Maned Sloth A Look At Its Population Ecology And Consequent Vulnerabilities ALICE CHANG Introduction to Maned Sloths Bradypus torquatus Arboreal Long limbs Curved claws Green tinted fur Predators: Harpy eagles Jaguars Humans Slow Moving Sloths Slow, sluggish movers Strict folivores Sleep 15 hrs a day Low metabolic rate Reduced muscles Habitat Coastal Brazilian Atlantic rain forest 1 of the top 5 biodiversity hotspots in the world Tropical evergreen Bahia, Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro 3 distinct populations Vulnerability IUCN lists maned sloths as vulnerable Population count difficult but believed to be declining Threats: Deforestation Atlantic forest greatly reduced Agriculture, urbanization, coal production Rate of deforestation decreased by not stopped Fragmentation/destructi on of sloth habitat Additional Threats Hunting Subsistence Road kill Tourism Traits Affecting Vulnerability and Conservation Very limited distribution Only found in the Coastal Atlantic Forest of Brazil Survival linked to the health of the Atlantic forest Conservation Response Protected Areas in each state Environmental education Tourism over agriculture Traits Affecting Vulnerability and Conservation Limited range and speed of motion Inability to respond to threats Limited dispersal ability Fragmentation leads to complete isolation Allee effects Inbreeding depression Conservation response Habitat corridors Translocation Traits Affecting Vulnerability and Conservation Low reproduction and high parental care 1 offspring/yr Gestation period-6 months Close relationship between mother and offspring Conservation Response Breeding in captivity has been poor More research necessary Conclusions Maned sloths are vulnerable to deforestation due to their limited distribution, limited movement, and slow reproductive rates Efforts should focus on protecting Atlantic forest habitat More research should be done in order to create successful breeding programs and to formulate effective management strategies References Chiarello A.G. 1998. Diet of the Atlantic forest maned sloth Bradypus torquatus (Xenarthra: Bradypodidae). J. Zoo, Lond. 246(1): 11-19 Chiarello A.G., D.J. Chivers, C. Bassi, M.A.F. Maciel, L.S Moreira, M. Bazzalo. 2004. A translocation experiment for the conservation of maned sloths Bradypus torquatus (Xenarthra, Bradypodidae). Biological Conservation 118(4): 421-430. Lara-Ruiz P., A. G. Chiarello. 2005. Life-history traits and sexual dimorphism of the Atlantic forest maned sloth Bradypus torquatus (Xenarthra: Bradypodidae) Lara-Ruiz P., A.G. Chiarello, F.R. Santos. 2008. Extreme population divergence and conservation implications for the rare endangered Atlantic Forest sloth, Bradypus torquatus (Pilosa: Bradypodidae). Biological Conservation 141(5): 1332-1342. .