Ecuadorian white-fronted capuchin
The Ecuadorian capuchin (Cebus aequatorialis ), or Ecuadorian white-fronted capuchin is a species of gracile capuchin monkey of the family Cebidae. It was formerly classified as a subspecies of the white-fronted capuchin. Mittermeier and Rylands elevated it to a separate species in 2013. Being closely related to C. albifrons, the main differentiation of the two is by their coloration. However, due to low density and distribution researchers cannot obtain enough information to confidently distinguish the two (C. albifrons and C.aequatorialis ). The location range of the Ecuadorian Capuchin is from Western lowland Ecuador to North West Peru. The conservation status of the Ecuadorian Capuchin was originally near threatened but was revised in 2008 by the IUCN to critically endangered and this is a result of anthropogenic factors as the population is rapidly declining. Factors such as habitat fragmentation from rapid deforestation and creation of agricultural lands, as well as persecution from farmers are to blame for the species critically endangered status.
Suitable habitat for the Ecuadorian Capuchin is determined to be a high percentage of tree cover (most important factor and maximized when over 25%), land cover (as deciduous, evergreen broad leaved, or forested cropland mosaic), mild temperature seasonality, low annual precipitation, and low human population density. According to Tleimat, the Ecuadorian Capuchin requires about 500ha to use their energy expenditure. The dispersal of the Ecuadorian capuchin has been restricted due to deforestation and habitat fragmentation, as a result the distribution range used to be from western Ecuador to northwestern Peru. As a result of Hurtado et al.'s study they state the Ecuadorian capuchin has a low encounter rate with low density through their distribution, and this should make them a high priority for conservation. Through the combination of the IUCN’s map and the study of Campos and Jack, the Ecuadorian capuchin has lost over 90% of its habitat. The Ecuadorian Capuchin habitat faces various threats from habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and anthropogenic factors (farmers burning bushes, grazing, and illegal mining/logging).
The Ecuadorian Capuchin has a varied diet, it includes insects, fruits, and other invertebrate species. In addition, they are known to eat the "base of epiphytic bromeliad leaves because they are tender" (p. 181).However the most important foods to the Ecuadorian capuchin diet is mainly composed of fruits and invertebrates.
Habitat fragmentation is a severe issue for primates as it restricts movement, there is a higher energy expenditure for the primate to find food, and leads to inbreeding or a decrease in gene flow. Over 98% of the primary forest of western Ecuador is lost and the rest is broken into fragments that are at risk for further removal. In the case of the Ecuadorian capuchin, this species thrives off large tropical dry forests and because of fragmentation it becomes harder to forage for food, as well as there is less room for energy expenditure. In response to habitat fragmentation, a corridor (Three Forest Conservation Corridor) was put in to mitigate the disconnection between patches. A study by Tleimat showed that the Ecuadorian capuchin is utilizing the corridor to connect it to other fragmented forests, so similar conservation techniques can help sustain them.
The forests of Ecuador and Peru are already facing rapid deforestation with only 4% of the forest left. The study conducted by Campos and Jack revealed four important areas that should highly be conserved for the survival of the Ecuadorian capuchin. The Areas identified as the most suitable habitat are the Chongon-Colonche hills near the coast of south-central Ecuador and west of Guayaquil, the northern coast of the Manabí province in Ecuador, the foothills of the Andes Mountains in southern Ecuador, and the Tumbes and Piura regions of northern Peru. Campos and Jack’s study revealed that there is 5208km2 of suitable habitat that should be conserved for the wellbeing of the Ecuadorian capuchin and other species, further conservation should focus on the Ecuadorian and Tumbes-Piura tropical dry forests. The area deemed the most important to conserve for the Ecuadorian capuchin is located along the Chongón-Colonche range of coastal mountains in the Guayas and Manabí provinces of Ecuador, this area is chosen due to having a greater extent of continuous and/or undisturbed forest, and the success rate of conservation is favourable as it already has some kind of protection already.
