Hunter territoriality creates refuges for threatened primates

Summary Unsustainable hunting threatens biodiversity in the tropics through removal of key seed-dispersing frugivorous primates. Traditionally, Amazon Basin was managed hunter territoriality, with threat social sanctions for overexploitation. We examined territoriality and differential prey selection as alternative hypotheses to central-place foraging. Territoriality occurred beyond common grounds, which were on major rivers immediately surrounding community. Hunters displayed selectivity choice, 50% hunters not The combination means that over 22% hunted area Sucusari river basin could be considered primate refuge. Of remaining area, 16% relatively little by hunters. suggest against primates creates refuges, mitigating effects sustained pressure contributing conservation these species.