Demography, range use, and behavior in black lemurs (Eulemur macaco macaco) at Ampasikely, northwest Madagascar

Abstract

We studied a black lemur population over a 2-year period (1992-1993) and 8 years later (2000) in a 50-ha secondary forest in northwest Madagascar. All of the animals were marked to investigate population dynamics and seasonal variation in ranging and behavior, and new data on black lemurs were obtained. Our data on demographic characteristics were expanded to include other forest sites and contrasted with those collected in other Eulemur macaco macaco field studies, in relation to human activity and the presence of introduced and cultivated plant species. Density is affected by deforestation and hunting. Group size and home range depend on the composition of the forest and probably food patches. Sex ratio at birth varies according to the number of females per group, a result that fits the local resource competition model. Groups are multimale-multifemale, and adult females form the core of the groups. Reproductive parameters indicate sharply defined seasonal breeding, a high female reproductive rate, and birth synchrony. Changes in group composition reveal male and female juvenile dispersal, male transfer between groups at the time of mating, and adult female transfer and group fission when groups exceed a critical size. At mating and birth, intergroup agonistic encounters occurred at home-range boundaries, and larger groups were dominant over smaller groups. Patterns of intragroup interactions suggest that males compete for access to groups of females during the mating season, and that females may compete for food resources during the birth season. Our study also reports female social dominance and lack of sexual weight dimorphism in this species.

Group size predicts social but not nonsocial cognition in lemurs

“…Lemur catta are characterized by a multi-male, multi-female social system and reside in the largest groups of any lemur species (mean group size: 15.6) [31]. Eulemur fulvus and Eulemur macaco have the next largest social groups in our sample, and live in multi-male, multi-female groups, which are smaller than those of Lemur catta (mean group sizes -Eulemur fulvus: 8.5; Eulemur macaco: 9.9) [32,33]. Propithecus coquereli and Varecia variegata live in groups ranging from adult pairs, to small multi-male, multi-female groups (mean group sizesPropithecus coquereli: 6.1; Varecia variegata: 5.4) [34,35].…”

Maintenance of female dominance in blue‐eyed black lemurs (Eulemur macaco flavifrons) and gray bamboo lemurs (Hapalemur griseus griseus) under semi‐free‐ranging and captive conditions

“…There are currently very few behavioral data available for blue-eyed black lemurs in the wild, making it difficult to assess why they exhibit on such high levels of aggression. The blue-eyed black lemur's sister species, the common black lemur, Eulemur macaco macaco [Colquhoun, 1993;Andrews and Birkinshaw, 1998;Bayart and Simmen, 2005], is known to be frugivorous, eating fruit supplemented with flowers, mushrooms, and occasional invertebrates. Consistent with what has been described for captive blue-eyed black lemurs, free-ranging common black lemur females have been described as winning agonistic encounters, typically over food resources [Colquhoun, 1993;Bayart and Simmen, 2005].…”

Persistence of maternal effects in baboons: Mother's dominance rank at son's conception predicts stress hormone levels in subadult males

“…These effects often arise from parents' social environment and from the parent's exposure to psychosocial stressors or access to essential resources, which may in turn impact offspring fitness (e.g., in dung beetles, Hunt and Simmons, 1997;cleaning gobies, Whiteman and Côté, 2004; savanna baboons, Altmann and Alberts, 2005; black lemurs, Bayart and Simmen, 2005; spotted hyenas Dloniak et al, 2006;bluegill sunfish, Neff and Lister 2006;dark-bellied brent geese, Poisebleau et al, 2006;mandrills, Setchell et al, 2006; mountain gorillas, Scott and Lockard, 2006;lizards, Warner et al, 2007). Maternal effects on offspring phenotype may also arise from maternal reproductive experience or age because of age-related changes in maternal condition and reproductive investment strategies (Curio, 1983;Förslund and Pärt, 1995;Stearns, 1992;Williams, 1966).…”