study sites. Methods included the enumeration of trees and primates, and assessments of the availability of fruits and of diets, time budgets, ranging patterns, and demographics of blue monkeys. There was a 10—fold difference in blue monkey densities between the two subpopulations. Major differences were found in the ecology, behavior, demography, and habitats of blue monkeys living at these two densities. Compared to the high—density subpopulation, the low—density subpopulation exhibited shorter tenure lengths for resident males, a greater density of nonresident males, a higher rate of group intrusions by nonresident males, a higher incidence of infanticide by new resident males, hybridization between blue monkeys and redtail monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius),fewer adult females per adult male, and lower resident male reproductive success. From these observations I conclude that male—male competition for females was more intense where blue monkey densities were low. Predictor variables of food production and food competition indicate that more food was available for the low—density than for the high—density subpopulation of blue monkeys. The habitat containing the low—density subpopulation had a higher tree density and basal cover, greater tree species richness and diversity, and more fruit left uneaten. It also had a lower overall primate density, which, together with assessments of the kinds of foods eaten, dietary overlap and richness, foraging behavior, and home range size, suggests that intra— and interspecific competition for food both were less in the low—density subpopulation. Further evidence that food was more available for the low—density subpopulation is that both the birth rate and the population growth rate of blue monkeys were higher there than in the high—density subpopulations. The low—density subpopulation was apparently below carrying capacity and increasing in a food—rich habitat. In contrast, the high—density subpopulation appeared to be at carrying capacity, stable, and food limited. Therefore, contrary to what was hypothesized, the availability of food does not explain why blue monkey densities differed on these two areas. On this basis I attribute the low density of the one subpopulation to some unknown historical event rather than to current ecological differences between areas. I suggest that, during this study, the low—density subpopulation was recovering from a decline and that the responsible mechanism (e.g., disease) was no longer operating. This paper emphasizes: (1) the considerable variability found in the ecology and behavior of primates–even within one species in the same forest; (2) th...

All six great apes, gorillas Gorilla gorilla and the inadvertent transmission of human diseases. This paper describes the risks, sources and circumstances of G. beringei, chimpanzees Pan troglodytes and P. paniscus, and orang-utans Pongo pygmaeus and P. abelii, are infectious disease transmission from humans to great apes during and consequent upon habituation for tourism categorized as Endangered on the 2000 IUCN Red List and face many threats to their continued existence in the and research. A major problem is that the regulations that protect habituated apes from the transmission wild. These threats include loss of habitat to settlement, logging and agriculture, illegal hunting for bushmeat of disease from people are often poorly enforced. Suggestions are made for improving the enforcement of and traditional medicine, the live ape trade, civil unrest and infectious diseases. The great apes are highly existing regulations governing ape-based tourism, and for minimizing the risk of disease transmission between susceptible to many human diseases, some of which can be fatal while others can cause marked morbidity. There humans, both local people and international visitors, and the great apes. is increasing evidence that diseases can be transmitted from humans to free-living habituated apes, sometimes with serious consequences. If protective measures are

Galagoides rondoensis Cercopithecus diana roloway Cercopithecus diana roloway Cercopithecus sclateri Mandrillus leucophaeus Cercocebus galeritus galeritus Cercocebus galeritus sanjei Cercocebus galeritus sanjei Cercocebus sanjei Cercocebus atys lunulatus Cercocebus atys lunulatus Cercocebus atys lunulatus Rungwecebus kipunji Procolobus badius waldroni Procolobus badius waldroni Procolobus badius waldroni Procolobus pennantii pennantii Procolobus pennantii pennantii Procolobus rufomitratus Procolobus rufomitratus Procolobus rufomitratus Gorilla gorilla beringei Gorilla beringei beringei Gorilla beringei Gorilla gorilla diehli Gorilla gorilla diehli Gorilla gorilla diehli Gorilla gorilla diehli Pongo abelii Neotropics Leontopithecus rosalia Leontopithecus chrysopygus Leontopithecus caissara Leontopithecus caissara Leontopithecus caissara Cebus xanthosternos Cebus xanthosternos Cebus xanthosternos Ateles hybridus Ateles hybridus brunneus Ateles fusciceps Lagothrix flavicauda Oreonax flavicauda Brachyteles hypoxanthus Brachyteles hypoxanthus Brachyteles hypoxanthus

We evaluated variation in group size and composition of Udzungwa red colobus (Procolobus gordonorum) in relation to gross-habitat and sociological parameters. The endangered species is endemic to the Udzungwa Mountains and nearby forests in the Kilombero Valley of south-central Tanzania. We counted 63 groups in 10 forests, ranging in altitude from 250 to 1,800 m. Group size ranged from 7 to 83 (x = 36.3) individuals and adult sex ratios (females/male) ranged from 1.5 to 7.3 (x = 3.5), excluding solitary individuals. Group size was influenced by several habitat parameters, including tree density, degree of deciduousness, and forest size. Groups were largest in large blocks of mature, moist, mixed evergreen and semideciduous forests, but group size is not correlated with altitude. Groups in a highly degraded forest appeared to have fission-fusion societies. The effect of habitat quality on age-sex composition of groups was most apparent in natality and less so in survivorship of adult females and juveniles. The number of adult males in groups accounted for 50% of the variance in group size and 34-39% of the variance in numbers of adult females in groups. Habitat quality affects natality more than demographic parameters do. Groups with a low proportion of

A distinct species of mangabey was independently found at two sites 370 kilometers apart in southern Tanzania (Mount Rungwe and Livingstone in the Southern Highlands and Ndundulu in the Udzungwa Mountains). This new species is described here and given the name "highland mangabey" Lophocebus kipunji sp. nov. We place this monkey in Lophocebus, because it possesses noncontrasting black eyelids and is arboreal. L. kipunji is distinguished from other mangabeys by the color of its pelage; long, upright crest; off-white tail and ventrum; and loud call. This find has implications for primate evolution, African biogeography, and forest conservation.