Book Review by Laura K. Marsh
Kleiman, D. G., Rylands, A. B. eds, Lion Tamarins: Biology and
Conservation, Smithsonian Institution Press, 2002. xxiv + 422 pp, ISBN
1-58834-072-4
Reviewed by:
Laura K. Marsh
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Ecology Group (RRES-ECO), Mail stop M887,
Los Alamos, NM 87545 USA
I first read The Biology and Conservation of the Callitrichidae, edited by
Devra Kleiman (1978) in 1981 after assisting a professor on a Saguinus o.
geoffroyi project in Panama. I was a freshman in college and was excited to
read about a species I had spent time watching in the wild. That book was
one of the reasons I pursued primatology. With the Lion Tamarins: Biology
and Conservation, Devra Kleiman and Anthony Rylands have brought together
key topics and authors for another influential volume.
Of the four species covered in this volume, Leontopithecus
rosalia (golden lion tamarin), L. chrysopygus (black lion tamarin), and L.
caissara (black-faced lion tamarin) are critically endangered and L.
chrysomelas (golden-headed lion tamarin) is endangered. This book takes the
reader through the history and status, biology, conservation, and
management of lion tamarins through the expertise of the world.s best known
lion tamarin researchers, educators, and conservation biologists. The
editors state, .The lion tamarin programs are perhaps the best and most
long-term examples of integration of field and captive conservation efforts
on a global scale..Field research on golden lion tamarins (GLT) represents
one of only two long-term field studies in the Neotropics (along with
muriqui) that can now be compared to long-term old world studies such as
those on chimps at Gombe or baboons in Kenya. This type of monograph is
sorely needed for a genus that has become synonymous with captive-wild
conservation ethics and success.
The initial section of the book covers the history and status of lion
tamarins. Work on golden lion tamarins began in the 1960s with the work of
Adelmar Coimbra-Filho and Alceo Magnanini. Coimbra-Filho.s work stands as a
cornerstone of lion tamarin conservation and research and includes the
rediscovery of a population of L. chrysopygus (after 65 years with no
sightings), the creation of two reserves specifically for lion tamarins,
and a vast amount of pioneering research and publications that still
continue today. Chapter one gives a historic retelling of each species,
beginning with the discovery of L. rosalia in 1519. Chapter two includes
a useful appendix entitled, .Unverified Gazetteers for the Lion
Tamarins.which chronicles all known sightings and locations for each
species within Brazil. This is extremely valuable information, particularly
for field biologists just beginning to work with the genus. Chapter three
collates all of the information available on the roles of US and Brazilian
NGOs, detailing their efforts on behalf of the lion tamarins. The final
chapter in this section provides detailed information about captive
populations. Genetic management in captivity has been a priority and
complements attempts to increase wild populations. In 2001, the GLT captive
population stood at 489 individuals at 143 zoos in 29 countries, and they
demonstrated adequate genetic diversity. There are about 640 wild GLTs of
which 360 were reintroduced. This population is currently being managed for
zero population growth. Golden-headed lion tamarins have a high genetic
diversity and have a wild population of 6-15,000 individuals and a captive
population of 598. There have been no reintroductions for this species.
Black lion tamarins have a low genetic diversity and have a wild population
of 990 with 112 in captivity. Experimental translocations have begun for
this highly fragmented species (details in Ch. 14). L. caissara does not
have a captive population.
Part Two deals with lion tamarin biology, covering aspects of genetics,
reproduction, population dynamics and behavior. There are very good
sections comparing the lion tamarins to the other callitrichids. Part
Two, chapter five provides a very detailed account of phylogeny and
genetics for Leontopithecus. There is great deal of debate on the
classification of this genus because the species are morphologically, but
not genetically distinct. One proposal is to lump them as subspecies under
L. rosalia, but conservationists have continued to classify them as
individual species to ensure their legal protection. Their low genetic
variability may not necessarily be problematic since callitrichids in
general show low genetic variablility and high behavioral plasticity for
coping with altered environments. In terms of reproductive
biology, Leontopithecus differs from other callitrichids in terms of
female biology where there is a shorter ovarian cycle, considerably shorter
gestation, higher rate of post partum ovulation, and a clear seasonal
pattern for reproduction. Male biology is less well known and the authors
call for research in this area to be a priority.
Chapter 7 on behavioral ecology does a very thorough job of presenting
behavioral data across sites and species, drawing on similarities whenever
possible. In general, the authors make the point that lion tamarins are
very adaptable even in very radically altered habitats. Time budgets across
species and across sites were fairly similar. All species of lion tamarin
had similar diets, and fruit was the main plant item selected, followed by
exudates or nectar depending on population and season. Range size and
population density appear to be inversely related across species and sites.
Lion tamarin population densities also appear to be related to habitat quality.
One of the great questions in callitrichid studies is this: monogamy,
polyandry, polygyny, or a combination thereof? For lion tamarins there is
no one clear pattern across the genus. Most of the information on mating
systems discussed in Chapter 8 comes from GLTs at Poco das Antas Biological
reserve. Most GLT groups were found to contain a single reproductive
female. However, polygyny was a regular occurence and in all cases where
two females successfully reared young in the same season (and relatedness
was knpwn), the two females were mother and daughter. In half the recorded
group most GLT groups were also polyandrous. The authors suggest habitat
saturation and habitat quality may play important roles in determining
reproductive strategies including .staying and helping.for males. Also
cited as common to callitrichids is cooperative infant care, the birth of
twins, extended mother and father transport systems, and provisioning
infants with solid food. Lion tamarins share many common behaviors. Infant
transport among the species discussed was similar, but there may be
significant differences between lion tamarin species when infants become
independent of transport. Similar across species was food sharing
(including begging with offering) where infants food item numbers increased
with age to 12 weeks and dropped off with about the same variance to 26
weeks after that. Food transfer occurred more regularly in captive versus
free-ranging tamarins. Themes in communication are covered in Chapter 10,
and while there has been little done in general on this topic, even in the
well-studied L. rosalia, the authors provide insight and direction for
study. L. rosalia is highly vocal and calls differ between captive and
free-ranging animals, and sex and age classes. Differences in vocalizations
in other lion tamarins match their cranio-dental morphology, but are
otherwise similar to GLTs. Scent marking is important to lion tamarins and
they use many types of glands including sternal, suprapubic, and
anogenital. Visually the most documented posture is the arch walk
identified in GLTs in certain social interactions, such as introduction of
unfamiliar individuals, territorial encounters, and after completing a
scent mark.
Chapter 11 rounds off Part Two with diseases, a critically important
chapter for husbandry of captive and wild lion tamarins. It is of
particular importance for the lion tamarins since they are part of
reintroduction and translocation programs. This chapter covers current
pathological disorders in lion tamarins in captivity. The authors address
trauma, dental disease, reproductive pathology, congenital disorders,
nutrition and metabolic problems, stress, viral diseases, bacterial
diseases, mycotic infections, parasitic infections, tumors, and toxic and
miscellaneous disorders.
Part Three covers the conservation and management of lion tamarins in the
wild. Two of the topics reviewed are reintroduction and translocation,
increasingly important tools for the maintenance of wild populations. For
many primate reintroductions and translocations, the lessons learned from
the trials of the GLT program has served as the primary model. The GLT was
almost extinct in the wild because of habitat loss and intense hunting
pressure. In response, captive groups were bred and trained for
reintroduction to suitable habitat, and wild populations were translocated
from small and fragmented areas into protected habitat without GLTs. As of
December 2000, reintroduced GLTs numbered 359 animals in 50 groups. Nearly
40% of the GLTs in the Atlantic forest are reintroduced captive born
individuals and their descendants. Mandatory to success in reintroductions
are the many preparations undertaken prior to and after the reintroduction
itself. Also discussed are standards for pre-release such as zoo or
research colony cages, training in the cages stage, free-range
conditioning, and wild born individuals born to reintroduced parents. Two
post-release stages were discussed: minimal provisioning, and intensive or
soft release. Even with all of the labor intensive pre-release work and
planning, post-release survival was not enhanced. Interestingly, neither of
the two training regimes conferred short- or long-term survival advantage.
An important experiment in translocation is discussed in Chapter 14 on
metapopulation management for the conservation of black lion tamarins. The
goal of this experiment was to work with a fragmented species .hands on.at
the metapopulation level. This was accomplished by moving animals to create
the highest genetic variance possible for maintaining the whole population.
Since 1995, there have been two translocations and two reintroductions as
part of this project. Education is an integral part of conservation in
practice. Since 1983, the lion tamarin conservation educators have worked
with all four species in their respective regions promoting and educating
the public in situ in villages and schools. Great detail is given for each
of these successful programs.
The editors conclude the volume with a synthesis and
challenges for the future. Compared to 30 years ago, there are now 6
protected areas in Brazil for lion tamarins, 3 of 4 species are managed
successfully in zoos, and species decline in the wild has been mostly
arrested. Additionally, among significant findings, lion tamarin
researchers can determine whether or not lion tamarins in extreme habitats
exhibit higher stress levels and reduced reproductive success, and what
constitutes a forest type in which lion tamarins will not survive. Overall
this is a well written and well documented volume that is equally important
to both primate scientists and to aspiring students of primatology.
Primate-Science Book Reviews are supported in part by grant RR15311-01 from
the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health.
P-S Book Reviews may be reposted or republished, but must cite the author
and Primate-Science. This review should be cited as follows:
Marsh, Laura K. Review of Lion Tamarins: Biology and Conservation, Devra G.
Kleiman and Anthony B. Rylands, editors (2002), Primate-Science Book
Reviews, Primate-Science List Serve [primate-science@primate.wisc.edu] (11
July 2003).
Posted Date: 7/31/2003
URL: http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/review/lionreview.html
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August 1, 2003
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