학술논문
Effects of forest fragmentation on the dietary ecology and activity of a nocturnal lemur community in North West Madagascar.
Document Type
Academic Journal
Author
Hending D; Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.; Institute of Conservation Science & Learning, Bristol Zoological Society Ltd, Bristol, UK.; Randrianarison H; Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar.; Andriamavosoloarisoa NNM; Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar.; Ranohatra-Hending C; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.; Institute of Conservation Science & Learning, Bristol Zoological Society Ltd, Bristol, UK.; Cotton S; Institute of Conservation Science & Learning, Bristol Zoological Society Ltd, Bristol, UK.; Holderied M; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.; McCabe G; Institute of Conservation Science & Learning, Bristol Zoological Society Ltd, Bristol, UK.
Source
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 8108949 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1098-2345 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 02752565 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Am J Primatol Subsets: MEDLINE
Subject
Language
English
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.
(© 2023 The Authors. American Journal of Primatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)
(© 2023 The Authors. American Journal of Primatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)