Alba Lucia Morales Jimenez.

MSc (c) Oxford Brookes University

[email protected]

According with the IUCN (2003) Colombian primates are under high human pressures resulting in the designation of one Critically Endangered species (Ateles hybridus), one Endangered (Saguinus oedipus) and 5 Vulnerable (Ateles belzebuth, Aotus lemurinus, Saguinus leocopus, Callicebus ornatus, Lagothrix lugens).

Ateles geoffroyi and Ateles hybridus are priorities for research and conservation programs in Colombia. Currently there is not information about A. geoffroyi in Colombia and its distribution has not been confirmed in this country. There is only one report form Hernandez-Camacho & Cooper (1976) in Juradó, very near to the Panama Border.

I will collect locality information about the Ateles species from museum collections specimens, bibliography and interviews with researchers that have worked in Colombia. This information will be included in a Geographical Information System (GIS). I will use GARP analysis to predict the potential distribution. I will overlap distribution maps with the ecosystem maps. I will generate one map showing the historical distribution of each species and one map of probable distribution. I will identify potential and priority areas to conserve each species.