How do one find means or method in field to detect the presence of primates (Macaca, Trachypithecus, Hoolock species) in tropical rain forests ? Valuable comments much appreciated. Thank you so much.
Scientists use several methods to measure biodiversity. These include canopy fogging, quadrat sampling, transect sampling, and netting. The method used depends on the types of organisms ecologists are counting and on the habitat but these are some important method for detecting to species.
Hi there,
I'd suggest camera traps set in specific trees, at specific heights, with a wide-angle. If it's only for detection, you should target trees that produce fruits or flowers that the monkeys usually consume and move your cameras around depending on the phenology.
There are several cool papers about this :
Article The potential and practice of arboreal camera trapping
Article Using local knowledge and camera traps to investigate occurr...
You could also use eDNA in known water holes, but I'm definitely not an expert.
Camera traps work well for many Macaca, which spend a lot of time on the ground, but will not be efficient for exclusively arboreal primates like gibbons. Vocalizations are the method of choice for gibbons. This can be as simple as morning auditory point counts from stationary listening posts (get up early, sit quietly on a hilltop and record the time, direction and estimated distance to every group heard), or as sophisticated as using automatic recorders and fancy occupancy models. Leaf monkeys may be the hardest. Line transects on well cleared trails, with surveyors trained well to walk very quietly scanning the canopy above and overhead may be your best chance.
But please do not use nets or canopy fogging!
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