New Distributional Records and Conservation Implications for the Critically Endangered Greater Bamboo Lemur Prolemur simus

Abstract

To improve our knowledge of the distribution of the critically endangered greater bamboo lemur Prolemur simus, we surveyed 6 sites in eastern Madagascar. We found its characteristic feeding signs at 5 sites and made a direct sighting at one of these. One site represents a northern extension of 45 km of the known extant range of the species. Two sites are located in a forest corridor approximately halfway between the previously known southern and northern populations, therefore suggesting a broadly continuous distribution of the species within its range rather than the previously suspected distribution of two distinct populations separated by a distance of over 200 km. Our results illustrate the benefit of species-focussed surveys in determining the true distribution of endangered species, a realistic measure which is necessary in order to assess their current status and to prioritise long-term conservation interventions.

Large-Culmed Bamboos in Madagascar: Distribution and Field Identification of the Primary Food Sources of the Critically Endangered Greater Bamboo LemurProlemur simus

“…In recent years, however, the species was thought to have a much reduced range, in and near the south-eastern rainforests of the island (Mutschler and Tan 2003). Recent that the present-day range is not as diminished as previously thought (Dolch et al 2008;King and Chamberlan 2010;Ravaloharimanitra et al 2011;Rakotonirina et al 2011), and indirect evidence suggests the species may still be widely distributed through much of eastern Madagascar (Dolch et al 2010; years have been made in the remaining mid-to high-elevation rainforest corridors from Didy to Andasibe (Dolch et al 2008;Ravaloharimanitra et al 2011;Randrianarimanana et al 2012;Olson et al 2012), and from the Ranomafana National Park to the Andringitra National Park (Petter et al 1977;Wright et al 2008;Delmore et al 2009). They have also been made in lowland, often degraded, landscapes in the Brickaville District (Ravaloharimanitra et al 2011;Bonaventure et al 2012;Lantovololona et al 2012;Mihaminekena et al 2012), the Vatomandry District (Rakotonirina et al of the Mangoro and Nosivolo rivers in the Mahanoro District (Rakotonirina et al 2011;Andrianandrasana et al in press), around Kianjavato in the Mananjary District (Meier and Rumpler 1987;Andriaholinirina et al 2003;Wright et al 2008;McGuire et al 2009), and near Karianga in the Vondrozo District (Wright et al 2008(Wright et al , 2009.…”

“…Each site falls in the "humid forest" or described by Moat and Smith (2007). The primary purpose new populations of Prolemur simus (see King and Chamberlan 2010), and we have published elsewhere more detailed habitat descriptions for most of the sites, along with many of our primary results (Rajaonson et al 2010;Ravaloharimanitra et al 2011;Rakotonirina et al 2011Rakotonirina et al , 2013Bonaventure et al 2012;Lantovololona et al 2012;Mihaminekena et al 2012;Randrianarimanana et al 2012;Andrianandrasana et al in press;Rajaonson and King in press).…”

“…Both species must have specializations allowing them to feed on bamboo parts rich in cyanide, although the exact mechanisms by which they avoid cyanide et Yamashita et al 2010). Prolemur simus has specializations allowing it to exploit the toughest and most mechanically-challenging parts of woody bamboos avoided by Hapalemur, such as the mature culm pith and mature leaf-blades of the large-culmed Cathariostachys madagascariensis (see Vinyard et al 2008;Yamashita et al 2009), and all known wild P. simus populations occur in sites containing largeculmed woody bamboos (Tan 2007;Rakotonirina et al 2011;Ravaloharimanitra et al 2011).…”

“…The taxonomy of a number of them is undergoing revision. Two are now considered conspe-Schizostachyum bosseri and S. parvifolium synonyms of Sirochloa parvifolium rently placed in incorrect genera (in, for example Arundinaria and Cephalostachyum -Prolemur simus appears to be particularly associated with large-culmed species of two endemic genera, Cathariostachys and Valiha, especially C. madagascariensis in mid-to highelevation rainforest, and V. diffusa in lowland secondary habitats (Tan 2007;Rakotonirina et al 2011;Ravaloharimanitra et al 2011). In addition to these two genera, P. simus feeds on other large-culmed bamboos, such as an endemic Arundinaria species (Randrianarimanana et al 2012, as "volotsanganana") and the pantropical Bambusa vulgaris (Ravaloharimanitra et al 2011;Mihaminekena et al 2012), the latter species possibly introduced, being found mainly along rivers that these large-culmed bamboos make up over 90% of the diet of P. simus in the wild (Tan 1999;Mihaminekena et al 2012;Randrianarimanana et al 2012).…”

“…This close association between Prolemur simus and large-culmed bamboos implies that a good understanding of the distribution and biology of large-culmed bamboos would ments of this Critically Endangered lemur. However, very little is known about any of the woody bamboos of Madaa summary of what we have learnt about large-culmed bamboos in Madagascar during four years of surveys and research in the context of a collaborative programme aimed at conserving P. simus (King and Chamberlan 2010;Rakotonirina et al 2011). We update our knowledge on the distribution, elevation ranges, and culm diameter of large-culmed bamboos occurring in the range of P. simus, and provide and illustrate generic level.…”