Trends and biases in scientific literature about marmosets, genus Callithrix (Primates, Callitrichidae): biodiversity and conservation perspectives

By

Hannibal, Wellington
Renon, Polla
Figueiredo, Valquiria Vilalba
Oliveira, Roniel Freitas
Moreno, Antonio Eduardo
Martinez, Romari Alejandra

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019-12-18

Original Publication

Neotropical Biology and Conservation

Volume

14

Series / Issue

Issue: 4

Pages

529--538

Subjects

Atlantic forest , Callithrix flaviceps , Callithrix penicillata , cienciometria , Distribuição geográfica , Geographic distribution , Mata Atlântica , scientometrics

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Brazil Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.14.e49077

 

Abstract

Marmosets of the genus Callithrix are small-bodied platyrrhines, endemic to Brazil. In the last 30 years, there has been a constant interest in studying their biology, ecology and conservation. In this study, we compiled a systematic review to evaluate the trends and advances of marmoset research, from biodiversity and conservation perspectives. We searched for articles published in peer-reviewed journals within the main academic search engines, using the keywords “marmoset” OR “sagui” OR “Callithrix”. We found 68 published articles with a focus on biodiversity and conservation. The number of articles has increased over the years, most of them consisting of research from the Atlantic Forest biome. Callithrix penicillata (26 articles) and C. jacchus (21) were the most studied species. The number of studies was associated with the species’ geographical distribution. From a conservation perspective, the most threatened species showed the narrowest geographical distribution, a lower number of studies and, on average, a smaller protected area size. We concluded that trends and biases in biodiversity and conservation scientific literature of Callithrix are directly and indirectly associated with its geographical distribution. Species with wide geographical distribution are more studied, better known and protected. We highlight that the major effort of studies must be towards marmoset populations from the transition region of the Atlantic Forest-Cerrado and Caatinga biomes, and on threatened species within narrow geographical ranges.