Assessment of organochlorine pesticides and metals in ring‐tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar

Abstract

Like most of Madagascar's endemic primates, ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) face a number of threats to their survival. Although habitat loss is of greatest concern, other anthropogenic factors including environmental contamination may also affect lemur health and survival. In this study, we examined ring-tailed lemurs from the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve (BMSR), southern Madagascar for exposure to organochlorine (OC) pesticides and metals and examined differences in contaminant concentrations between sexes and among age groups, troops, and habitats. A total of 14 pesticides and 13 metals was detected in lemur blood (24 individuals) and hair (65 individuals) samples, respectively. p,p'-DDT, heptachlor, aldrin, heptachlor epoxide, endrin aldehyde, and endrin were among the most prevalent pesticides detected. Surprisingly, the persistent metabolite of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, was not detected. The most commonly detected metals were aluminum, zinc, boron, phosphorus, silicon, and copper, whereas metals considered more hazardous to wildlife (e.g. arsenic, cadmium, lead, selenium, vanadium) were not found above detection limits. Overall, concentrations of OC pesticides and metals were low and similar to those considered to be background concentrations in other studies examining the ecotoxicology of wild mammals. Few inter-sex, -age, -troop, and -habitat differences in contaminant concentrations were observed, suggesting a uniform distribution of contaminants within the reserve. Several statistically significant relationships between lemur body size and contaminant concentrations were observed, but owing to the lack of supportive data regarding contaminant exposure in wild primates, the biological significance of these findings remains uncertain. Results of this study document exposure of ring-tailed lemurs at BMSR to multiple OC pesticides and metals and provide essential baseline data for future health and toxicological evaluations of lemurs and other wild primates, especially those in regions with expanding agricultural and mining operations.

Effects of anthropogenic disturbance on indri (Indri indri) health in Madagascar

“…Although cobalt values for several lemur species have been recorded Irwin et al, 2010;Junge et al, 2008], nickel values have not been determined for other lemur species, except as measured in hair of Lemur catta by Rainwater et al [2009]. Elevated levels of cobalt and nickel in indri at AFC indicate probable higher levels at that site.…”

“…The majority of primate pathogens will exert long-term, sublethal effects that can reduce population sustainability [Goldberg et al, 2008a], and the only way to document these changes is with consistent health monitoring. Health assessments have been completed on a number of lemur species [Clough, 2010;Dutton et al, 2003Dutton et al, , 2008Garell & Meyers, 1995;Irwin et al, 2010;Junge & Garrell, 1995;Junge & Louis, 2002, 2005a,b, 2007Junge et al, 2008;Miller et al, 2007;Raharivololona, 2006;Raharivololona & Ganzhorn, 2009, 2010Rainwater et al, 2009;Wright et al, 2009]. However, when compared with other primates, there is a need for more data on the impacts of human disturbance on lemur health as well as an expanded inventory of lemur parasites [Irwin & Raharison, 2009;Raharivololona & Ganzhorn, 2010].…”

Behavior of geladas and other endemic wildlife during a desert locust outbreak at Guassa, Ethiopia: ecological and conservation implications

“…Assessment of pesticide concentrations (e.g., Rainwater et al 2009) in geladas and other locust-eating fauna would help evaluate the extent to which the health and survival of these species are threatened by current locust management strategies. Our observations during the Guassa outbreak reinforce recent concerns regarding the potential environmental effects of locust control using traditional chemical insecticides and highlight the importance of increased emphasis on the development and use of biological agents for locust management (Lomer et al 2001;Hunter 2005).…”

Lead levels in long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) hair from Singapore

“…A study by Engel et al (2010) reported low to moderate hair lead levels in rhesus macaques from the Swoyambhu temple in Kathmandu, Nepal. A second study on ring-tailed lemurs at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve in Madagascar failed to detect lead in hair samples (Rainwater et al 2009). …”