Seasonal Differences in the Encounter Rate of the Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) in the Transitional Forests of Northwest Madagascar: Implications for Reliable Population Density Assessment

Daniel Hending; Heriniaina Randrianarison; Niaina Nirina Mahefa Andriamavosoloarisoa; Christina Ranohatra-Hending; James Sedera Solofondranohatra; Haja Roger Tongasoa; Herinirina Tahina Ranarison; Victoria Gehrke; Natacha Andrianirina; Marc Holderied; Grainne McCabe; Sam Cotton

doi:10.1007/s10764-023-00353-y

Seasonal Differences in the Encounter Rate of the Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) in the Transitional Forests of Northwest Madagascar: Implications for Reliable Population Density Assessment

Daniel Hending^*
, Heriniaina Randrianarison
, Niaina Nirina Mahefa Andriamavosoloarisoa
, Christina Ranohatra-Hending
, James Sedera Solofondranohatra
, Haja Roger Tongasoa
, Herinirina Tahina Ranarison
, Victoria Gehrke
, Natacha Andrianirina
, Marc Holderied
, Grainne McCabe
, Sam Cotton

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Primate encounter rates often vary throughout the year due to seasonal differences in activity, ecology, and behaviour. One notably extreme behaviour is continuous hibernation. Although a rare adaptation in primates, the dwarf lemurs of Madagascar (genus Cheirogaleus) enter obligate hibernation each year during the dry season, after spending the wet season consuming high-energy foods. Whilst seasonal changes in activity in some Cheirogaleus populations are well-known, many species remain little-studied, and there is no specific information on their encounter rates, nor when they enter and emerge from hibernation. This uncertainty critically affects reliable calculation of population density estimates for these highly threatened lemurs. In this study, we assessed how encounter rates of the fat-tailed dwarf lemur (C. medius) vary seasonally in the transitional forests of the Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park, northwest Madagascar, during a 4-year period. We established a system of line transects (N = 60) throughout our study area, on which we conducted distance sampling of C. medius. We then used our distance sampling data to calculate encounter rate and population density data. We found encounter rates of C. medius to be significantly higher during the wet season compared with the dry season. Furthermore, encounter rates of C. medius were particularly low from May–August. These results provide some evidence to suggest the time period that C. medius hibernate in Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park. These findings underpin the importance of careful study design when surveying threatened species with seasonal differences in activity, such as those that hibernate. This study also demonstrates the importance of species-specific behavioural data for accurate population density assessment, which is required to inform conservation action.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	482-498
Number of pages	17
Journal	International Journal of Primatology
Volume	44
Issue number	3
Early online date	27 Feb 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-023-00353-y
Publication status	Published - 1 Jun 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thank the field guides, Raumiald, Mahatsara, Avitsara, Hervé, Aristide, and Jacquis, and 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 Incorporated, La Vallée des Singes, Idea Wild, Primate Society of Great Britain, AEECL, the University of Bristol, and many private donors for kindly funding this fieldwork. Finally, thanks to the handling editor and two anonymous reviewers whose comments enabled us to improve the quality of this paper.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).

Keywords

Environmental hardship
Hibernation
Line transect
Population density
Sahamalaza
Seasonality

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Hending, D., Randrianarison, H., Andriamavosoloarisoa, N. N. M., Ranohatra-Hending, C., Solofondranohatra, J. S., Tongasoa, H. R., Ranarison, H. T., Gehrke, V., Andrianirina, N., Holderied, M., McCabe, G., & Cotton, S. (2023). Seasonal Differences in the Encounter Rate of the Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) in the Transitional Forests of Northwest Madagascar: Implications for Reliable Population Density Assessment. International Journal of Primatology, 44(3), 482-498. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-023-00353-y

Hending, Daniel ; Randrianarison, Heriniaina ; Andriamavosoloarisoa, Niaina Nirina Mahefa et al. / Seasonal Differences in the Encounter Rate of the Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) in the Transitional Forests of Northwest Madagascar : Implications for Reliable Population Density Assessment. In: International Journal of Primatology. 2023 ; Vol. 44, No. 3. pp. 482-498.

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title = "Seasonal Differences in the Encounter Rate of the Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) in the Transitional Forests of Northwest Madagascar: Implications for Reliable Population Density Assessment",

abstract = "Primate encounter rates often vary throughout the year due to seasonal differences in activity, ecology, and behaviour. One notably extreme behaviour is continuous hibernation. Although a rare adaptation in primates, the dwarf lemurs of Madagascar (genus Cheirogaleus) enter obligate hibernation each year during the dry season, after spending the wet season consuming high-energy foods. Whilst seasonal changes in activity in some Cheirogaleus populations are well-known, many species remain little-studied, and there is no specific information on their encounter rates, nor when they enter and emerge from hibernation. This uncertainty critically affects reliable calculation of population density estimates for these highly threatened lemurs. In this study, we assessed how encounter rates of the fat-tailed dwarf lemur (C. medius) vary seasonally in the transitional forests of the Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park, northwest Madagascar, during a 4-year period. We established a system of line transects (N = 60) throughout our study area, on which we conducted distance sampling of C. medius. We then used our distance sampling data to calculate encounter rate and population density data. We found encounter rates of C. medius to be significantly higher during the wet season compared with the dry season. Furthermore, encounter rates of C. medius were particularly low from May{\textendash}August. These results provide some evidence to suggest the time period that C. medius hibernate in Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park. These findings underpin the importance of careful study design when surveying threatened species with seasonal differences in activity, such as those that hibernate. This study also demonstrates the importance of species-specific behavioural data for accurate population density assessment, which is required to inform conservation action.",

keywords = "Environmental hardship, Hibernation, Line transect, Population density, Sahamalaza, Seasonality",

author = "Daniel Hending and Heriniaina Randrianarison and Andriamavosoloarisoa, \{Niaina Nirina Mahefa\} and Christina Ranohatra-Hending and Solofondranohatra, \{James Sedera\} and Tongasoa, \{Haja Roger\} and Ranarison, \{Herinirina Tahina\} and Victoria Gehrke and Natacha Andrianirina and Marc Holderied and Grainne McCabe and Sam Cotton",

note = "Funding Information: The authors thank the field guides, Raumiald, Mahatsara, Avitsara, Herv{\'e}, Aristide, and Jacquis, and 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{\textemdash}MEEF/SG/DGGE/DAPRNE/SCBE.Re). We thank National Geographic Society, Global Wildlife Conservation, Primate Conservation Incorporated, La Vall{\'e}e des Singes, Idea Wild, Primate Society of Great Britain, AEECL, the University of Bristol, and many private donors for kindly funding this fieldwork. Finally, thanks to the handling editor and two anonymous reviewers whose comments enabled us to improve the quality of this paper. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023, The Author(s).",

year = "2023",

month = jun,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1007/s10764-023-00353-y",

language = "English",

volume = "44",

pages = "482--498",

journal = "International Journal of Primatology",

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Hending, D, Randrianarison, H, Andriamavosoloarisoa, NNM, Ranohatra-Hending, C, Solofondranohatra, JS, Tongasoa, HR, Ranarison, HT, Gehrke, V, Andrianirina, N, Holderied, M, McCabe, G & Cotton, S 2023, 'Seasonal Differences in the Encounter Rate of the Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) in the Transitional Forests of Northwest Madagascar: Implications for Reliable Population Density Assessment', International Journal of Primatology, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 482-498. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-023-00353-y

Seasonal Differences in the Encounter Rate of the Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) in the Transitional Forests of Northwest Madagascar: Implications for Reliable Population Density Assessment. / Hending, Daniel; Randrianarison, Heriniaina; Andriamavosoloarisoa, Niaina Nirina Mahefa et al.
In: International Journal of Primatology, Vol. 44, No. 3, 01.06.2023, p. 482-498.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

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AU - Randrianarison, Heriniaina

AU - Andriamavosoloarisoa, Niaina Nirina Mahefa

AU - Ranohatra-Hending, Christina

AU - Solofondranohatra, James Sedera

AU - Tongasoa, Haja Roger

AU - Ranarison, Herinirina Tahina

AU - Gehrke, Victoria

AU - Andrianirina, Natacha

AU - Holderied, Marc

AU - McCabe, Grainne

AU - Cotton, Sam

N1 - Funding Information: The authors thank the field guides, Raumiald, Mahatsara, Avitsara, Hervé, Aristide, and Jacquis, and 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 Incorporated, La Vallée des Singes, Idea Wild, Primate Society of Great Britain, AEECL, the University of Bristol, and many private donors for kindly funding this fieldwork. Finally, thanks to the handling editor and two anonymous reviewers whose comments enabled us to improve the quality of this paper. Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).

PY - 2023/6/1

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N2 - Primate encounter rates often vary throughout the year due to seasonal differences in activity, ecology, and behaviour. One notably extreme behaviour is continuous hibernation. Although a rare adaptation in primates, the dwarf lemurs of Madagascar (genus Cheirogaleus) enter obligate hibernation each year during the dry season, after spending the wet season consuming high-energy foods. Whilst seasonal changes in activity in some Cheirogaleus populations are well-known, many species remain little-studied, and there is no specific information on their encounter rates, nor when they enter and emerge from hibernation. This uncertainty critically affects reliable calculation of population density estimates for these highly threatened lemurs. In this study, we assessed how encounter rates of the fat-tailed dwarf lemur (C. medius) vary seasonally in the transitional forests of the Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park, northwest Madagascar, during a 4-year period. We established a system of line transects (N = 60) throughout our study area, on which we conducted distance sampling of C. medius. We then used our distance sampling data to calculate encounter rate and population density data. We found encounter rates of C. medius to be significantly higher during the wet season compared with the dry season. Furthermore, encounter rates of C. medius were particularly low from May–August. These results provide some evidence to suggest the time period that C. medius hibernate in Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park. These findings underpin the importance of careful study design when surveying threatened species with seasonal differences in activity, such as those that hibernate. This study also demonstrates the importance of species-specific behavioural data for accurate population density assessment, which is required to inform conservation action.

AB - Primate encounter rates often vary throughout the year due to seasonal differences in activity, ecology, and behaviour. One notably extreme behaviour is continuous hibernation. Although a rare adaptation in primates, the dwarf lemurs of Madagascar (genus Cheirogaleus) enter obligate hibernation each year during the dry season, after spending the wet season consuming high-energy foods. Whilst seasonal changes in activity in some Cheirogaleus populations are well-known, many species remain little-studied, and there is no specific information on their encounter rates, nor when they enter and emerge from hibernation. This uncertainty critically affects reliable calculation of population density estimates for these highly threatened lemurs. In this study, we assessed how encounter rates of the fat-tailed dwarf lemur (C. medius) vary seasonally in the transitional forests of the Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park, northwest Madagascar, during a 4-year period. We established a system of line transects (N = 60) throughout our study area, on which we conducted distance sampling of C. medius. We then used our distance sampling data to calculate encounter rate and population density data. We found encounter rates of C. medius to be significantly higher during the wet season compared with the dry season. Furthermore, encounter rates of C. medius were particularly low from May–August. These results provide some evidence to suggest the time period that C. medius hibernate in Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park. These findings underpin the importance of careful study design when surveying threatened species with seasonal differences in activity, such as those that hibernate. This study also demonstrates the importance of species-specific behavioural data for accurate population density assessment, which is required to inform conservation action.

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KW - Hibernation

KW - Line transect

KW - Population density

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Hending D, Randrianarison H, Andriamavosoloarisoa NNM, Ranohatra-Hending C, Solofondranohatra JS, Tongasoa HR et al. Seasonal Differences in the Encounter Rate of the Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) in the Transitional Forests of Northwest Madagascar: Implications for Reliable Population Density Assessment. International Journal of Primatology. 2023 Jun 1;44(3):482-498. Epub 2023 Feb 27. doi: 10.1007/s10764-023-00353-y

Seasonal Differences in the Encounter Rate of the Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) in the Transitional Forests of Northwest Madagascar: Implications for Reliable Population Density Assessment

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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