Study of the importance of Copaïba (Copaifera trapezifolia) for a primate community in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest using arboreal camera traps.

Abstract

Due to the severe degradation and fragmentation of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, primates are highly subjected to population declines and species extinctions. Copaifera trapezifolia – a large and tall canopy tree species – was studied from December 2024 to June 2025 using arboreal camera traps within the Carlos Botelho State Park to assess its use by a unique primate community. It includes the southern muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoides), brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba), black-horned capuchin (Sapajus cucullatus) and black lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysopygus). The Carlos Botelho State Park is considered as a crucial climate refuge for primates, providing optimal climatic conditions for their conservation and survival. Primates spent 147 nights in the copaíbas during the seven-month data collection, with multiples climatic factors, such as temperature, wind and precipitation, impacting their stay in the trees at night. Diurnal and nocturnal activity were studied, illustrating high activity of all primate species around their average sleeping and waking up times, as well as a significant activity at night when primates are expected to be sleeping. Moreover, temporal and spatial overlaps were calculated, indicating significant overlaps between primate species for the use of C. trapezifolia, and confirming the high probabilities of interspecific interactions and competition within these trees. Behavioural data permitted a more precise analysis of the activity in the trees, revealing varying uses of these trees by the primate community. These temporal, behavioural and spatial analyses provided a better understanding of this unique primate community, offering valuable insights for the ecology of primate and conservation efforts.