Update on our 2024 winner
Nicolas Gorostiaga
You may remember last year’s primate conservation grant winner, Nicolas Gorostiaga? Nicolas is researching into the influence of a yellow fever outbreak on the ‘demography’ (the study of a population’s statistics) and genetic variability of black-and-yellow howler monkeys in northeastern Argentina.
This is part of Nicolas’s ongoing PhD research and will be part of at least two scientific papers – fantastic news and a wonderful way to spread the word about conservation. Our grant helped support Nicolas’ fieldwork, which he completed last year.
As with any fieldwork, Nicolas’ was not without its challenges. “In the field, we faced temperatures extremes, heat close to 50°C or cold close to 0°C,” he told us. “The storms were terrifying, often leaving vehicles on the verge of being unusable and roads impassable for days. However, we know this is part of our work, part of this adventure we chose.”
Monkeys and canoes
Once a month, Nicolas and his team had to cross the Ibera, of the most important wetlands in South America, in canoes for hours to reach their study groups. When water was scarce however, they had to carry the canoes.
Despite its challenges, Nicolas thoroughly enjoyed his fieldwork. “The feeling a primatologist gets setting up their tent, knowing that the next day, before dawn, they will go out in search of groups of monkeys that live in such an inhospitable place, is indescribable.
“It is a beautiful feeling. Watching monkeys in their natural habitat, hearing one of the loudest howls among terrestrial animals, is a unique experience.”
Nicolas’ research revealed that ‘low-density populations’ – affected by yellow-fever outbreaks, had larger ‘home ranges’ and lower rates of group overlap, compared with populations who had not been affected and therefore living in higher densities. Understanding home range size is important as those groups using a larger area as their home range may be jeopardy if they’re using habitat which may be converted by people.
Far-reaching impacts
Howler monkey
Nicolas plans to use his results to support measures to protect howler monkey habitat. Nicolas’ research was also the first field research in Argentina to examine the demographics of howler populations exposed to yellow fever outbreaks. Genetic analysis is currently ongoing.
The results could be used to understand how best to protect primate populations in other countries. These include Brazil and Colombia, where there are currently yellow-fever outbreaks.
“I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and for organisations like Born Free and PSGB, which allow students from developing countries to do fieldwork,” said Nicolas. “Thanks to your support, we are all more motivated than ever to continue joining forces for primate conservation.”
We are so happy to have supported Nicolas’ fieldwork and looking forward to reading his papers once they are published. In July, Nicolas is heading to Madagascar to present his findings at the 30th International Primatological Society Congress.
Congratulations again to Julius on being this year’s winner and well done to Nicolas for completing challenging field work. We are looking forward to seeing what the future holds for these two talented primatologists!