Saving the Golden Lion Tamarin
Golden lion tamarins (GLTs) are primates native to the coastal regions of the Amazon rain forest. They have been threatened by habitat destruction and fragmentation. In the early 1970s, there were approximately 200 GLTs in the wild and only 91 animals in 26 zoos. As of 2007, the SSP included 496 GLTs in 145 participating zoos around the world. About 153 tamarins once part of the program have been reintroduced to the wild since 1984, resulting in a reintroduced population of more than 650.
Calculate By what percentage did the captive population of golden lion tamarins increase between 1970 and 2007?
Analyze Data Reintroduction typically begins once a captive population has reached a target size—the size at which a high degree of genetic diversity can be maintained. Based on the graph, what is the approximate target captive population size for the golden lion tamarin?
Infer Only 153 tamarins have been reintroduced to the wild. If there are now 650 tamarins in the reintroduced population, where did the other 497 come from?
Form an Opinion When populations of wild animals get very small, do you think they should be removed from the wild and brought into captivity? Why or why not?
Adapted from J. D. Ballou and J. Mickelberg, International Studbook for Golden Lion Tamarins (Washington, D.C.: National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution, 2007). B. Holst et al., Lion Tamarin Population and Habitat Viability Assessment Workshop 2005, Final Report (Apple Valley, MN: IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, 2006.)
Review Describe the different components of global biodiversity.
Apply Concepts What benefits does society get from biodiversity?
Review What are the major threats to biodiversity?
Relate Cause and Effect Explain the relationship between habitat size and species diversity.
Review What is the goal of a species survival plan?
Form an Opinion Do you think that the hot spot strategy is a good one? Explain your answer.
VISUAL THINKING
Look back at the biome map on page 111. Compare it to the map in Figure 6–20. Are there any similarities among the biomes the hot spots belong to? Using what you know about biomes, are you surprised by what you've found? Explain your answer.