Abstract
Deforestation and habitat fragmentation is the primary threat to primate populations. The primates that live within degraded and anthropogenically disturbed habitats typical of fragmented landscapes have to cope with lower availability of resources in comparison to primates in continuous, undisturbed forests. While some species are sensitive to forest fragmentation, some evidence exists to suggest that primates can alter their behavior and adapt to such changes, which enables their survival in suboptimal habitat. In this study, we assessed how forest fragmentation and its associated edge-effects impact the feeding ecology and activity levels of a nocturnal primate community in the Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park, North West Madagascar. From March 06, 2019 to May 17, 2022, we collected data on tree and invertebrate phenology at our study site, and feeding ecology and activity for 159 lemur individuals from four species. Fruit and flower availability varied significantly between continuous and fragmented forest, and between forest core and edge areas, with continuous forest exhibiting higher continuous fruit and flower availability. Lemur feeding ecology varied significantly too, as the feeding niches of all four species were significantly different between continuous and fragmented forest and between core and edge areas. However, lemur activity levels were mostly consistent among all forest areas. The results of this study suggest that nocturnal lemurs are able to adapt their dietary ecology in response to the available food sources within their habitat. Due to this flexible ecology and dietary plasticity, the lemurs do not need to significantly alter their behavior in different environments to fulfill their dietary needs. While nocturnal lemurs demonstrate adaptability and flexibility to degraded habitat, it is unclear how far this plasticity will stretch considering that Madagascar's forests are still being cleared at an alarming rate. Urgent conservation action is therefore needed to ensure the future of lemur habitat.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e23569 |
| Journal | American Journal of Primatology |
| Volume | 86 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 29 Oct 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 29 Oct 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We thank our field-guides Raumiald, Mahatsara, Avitsara, Hervé, Aristide and Jacquis, and our cooks Klariny, Klarice and Marceline for all their help and enthusiasm during our time together in the field. We also express our sincere gratitude to the people of Ambinda, Betsimpoaka, Marovato, Maropapango, Antanandava, Antanambao Manambaro, Antafiabe, Maromandia and Ambolobozo for their logistical assistance. We are grateful to MICET and MNP for their facilitation services and for kindly allowing us to conduct research within the Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park (permit numbers 245/19 and 124/22 - MEEF/SG/DGGE/DAPRNE/SCBE.Re). We thank National Geographic Society, Global Wildlife Conservation, Primate Conservation Inc., La Vallée des Singes, Idea Wild, Primate Society of Great Britain, AEECL, the University of Bristol, Bristol Zoological Society, and many private donors for kindly funding this fieldwork. Finally, we thank two anonymous reviewers whose comments enabled us to improve the quality of this paper. The research described in this manuscript complied with the research protocols of the UK Home Office, the legal requirements of Madagascar, and the research adhered to the American Society of Primatologists Principles for the Ethical Treatment of Non-Human Primates.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. American Journal of Primatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Keywords
- behavioral ecology
- Cheirogaleidae
- dietary plasticity
- edge-effects
- ethology
- feeding niches
- Sahamalaza