Anthropogenic disturbance effects remain visible in forest structure, but not in lemur abundances

Winter, I.I. de; Hoek, Sebastiaan van der; Schütt, Jeroen; Heitkönig, Ignas M. A.; Hooft, Pim van; Gort, Gerrit; Prins, Herbert H. T.; Sterck, Frank J.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2018.03.021

Cited by 8 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…Although E. rufifrons was more encountered in two more intensely disturbed sites and E. rubriventer in two less disturbed sites, E. rubriventer showed higher encounter rates in another disturbed site as well. This confirms that these lemurs can use both more and less disturbed sites as habitat (de Winter et al, 2018a) and that anthropogenic disturbance allows co-existence of these species. Our results are in line with other studies that suggest that variation in habitat characteristics selects for spatial segregation, which reduces interspecific competition and allows the coexistence of species (e.g., Myers et al 2000;da Fonseca and Robinson 1990;Neuhauser 2001;Roxburgh et al 2004, Dial andRoughgarden 1998;López-Gómez and Molina-Meyer 2006).…”

Section: Spatial Segregationsupporting

confidence: 74%

“…Several mechanisms are known to promote species coexistence. First, spatial heterogeneity of forests can result from natural disturbances (van der Maarel 1993) and anthropogenic disturbances, including selective logging (de Winter et al, 2018a;Questad and Foster, 2008). Such landscape variations, caused by disturbances, can result in a patchy distribution of species, thereby limiting competition and hence promoting coexistence in ecological communities (Roxburgh et al, 2004).…”

Section: Coexistence Of Congenersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We performed this study in five different sites within Ranomafana NP: Talatakely (TALA), Sakaroa (SAKA), Vohiparara (VOHI), Vatoharanana (VATO), and Valohoaka (VALO). Previous disturbances, i.e., different intensities of selective logging, have created environmental heterogeneity within the forest (Balko and Underwood, 2005;de Winter et al, 2018a;Herrera et al, 2011;Wright et al, 1997). In TALA, SAKA, and VOHI, extensive clearing for agriculture and human habitation in the 1950s was followed by intensive commercial logging until the late 1980s.…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The encounter rates of the congeneric species E. rufifrons and E. rubriventer were negatively correlated: Eulemur rubriventer showed relatively high and E. rufifrons relatively low encounter rates in two of the less disturbed sites, VALO and VATO, and in VOHI, while the opposite pattern holds for the disturbed sites SAKA and TALA. The different disturbance histories of these sites have created environmental variability, as the sites differ in multiple forest characteristics as well as tree species composition (de Winter et al, 2018a). The lemur species showed no clear preference for sites that experienced high or low disturbance intensities.…”

Section: Spatial Segregationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, it is demonstrated that spatial heterogeneity can lead to higher species diversity (Neuhauser, 2001) and that patches of different disturbance histories within an area can enable the coexistence of species (Roxburgh et al, 2004). In addition to anthropogenic disturbances, including selective logging (de Winter et al, 2018a;Questad and Foster, 2008), spatial heterogeneity of forests can result from natural disturbances (van der Maarel, 1993). Although heterogeneity caused by disturbance seems to play an important role in promoting coexistence in ecological communities (Dial and Roughgarden, 1998), it is not well understood yet (López-Gómez and Molina-Meyer, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lemurs on a sinking raft? : The ballast of anthropogenic disturbances

Prins¹,

Heitkonig²,

Hooft³

et al.

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PREFACEWild primates are fascinating creatures that occupy a special place in the hearts of people around the globe. The clade of lemurs evolved in isolation, exclusively on the island of Madagascar, yet the magnitude of its behavioural and morphological diversity rivals that of the monkeys and apes found elsewhere in the world. One truly feels fascinated when near these agile tree dwellers as they serenely warm up in the sun, groom each other, or move through the lush vegetation, observing us observing them with a mirrored curiosity vividly apparent in their striking eyes. It is worrisome to imagine a world without these charming animals; but, with a combination of ongoing research, clear communication, and the development and implementation of effective conservation measures, we may not have to. 5

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Section: Spatial Segregationsupporting

confidence: 74%

Section: Coexistence Of Congenersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Spatial Segregationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lemurs on a sinking raft? : The ballast of anthropogenic disturbances

Prins¹,

Heitkonig²,

Hooft³

et al.

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Do functional traits offset the effects of fragmentation? The case of large‐bodied diurnal lemur species

Eppley

Santini

Tinsman

et al. 2020

American J Primatol

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Primates worldwide are faced with increasing threats making them more vulnerable to extinction. Anthropogenic disturbances, such as habitat degradation and fragmentation, are among the main concerns, and in Madagascar, these issues have become widespread. As this situation continues to worsen, we sought to understand how fragmentation affects primate distribution throughout the island. Further, because species may exhibit different sensitivity to fragmentation, we also aimed to estimate the role of functional traits in mitigating their response. We collated data from 32 large-bodied lemur species ranges, consisting of species from the families Lemuridae (five genera) and Indriidae (two genera). We fitted Generalized Linear Models to determine the role of habitat fragmentation characteristics, for example, forest cover, patch size, edge density, and landscape configuration, as well as the protected area (PA) network, on the species relative probability of presence. We then assessed how the influence of functional traits (dietary guild, home range size) mitigate the response of species to these habitat metrics. Habitat area had a strong positive effect for many species, and there were significantly negative effects of fragmentation on the distribution of many lemur species. In addition, there was a positive influence of PAs on many lemur species' distribution. Functional trait classifications showed that lemurs of all dietary guilds are negatively affected by fragmentation; however, folivore-frugivores show greater flexibility/variability in terms of habitat area and landscape complexity compared to nearly exclusive folivores and frugivores. Furthermore, species of all home range sizes showed a negative response to fragmentation, while habitat area had an increasingly positive effect as home range increased in size. Overall, the general trends for the majority of lemur species are dire and point to the need for immediate actions on a multitude of fronts, most importantly landscape-level reforestation efforts.

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Dietary flexibility of the greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus), a specialized feeder, in eastern Madagascar

Mihaminekena,

Rakotonanahary,

Frasier

et al. 2024

American J Primatol

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The degree of dietary flexibility in primates is species specific; some incorporate a wider array of resources than others. Extreme interannual weather variability in Madagascar results in seasonal resource scarcity which has been linked to specialized behaviors in lemurs. Prolemur simus, for example, has been considered an obligate specialist on large culm bamboo with >60% of its diet composed of woody bamboos requiring morphological and physiological adaptations to process. Recent studies reported an ever‐expanding list of dietary items, suggesting that this species may not be an obligate specialist. However, long‐term quantitative feeding data are unavailable across this species’ range. To explore the dietary flexibility of P. simus, we collected data at two northern sites, Ambalafary and Sahavola, and one southern site, Vatovavy, from September 2010 to January 2016 and May 2017 to September 2018, respectively. In total, we recorded 4022 h of behavioral data using instantaneous sampling of adult males and females from one group in Ambalafary, and two groups each in Sahavola and Vatovavy. We recorded 45 plant species eaten by P. simus over 7 years. We also observed significant differences in seasonal dietary composition between study sites. In Ambalafary, bamboo was the most frequently observed resource consumed (92.2%); however, non‐bamboo resources comprised nearly one‐third of the diet of P. simus in Sahavola and over 60% in Vatovavy. Consumption of all bamboo resources increased during the dry season at Ambalafary and during the wet season at Vatovavy, but never exceeded non‐bamboo feeding at the latter. Culm pith feeding was only observed at Ambalafary, where it was more common during the dry season. We identify P. simus as a bamboo facultative specialist capable of adjusting its feeding behavior to its environment, indicating greater dietary flexibility than previously documented, which may enable the species to survive in increasingly degraded habitats.

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Anthropogenic disturbance effects remain visible in forest structure, but not in lemur abundances

Cited by 8 publications

References 91 publications

Lemurs on a sinking raft? : The ballast of anthropogenic disturbances

Lemurs on a sinking raft? : The ballast of anthropogenic disturbances

Do functional traits offset the effects of fragmentation? The case of large‐bodied diurnal lemur species

Dietary flexibility of the greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus), a specialized feeder, in eastern Madagascar

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