Across the globe, primates are threatened by human activities. This is especially true for species found in tropical dry forests, which remain largely unprotected. Our ability to predict primate abundance in the face of human activity depends on different species' sensitivities as well as on the characteristics of the forest itself. We studied plant and primate distribution and abundance in the Taboga Forest, a 516-ha tropical dry forest surrounded by agricultural fields in northwestern Costa Rica. We found that the density of white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) at Taboga is 2-6 times higher than reported for other long-term white-faced capuchin sites. Using plant transects, we also found relatively high species richness, diversity, and equitability compared with other tropical dry forests. Edge transects (i.e., within 100 m from the forest boundary) differed from interior transects in two ways: (a) tree species associated with dry forest succession were well-established in the edge and (b) canopy cover in the edge was maintained year-round, while the interior forest was deciduous. Sighting rates for capuchins were higher near water sources but did not vary between the edge and interior forest. For comparison, we also found the same to be true for the only other primate in the Taboga Forest, mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata). Year-round access to water might explain why some primate species can flourish even alongside anthropogenic disturbance. Forest fragments like Taboga may support high densities of some species because they provide a mosaic of habitats and key resources that buffer adverse ecological conditions.

中文翻译：

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哥斯达黎加塔博加森林的白卷尾猴（Cebus capucinus）高密度和栖息地质量。

在全球范围内，灵长类受到人类活动的威胁。对于在热带干燥森林中发现的物种尤其如此，这些物种在很大程度上仍未受到保护。我们面对人类活动预测灵长类动物数量的能力取决于不同物种的敏感性以及森林本身的特征。我们研究了塔博加森林（Taboga Forest）中的植物和灵长类动物的分布和丰度，塔博加森林是516公顷的热带干旱森林，被哥斯达黎加西北部的农田所包围。我们发现在塔波加的白面卷尾猴（Cebus capucinus）的密度比其他长期白面卷尾猴部位的报告高2-6倍。通过使用植物样带，我们还发现与其他热带干燥森林相比，物种丰富度，多样性和公平性较高。边缘样条线（即，距森林边界100 m以内）与内部样带的区别有两个方面：（a）与干旱森林演替相关的树种在边缘已经建立，并且（b）边缘的树冠覆盖全年保持不变，而内部森林是落叶的。在水源附近发现小uch的比率较高，但在边缘森林和内部森林之间没有变化。为了进行比较，我们还发现塔博加森林中唯一的其他灵长类动物-带罩man叫猴（Alouatta palliata）也是如此。全年获得水可能解释了为什么一些灵长类物种即使在人为干扰的情况下也能够繁衍。塔博加（Taboga）等森林碎片可能支持某些物种的高密度，因为它们提供了栖息地和关键资源的马赛克，可以缓冲不利的生态条件。