Edge Effects on Morphometrics and Body Mass in Two Sympatric Species of Mouse Lemurs in Madagascar

Burke, Ryan J.; Lehman, Shawn M.

doi:10.1159/000360082

Cited by 27 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…ravelobensis were related to similar factors such as dendrometrics, fragment area, and isolation. In a continuous forest, Burke and Lehman [ 66 ] found differences between M . murinus and M .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lemur species-specific metapopulation responses to habitat loss and fragmentation

Steffens¹,

Lehman

2018

PLoS ONE

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Determining what factors affect species occurrence is vital to the study of primate biogeography. We investigated the metapopulation dynamics of a lemur community consisting of eight species (Avahi occidentalis, Propithecus coquereli, Microcebus murinus, Microcebus ravelobensis, Lepilemur edwardsi, Cheirogaleus medius, Eulemur mongoz, and Eulemur fulvus) within fragmented tropical dry deciduous forest habitat in Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar. We measured fragment size and isolation of 42 fragments of forest ranging in size from 0.23 to 117.7 ha adjacent to continuous forest. Between June and November 2011, we conducted 1218 surveys and observed six of eight lemur species (M. murinus, M. ravelobensis, C. medius, E. fulvus, P. coquereli, and L. edwardsi) in the 42 fragments. We applied among patch incidence function models (IFMs) with various measures of dispersal and a mainland-island IFM to lemur species occurrence, with the aim of answering the following questions: 1) Do lemur species in dry deciduous forest fragments form metapopulations? 2) What are the separate effects of area (extinction risk) and connectivity/isolation (colonization potential) within a lemur metapopulation? 3) Within simulated metapopulations over time, how do area and connectivity/isolation affect occurrence? and 4) What are the conservation implications of our findings? We found that M. murinus formed either a mainland-island or an among patch metapopulation, M. ravelobensis formed a mainland-island metapopulation, C. medius and E. fulvus formed among patch metapopulations, and neither P. coquereli or L. edwardsi formed a metapopulation. Metapopulation dynamics and simulations suggest that area was a more consistent positive factor determining lemur species occurrence than fragment isolation and is crucial to the maintenance of lemur populations within this fragmented landscape. Using a metapopulation approach to lemur biogeography is critical for understanding how lemur species respond to forest loss and fragmentation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lemur species-specific metapopulation responses to habitat loss and fragmentation

Steffens¹,

Lehman

2018

PLoS ONE

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“…These results reflect previous studies showing that mouse lemurs use degraded habitat (Dammhahn and Kappeler 2010;Herrera et al 2011;Knoop et al in press;Lehman et al 2006b;Randrianambinina et al 2010), including rural and garden environments (Ganzhorn 1987;Ganzhorn et al 2003;Irwin et al 2010;Radespiel et al 2012). In some cases, populations in disturbed mature forest are at higher densities than recorded for undisturbed mature forest (Burke and Lehman 2014;Corbin and Schmid 1995;Herrera et al 2011;Schaffler 2012). For example, lemurs were distributed mainly along the forest edge where secretions of the Homopteran insect Flatidia coccinea were significantly more abundant than in the forest interior (Corbin and Schmid (1995).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Forest Type Influences Population Densities of Nocturnal Lemurs in Manompana, Northeastern Madagascar

et al. 2018

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Forest loss, fragmentation and anthropization threaten the survival of forest species all over the world. Shifting agriculture is one of these threatening processes in Madagascar. However, when its cycle is halted and the land is left to regenerate, the resulting growth of secondary forest may provide a viable habitat for folivorous and omnivorous lemur species. We aimed to identify the response of nocturnal lemurs to different successional stages of regenerating secondary forest, degraded mature and mature forest across a mosaic-type landscape. We surveyed four nocturnal lemur species (Avahi laniger, Microcebus cf. simmonsi, Allocebus trichotis and Daubentonia madagascariensis) in four forest types of varying habitat disturbance in northeastern Madagascar. We estimated densities in mature and regenerating secondary forest for the eastern woolly lemur (Avahi laniger) and mouse lemur (Microcebus cf. simmonsi), two sympatric species with folivorous and omnivorous diets respectively. We did not estimate densities of Allocebus trichotis and Daubentonia madagascariensis due to small sample size, however, we observed both species exclusively in mature forest. We found higher population densities of Avahi laniger and Microcebus cf simmonsi in secondary than in mature forest showing the potential of regenerating secondary forest for lemur conservation. Several environmental factors influenced the detectability of the two lemur species. While observer and habitat type influenced detection of the eastern woolly lemur, canopy height and vine density influenced detection of mouse lemurs. Understanding how different species with different diets interact with anthropogenically impacted habitat will aid future management decisions for the conservation of primate species.

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“…Mouse lemurs ( Microcebus murinus ) have reduced dry season body mass in anthropogenic secondary forest in Western Madagascar 51 , but did not vary morphometrically across three distinct habitat types in Southeast Madagascar 52 . A third study found that M. murinus at Ankarafantsika did not differ in mass between anthropogenic edge and interior habitats, while for a congener ( M. ravelobensis ), females, but not males, were heavier at the edge, perhaps due to higher insect prey availability 53 . M. griseorufus in a mesic forest were heavier and had longer skulls than in a nearby spiny forest, perhaps due to greater availability of sugar-rich fruit 54 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Morphometric signals of population decline in diademed sifakas occupying degraded rainforest habitat in Madagascar

Irwin

Samonds

Raharison³

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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Anthropogenic habitat change can have varied impacts on primates, including both negative and positive outcomes. Even when behavioural shifts are seen, they may reflect decreased health, or simply behavioural flexibility; understanding this distinction is important for conservation efforts. This study examines habitat-related variation in adult and immature morphometrics among diademed sifakas ( Propithecus diadema ). We collected morphometric data from sifakas at Tsinjoarivo, Madagascar (19 years, 188 captures, 113 individuals). Captures spanned 12 groups, five within continuous forest (“CONT”), and seven in degraded fragments (“FRAG”) where sifakas have lower nutritional intakes. Few consistent differences were found between CONT and FRAG groups. However, using home range quality as a covariate rather than a CONT/FRAG dichotomy revealed a threshold: the two FRAG groups in the lowest-quality habitat showed low adult mass and condition (wasting), and low immature mass and length (stunting). Though less-disturbed fragments apparently provide viable habitat, we suggest the sifakas in the most challenging habitats cannot evolve fast enough to keep up with such rapid habitat change. We suggest other long-lived organisms will show similar morphometric “warning signs” (wasting in adults, stunting in immatures); selected morphometric variables can thus be useful at gauging vulnerability of populations in the face of anthropogenic change.

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Edge Effects on Morphometrics and Body Mass in Two Sympatric Species of Mouse Lemurs in Madagascar

Cited by 27 publications

References 55 publications

Lemur species-specific metapopulation responses to habitat loss and fragmentation

Lemur species-specific metapopulation responses to habitat loss and fragmentation

Forest Type Influences Population Densities of Nocturnal Lemurs in Manompana, Northeastern Madagascar

Morphometric signals of population decline in diademed sifakas occupying degraded rainforest habitat in Madagascar

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