The fate of Madagascar’s rainforest habitat

Morelli, Toni Lyn; Smith, Adam B.; Mancini, Amanda N.; Balko, Elizabeth A.; Borgerson, Cortni; Dolch, Rainer; Farris, Zachary; Federman, Sarah; Golden, Christopher D.; Holmes, Sheila M.; Irwin, Mitchell T.; Jacobs, Rachel L.; Johnson, Steig E.; King, Tony; Lehman, Shawn M.; Louis, Edward E.; Murphy, Asia; Randriahaingo, Hery N. T.; Randrianarimanana, H. L. Lucien; Ratsimbazafy, Jonah; Razafindratsima, Onja H.; Baden, Andrea L.

doi:10.1038/s41558-019-0647-x

Cited by 76 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 83 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Our results lend themselves to further characterizing the diet of this Critically Endangered fruit-specialist and emphasizes how flexible behavioral strategies enable species to cope with variable ecological conditions and resource availability. This is increasingly important to understand in the face of ongoing deforestation and anthropogenic disturbance to Madagascar's forests (Harper, Steininger, Tucker, Juhn, & Hawkins, 2007;Morelli et al, 2020;Vieilledent et al, 2018;, particularly given that frugivorous diets are commonly associated with high sensitivity to habitat modification (Boyle & Smith, 2010;Eppley, Santini, Tinsman, & Donati, 2020;Harcourt, 1998;Marsh, Johns, & Ayres, 1987;Richard & Sussman, 1987;Struhsaker, 1997). investigation; methodology; project administration; writing-original draft; writing-review and editing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variability in the diet and feeding ecology of black‐and‐white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) in Ranomafana National Park, southeastern Madagascar

Beeby

Baden

2021

American J Phys Anthropol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: We characterized the diet and foraging ecology of the black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata), a specialized frugivore, and investigated behavioral strategies exhibited in response to seasonal changes in resource availability. Materials and Methods: Behavioral data were collected from the same two adjacent communities across 29 months during two observation periods (2007-2008; 2017-2018) in Mangevo, a primary rainforest habitat in southeastern Madagascar. To analyze feeding in the context of energy maximization versus time minimization strategies, we used nonparametric tests to compare plant part constituents, dietary diversity, activity budgets, and canopy strata use between fruit-abundant versus fruit-lean seasons. Results: Individuals dedicated 30% of their time to feeding year-round, mostly in the middle canopy (11-20 m). Animals fed primarily on fruits (74% of diet), but frugivory decreased and folivory increased markedly during fruit-lean seasons. Abundant season dietary diversity (98 taxa, H 0 = 0.71-1.37) was greater than lean season diversity (70 taxa, H 0 = 0.56-1.06), which coincided with less traveling, more resting, and higher canopy use-though interannual variation was observed. Conclusions: Herein, we describe behavioral and dietary patterns that are concordant with a time minimizing behavioral strategy. Black-and-white ruffed lemur diets comprised lower taxonomic diversity, fewer fruits, and more leaves during fruit-lean months. Further, shifts toward less travel, more resting, and greater use of higher canopy levels during this time were most likely for thermoregulatory benefits.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variability in the diet and feeding ecology of black‐and‐white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) in Ranomafana National Park, southeastern Madagascar

Beeby

Baden

2021

American J Phys Anthropol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The Malagasy people are thus highly dependent on natural resources for food and medicines, often produced through shifting agriculture practices, and for wood that can be used as timber, firewood, and charcoal (Rakotomanana et al 2013). Even in protected areas, which have exponentially increased since the beginning of this century, these anthropogenic pressures, including hunting, remain (Razafimanahaka et al 2012; Gardner et al 2018; Morelli et al 2020). To alleviate and counter deforestation, a growing number of programs focus on reforesting or restoring destroyed or degraded landscapes, working at different scales, in Madagascar (Birkinshaw et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lemur food plants as options for forest restoration in Madagascar

Steffens

2020

Restoration Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The outcome of restoration plantings depends on the selection of plant species and their traits. Regeneration could be facilitated and diversified by attracting native seed dispersers into the sites to be restored. To provide a basis for the selection of plant species that Lemur food plantscould attract lemurs, the main seed dispersers in Madagascar, I compiled a list of known lemur food plants (LFP). A literature search revealed 204 data sources from 64 study sites on the exploitation of plants by 56 free-ranging lemur species. I aggregated the information, updated the taxonomy, and included further aspects, such as plant origin and life form, which may be of relevance for restoration. Lemur species exploited mainly fruits and leaves of 1,026 plant species (9.14% of all vascular plant species present in Madagascar), from 599 genera and 147 families. The data revealed many promising aspects for restoration, such as integrating the 10 most important LFP that are also used by people. The integration of LFP would increase the value of restoration areas for both animals and humans. Despite some limitations, the assembled database can provide assistance and guidance in the selection of plant species for restoration programs, whereby facilitating future regeneration may be accomplished passively through lemur seed dispersal.

show abstract

“…The process of regular forest clearing and burning alters local ecologies, with downstream effects on water and soil. The adverse consequences of these ecosystem changes lead to challenges in conserving Madagascar's exceptional biodiversity [e.g., (6)], and they also significantly affect risks of malnutrition (7,8) and disease (1,9).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%