Editing Night monkey (section)

== Conservation ==
According to the IUCN (the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]]), the [[Peruvian night monkey]] is classified an [[Endangered species]], four species are [[Vulnerable species|Vulnerable]], four are [[Least-concern species]], and two are data deficient. Most night monkey species are threatened by varying levels of habitat loss throughout their range, caused by [[agricultural expansion]], cattle ranching, logging, armed conflict, and mining operations. To date, it is estimated that more than 62% of the habitat of the [[Peruvian night monkey]] has been destroyed or degraded by human activities.<ref name="Shanee-2015" /> However, some night monkey species have become capable of adapting exceptionally well to anthropogenic influences in their environment. Populations of Peruvian night monkey have been observed thriving in small forest fragments and plantation or farmland areas, however this is likely possible given their small body size and may not be an appropriate alternate habitat option for other larger night monkey species.<ref name="Shanee-2015" /> Studies have already been conducted into the feasibility of agroforestry; plantations which simultaneously support local species biodiversity.<ref name="Guzmán-2016">{{Cite journal|last1=Guzmán|first1=Adriana|last2=Link|first2=Andrés|last3=Castillo|first3=Jaime A.|last4=Botero|first4=Jorge E.|date=January 2016|title=Agroecosystems and primate conservation: Shade coffee as potential habitat for the conservation of Andean night monkeys in the northern Andes|journal=Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment|volume=215|pages=57–67|doi=10.1016/j.agee.2015.09.002|bibcode=2016AgEE..215...57G |issn=0167-8809}}</ref> In the case of ''A. miconax'', coffee plantations with introduced shade trees, provided quality habitat spaces. While the coffee plantation benefited from the increased shade—reducing weed growth and desiccation, night monkeys used the space as a habitat, a connection corridor or stepping stone area between habitats that provided a rich food source.<ref name="Guzmán-2016" /> However, some researchers question the agroforestry concept, maintaining that monkeys are more susceptible to hunting, predator and pathogens in plantation fields, thus indicating the need for further research into the solution before implementation.<ref name="Guzmán-2016" />

Night monkeys are additionally threatened by both national and international trade for bushmeat and domestic pets. Since 1975, the pet trade of night monkeys has been regulated by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).&nbsp; In the last forty years, nearly 6,000 live night monkeys and more than 7,000 specimens have been traded from the nine countries which they call home. While the restrictive laws put into place by CITES are aiding in the reduction of these numbers, 4 out of 9 countries, show deficiencies in maintaining the standards outlined by CITES<ref name="Svensson-2016" /> Increased attention and enforcement of these laws will be imperative for the sustainability of night monkey populations.

Use in biomedical research poses another threat to night monkey biodiversity. Species such as [[Nancy Ma's night monkey]], like human beings, are susceptible to infection by the ''[[Plasmodium falciparum]]'' parasite responsible for malaria.<ref>{{cite book | editor = Baer, J.F. |editor2=Weller, R.E. |editor3=Kakoma, I. | title = ''Aotus'': The Owl Monkey | location = San Diego | year = 1994 | isbn = 978-0-12-072405-5 | publisher = Academic Press}}</ref> This trait caused them to be recommended by the World Health Organization as test subjects in the development of malaria vaccines.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Nino-Vasquez|first1=J. Javier|last2=Vogel|first2=Denise|last3=Rodriguez|first3=Raul|last4=Moreno|first4=Alberto|last5=Patarroyo|first5=Manuel Elkin|last6=Pluschke|first6=Gerd|last7=Daubenberger|first7=Claudia A.|date=2000-03-03|title=Sequence and diversity of DRB genes of ''Aotus nancymaae'', a primate model for human malaria parasites|journal=Immunogenetics|volume=51|issue=3|pages=219–230|doi=10.1007/s002510050035|pmid=10752632|s2cid=24133733|issn=0093-7711}}</ref> Up to 2008, more than 76 night monkeys died as a result of vaccine testing; some died from malaria, while others perished due to medical complications from the testing.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bunyard|first=P|date=2008|title=Monkey Business|journal=Ecologist|volume=38|pages=48–51|via=Ebscohost}}</ref>

Increased research and knowledge of night monkey ecology is an invaluable tool in determining conservation strategies for these species and raising awareness for consequences of the anthropogenic threats facing these primates. Radio-collaring of free ranging primates proposes a method of obtaining more accurate and complete data surrounding primate behavior patterns. This in turn can aid in understanding what measures need to be taken to promote the conservation of these species.<ref name="Juarez-2010">{{Cite journal|last1=Juarez|first1=Cecilia Paola|last2=Rotundo|first2=Marcelo Alejandro|last3=Berg|first3=Wendy|last4=Fernández-Duque|first4=Eduardo|date=2010-10-07|title=Costs and Benefits of Radio-collaring on the Behavior, Demography, and Conservation of Owl Monkeys (''Aotus azarai'') in Formosa, Argentina|journal=International Journal of Primatology|volume=32|issue=1|pages=69–82|doi=10.1007/s10764-010-9437-z|s2cid=24198124|issn=0164-0291|hdl=11336/27058|hdl-access=free}}</ref> Radio collaring not only allows for the identification of individuals within a species, increased sample size, more detailed dispersal and range patterns, but also facilitates educational programs which raise awareness for the current biodiversity crisis.<ref name="Juarez-2010" />  The usage of radio-collaring while potentially extremely valuable, has been shown to interfere with social group interactions, the development of better collaring techniques and technology will therefore be imperative in the realisation and successful use of radio collars on night monkeys.<ref name="Juarez-2010" />