Detwiler, Kate

This research investigates land use change and the area of occurrence of an introduced primate species, Chlorocebus sabaeus, from 1940 until the present. Research into the importation and subsequent release of these monkeys has revealed that they were released from a failed tourist attraction in 1947. The attraction was located southeast of the Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Remote sensing techniques were utilized to examine land use change over time, create a land classification map, and create a canopy model. These data were used to better understand the area of occurrence of an introduced primate species by examining anthropogenic changes through time and measuring changes in available forest habitat. Corridors, and their transformation through the decades, were evaluated to better understand potential dispersal routes and connectivity to natural areas for colonization.

Nonnative species are reshaping global ecosystems. The success of a nonnative species hinges on both biological and cultural variables. Primates represent a minority of nonnative species but warrant research to understand ecological implications and management solutions. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recognizes three species of nonnative primates in Florida that include populations of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in Marion County, squirrel monkeys (Saimiri spp.) in Broward County, and green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) in Broward County. This study focused on the Dania Beach C. sabaeus population. The goals of this study were to: 1) determine the geographical origins and species of the monkeys, 2) record demographics and determine population growth rate, 3) assess the public’s perception of monkeys, and 4) understand the influence of human provisioning on the population’s behavior and biology. Public surveys and direct field observations of social groups provided baseline data to show that unlike other introduced primates (e.g., macaques in Marion County and green monkeys in the Caribbean), the Dania Beach monkey population has strong public support and is at risk of extinction within the next 100 years.