Habitat suitability modeling for the endangered Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) in the Indo-Chinese subregion of India: a case study from southern Assam (India)

Choudhury, Amir Sohail; Choudhury, Parthankar; Gassah, Rejoice

doi:10.1007/s10329-021-00967-x

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…The Western hoolock gibbon and Assamese macaque entirely inhabit the trans-boundary forest areas with less human disturbance whilst the remaining primate fauna were found mostly in the plantation forests across the boundary. Naher et al (2021) reported three groups of Western hoolock gibbon from the PHR whilst the Bengal slow was detected by a recent study (Choudhury et al 2022). The Rhesus macaque was common across the plantation forests, with frequent sightings on south and western regions.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Unveiling the Diverse Mammalian Species of a Tropical Rainforest in Northeast Bangladesh

Hamza,

Rahman,

Alam

et al. 2023

Bangladesh J. Zool.

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Tropical rainforest supports an incredible diversity of mammalian species. The forest patches of northeast Bangladesh are considered hotspots for a range of threatened mammals. However, the transboundary Lathitila reserve forest in Moulvibazar district of northeast Bangladesh remained largely unexplored. We assessed the diversity of medium- and small-sized mammals using camera-trapping, and distance sampling, which was supplemented by sign survey and interviews. We recorded a total of 38 species of mammals belonging to 9 orders and 22 families. The Carnivora (34%) contained the highest number of mammals followed by Rodentia (21%), Primates (18%), Chiroptera (10%), and Artiodactyla (5%). Thirty seven percent of the recorded species were rare, followed by very common (26%), occasional (24%) and common (13%). Of these, 45% were categorized as threatened in the updated national Red List of IUCN Bangladesh. The remarkable species that we recorded are the Critically Endangered Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), Western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), Phayre’s leaf monkey (Trachypithecus phayrei), Northern pig-tailed macaque (Macaca leonina), and Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis). The Endangered Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), and Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea) were also recorded. The principal threats to the Lathitila forest are the habitat degradation, habitat fragmentation, human disturbance, illegal wood extraction, and wildlife poaching. This study highlights the conservation importance of this least-known forest, thereby protection measures are urgently needed to conserve its diverse mammalian fauna. Bangladesh J. Zool. 51(2): 135-154, 2023

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Unveiling the Diverse Mammalian Species of a Tropical Rainforest in Northeast Bangladesh

Hamza,

Rahman,

Alam

et al. 2023

Bangladesh J. Zool.

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“…Though lorises generally prefer continuous canopy, they will use electric wires and on rare occasions will walk on the ground to travel [56,69,70]. Across various areas within India and Indonesia, electrocution and road accidents have been recorded as a source of mortality, identified in some areas as being just behind habitat loss as the major reasons for population declines [32,51,[69][70][71]. Road strikes and electrocutions are a problem for countless species of primates living in developed landscapes and should be addressed in future conservation efforts through an increase in canopy bridges, canopy trimming, insulation of power lines, and the creation of physical barriers on lines and posts to prevent use [72].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge, Beliefs, and Experience Regarding Slow Lorises in Southern Thailand: Coexistence in a Developed Landscape

Quarles,

Dechanupong,

Gibson

et al. 2023

Animals

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Natural landscapes are being converted for agriculture and other human uses across Asia and this development presents potential threats for specialist species of primates, like the Endangered slow lorises of Thailand (Nycticebus bengalensis and N. coucang). It is crucial to understand the interface between humans and slow lorises in order to conserve these primates. Local ecological knowledge provides valuable information about these cryptic nocturnal species. We conducted 36 semi-structured interviews in Khao Lak, in southern Thailand, asking (1) where slow lorises were seen, (2) what they were doing, (3) how often people see slow lorises, and (4) what people knew about them. We converted the interviews to free lists and determined the importance of key words. Our results show that the informants saw lorises frequently in six general locations: forests/trees (58%), electric wires (47%), towns/villages (36%), plantations (33%), homesteads (28%), and roads (17%). The most prominent places were forests/trees, wires, and plantations. Eleven key concepts defined local beliefs, with the most prominent being that lorises are awake at night (69%), eat fruit (42%), are not aggressive (25%), are bad omens (25%), and there used to be more of them (25%). Due to a minimal presence of persecution or exploitation of slow lorises by humans in the study area and general tolerance in the face of competition for the same resources and spaces, we suggest that, despite extensive persecution for the illegal photo prop trade in nearby Phuket, the people of Khao Lak seem to live in a state of passive coexistence with slow lorises. However, we did find some evidence that the pet and photo prop trade are still present in the area. It is crucial that coexistence be struck within the context of deforestation and urbanization so that conservation initiatives can take place within the community to further improve the lives of humans and the status of lorises.

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“…In Madagascar, studies of the genera Microcebus (Kamilar et al, 2016), Phaner (Hending, 2021b), Mirza (Schüßler et al, 2021), Cheirogaleus (Hending 2021a), and the diurnal genus Eulemur (Blair et al, 2013) have made use of ENMs to investigate niche overlap, species‐specific distributions, and to make conservation recommendations. Several similar studies have also focused on the Lorisidae (Choudhury et al, 2022; Kumara et al, 2021; Subrahmanyam et al, 2021; Thorn et al, 2009); however, the distributions and habitat requirements of many other strepsirrhines remain undetermined.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat and ecological niche characteristics of the elusive Hairy‐eared Dwarf Lemur (Allocebus trichotis) with updated occurrence and geographic range data

Schüßler

Rabemananjara

Radriarimanga

et al. 2023

American J Primatol

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Ecological niche modeling (ENM) is particularly useful in the study of cryptic and elusive species that are only rarely seen, difficult to study in the wild, and simultaneously threatened by a multitude of anthropogenic factors. We collected presence records one such example, the understudied Hairy-eared Dwarf Lemur (Allocebus trichotis), from the literature and supplemented these with observations from surveys in previously unstudied areas to model its fundamental and realized niche throughout Madagascar.We further evaluated habitat characteristics at each sighting location to judge its conservation status and its adaptability toward habitat degradation. We found 31 presence localities in the literature and directly observed A. trichotis a further 23 times.According to the ENMs, precipitation of the driest quarter and maximum temperature of the warmest month mostly influenced its distribution, restricting it to the higher altitudes of the northeastern humid forests of Madagascar. Its fundamental niche, extent of occurrence, and area of occupancy were estimated as 65,819, 53,054, and 16,967 km² respectively. The latter, however, declined by 29.2% since 1990. On a habitat level, it was most often observed in primary forest habitats of different degradation stages (85.7%, n = 21). The fundamental niche of A. trichotis is most likely restricted by climatic factors. Although it can be found in moderately degraded forests, it is known to depend on the availability of tree holes and therefore old-growth forest structures. Ongoing deforestation and habitat fragmentation are likely to be the major threats to the survival of this species. Our ENMs provide evidence on where to intensify survey efforts on the elusive Hairy-eared Dwarf Lemurs of Madagascar.

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Habitat suitability modeling for the endangered Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) in the Indo-Chinese subregion of India: a case study from southern Assam (India)

Cited by 3 publications

References 49 publications

Unveiling the Diverse Mammalian Species of a Tropical Rainforest in Northeast Bangladesh

Unveiling the Diverse Mammalian Species of a Tropical Rainforest in Northeast Bangladesh

Knowledge, Beliefs, and Experience Regarding Slow Lorises in Southern Thailand: Coexistence in a Developed Landscape

Habitat and ecological niche characteristics of the elusive Hairy‐eared Dwarf Lemur (Allocebus trichotis) with updated occurrence and geographic range data

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