Research on the Translocation Population
Coordinators:
Paula Procópio de Oliveira
Maria Cecília Martins Kierulff
Field Coordinator:
Sandro Vidal da Rocha
This is the seventh year of the translocation program. Eleven groups (90 tamarins) have been monitored in the Fazenda Uniao Reserve but at least five more groups were observed during encounters with the monitored groups. Thirty-two offspring in nine groups were born during the year, and 28 (87.5%) are still alive. There are records of lion tamarins less than two years of age reproducing in three groups. In five groups, the reproducing male or the female or both, was born at the União Reserve.
Phenology Research
This study examines the diversity and patters of flowering
and fruiting trees, a source of food for the tamarins, in
the translocation habitat. Data continue to be collected from
the 1,008 trees marked at the beginning of the phenology studies.
As part of the study, 13 species distributed in 36 families
have been identified. This research, is scheduled to be finished
in March 2001 when we will then work on publishing the results.
In September of 2000, one of the trees identified was described
as a new species of the Fabaceae Family. A swamp species,
its phenology has been followed since the beginning of the
research and is being described by Prof. Dr. Júlio
the Lombardi, UFMG. The fruits used by the golden-lion-tamarin
also are being identified. Approximately 94 species have been
identified in 34 families. Since 1996 the translocated groups
have used more than 120 different types of fruits in their
diet. Since 1997 more than 7,000 fruit trees were recorded
as having been used for food by golden lion tamarins.
Translocation Database
Vanessa Puerta Veruli is organizing the database of all the
research developed in the Translocation Program since 1997.
At the end of 2000, she initiated a more intensive training
in the collection of biometrics data and use of radiotransmitters
in the golden lion tamarins. Vanessa has been receiving a
scholarship (from the PROBIO/CNPq since January 1999). Vanessa
is responsible for the elaboration of the bimonthly report
of SJ II Group for the Dublin Zoo.
GLTs as seed dispersers
Marina Janzantti Lapenta has finished the data collection
for her master thesis in the Ecology Program, USP, SP, on
the GLT as a seed disperser. From December 1998 to December
2000, Marina conducted 872 hours of observations for two golden
lion tamarin groups in the União Reserve. During this
period, the tamarins used 66 fruit species and ingested seeds
of 38 of these. Twenty species have been occurred in germination
tests in the laboratory and eight species have been tested
in the field. Marina is receiving a scholarship from FAPESP
and intends to finish her masters in March, 2002.
