Highly Variable Densities and a Decline in Critically Endangered Golden-Crowned Sifaka (Propithecus tattersalli) Abundance from 2008–2018

Semel, Brandon P.; Karpanty, Sarah M.; Semel, Meredith A.; Stauffer, Dean F.; Quéméré, Erwan; Walters, Jeffrey R.; Andrianiaina, Angelo; Rakotonanahary, Ando; Ranaivoson, Tamby; Rasolonirina, Dimbisoa V.; Vololonirina, Faramalala F.

doi:10.1007/s10764-022-00314-x

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 63 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…FOREST DESCRIPTION. Antsahabe is a deciduous mid-elevation humid forest that during 2021 covered 4370 ha (Semel 2021). It has the highest average elevational range, 790m asl, and is the wettest of the three sites we examined in the Loky-Manambato PA. Antsahabe is characterized by steep, ridged mountains with a tall, closed overhead canopy (8-12m in height in steep, exposed areas; 20-25m in height on more gentle slopes (Goodman et al 2018).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bekaraoka is the largest forest patch in Loky-Manambato PA, covering 69.1 km2 and stretching from north to south along a massif (Semel 2021). Its average elevation is 198m asl, and its forests are dry and deciduous.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Antsaharaingy exists upon sandy substrates at the northern end of the Loky-Manambato PA and was the smallest forest surveyed, at 11.6 km2 (Semel 2021). Its average elevation is 71m asl.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its average elevation is 71m asl. This dry, hilly lowland is covered by dense, sclerophyllous forest 6-7m in height (Semel 2021, Goodman et al 2018.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Preliminary survey of the threatened carnivores in the Daraina Loky-Manambato Protected Area, Madagascar

Ross¹,

Semel²,

Walters³

et al. 2023

MCD

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Madagascar’s protected areas safeguard numerous threatened endemic plant and animal species, including Euplerid carnivores, considered to be the most threatened yet understudied group of carnivores globally. The Loky-Manambato Protected Area (PA) in northern Madagascar encompasses a unique transitional forest ecosystem that is under pressure from forest loss and fragmentation. We provide the first photographic survey of Madagascar’s carnivore community occupying this region with the aim of documenting carnivore species richness, relative activity (Trap Success), and spatial distribution (Naïve occupancy) across the landscape. To do this, we used 60 motion-activated cameras to survey along established trails in three forest patches across the Loky-Manambato PA: Antsahabe, Bekaraoka, and Antsaharaingy. We surveyed each forest for two weeks in September and October 2018. We collected 498 independent captures of fauna across the landscape, including five of the six endemic carnivores known to occupy eastern Madagascar: Galidia elegans, Galidictis fasciata, Eupleres goudotii, Fossa fossana, and Cryptoprocta ferox. We found F. fossana and G. elegans to be the most active and widely distributed carnivores, while C. ferox, G. fasciata and E. goudotii were the least. Additionally, we documented the presence of two invasive carnivores: Canis familiaris and Felis catus. These findings extended the northern-most known range of Galidictis fasciata (Antsahabe) and Fossa fossana (Bekaraoka) into the Loky-Manambato PA. Forest size was not a good predictor of activity or occurrence as the largest forest patch in Bekaraoka had the fewest captures of all carnivores. Our findings highlight some of the biodiversity within the Loky-Manambato PA and the need for effective management across this unique transitional forest ecosystem. Les aires protégées de Madagascar protègent de nombreuses espèces végétales et animales endémiques menacées, y compris les carnivores eupléridés. Les carnivores eupléridés sont considérés comme l'un des groupes de carnivores les plus menacés mais les moins étudiés au monde. L'aire protégée (PA) de LokyManambato dans le nord de Madagascar englobe un écosystème forestier de transition unique qui subit la pression de la perte et de la fragmentation des forêts. Nous fournissons la première étude photographique de la communauté de carnivores de Madagascar occupant cette région dans le but de documenter la richesse en espèces de carnivores, l'activité relative (Trap Success) et la distribution spatiale (Naïve occupancy) à travers le paysage. Pour ce faire, nous avons utilisé 60 caméras activées par le mouvement pour surveiller le long des sentiers établis dans trois parcelles forestières à travers l’AP Loky-Manambato : Antsahabe, Bekaraoka et Antsaharaingy. Nous avons étudié chaque forêt pendant deux semaines en septembre et octobre 2018. Nous avons procédé à 498 captures indépendantes de la faune à travers le paysage, incluant cinq des six carnivores endémiques connus pour habiter l'Est de Madagascar : Galidia elegans, Galidictis fasciata, Eupleres goudotii, Fossa fossana et Cryptoprocta ferox. Nous avons constaté que F. fossana et G. elegans étaient les carnivores les plus actifs et les plus largement distribués, tandis que C. ferox, G. fasciata et E. goudotii étaient les moins nombreux. De plus, nous avons documenté la présence de deux carnivores envahissants : Canis familiaris et Felis catus. Ces découvertes ont étendu l'aire de répartition la plus septentrionale connue de Galidictis fasciata (Antsahabe) et de Fossa fossana (Bekaraoka) dans l’AP Loky-Manambato. La taille de la forêt n'était pas un bon prédicteur de l'activité ou de l'occurrence car la plus grande parcelle forestière de Bekaraoka avait la moindre présence de tous les carnivores. Nos résultats mettent en évidence une partie de la biodiversité au sein de Loky-Manambato PA et la nécessité d'une gestion efficace dans cet écosystème forestier de transition unique.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Antsaharaingy exists upon sandy substrates at the northern end of the Loky-Manambato PA and was the smallest forest surveyed, at 11.6 km2 (Semel 2021). Its average elevation is 71m asl.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its average elevation is 71m asl. This dry, hilly lowland is covered by dense, sclerophyllous forest 6-7m in height (Semel 2021, Goodman et al 2018.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Preliminary survey of the threatened carnivores in the Daraina Loky-Manambato Protected Area, Madagascar

Ross¹,

Semel²,

Walters³

et al. 2023

MCD

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Impact of forest fragmentation and associated edge effects on the population density of four nocturnal lemur species in North West Madagascar

Hending,

Randrianarison,

Andriamavosoloarisoa

et al. 2024

Animal Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The clearing and fragmentation of tropical forests is the single biggest threat to primate populations who depend on this habitat for survival. In contrast to primates that live in continuous, undisturbed forests, primate communities of fragmented forests need to adapt to decreased food availability and increased inter‐ and intraspecific competition typical of these degraded and anthropogenically disturbed habitats. Some primate species are highly sensitive to habitat fragmentation, whilst other species can adapt and even thrive in fragmented and degraded forests. Here, we assessed how forest fragmentation and associated edge effects impact the population density of four species of nocturnal lemur in the Sahamalaza‐Iles Radama National Park, North West Madagascar. We conducted 118 transect walks over a 3‐year period covering a total distance of 107 km to collect encounter rate (N/km) and population density (N/Ha) data for each species, which we then compared between the edge and core areas of a continuous forest and a fragmented forest. Our results were highly species‐specific, with the population densities of two species (Lepilemur sahamalaza and Microcebus sambiranensis) increasing in edge and fragmented habitat, whilst we observed the opposite for Cheirogaleus medius. Mirza zaza density appeared consistent between the continuous and fragmented forest and in both edge and core areas. We also found evidence of species‐specific population density relationships with fragment size, core area and fragment shape; however, further work is needed to support these findings. This study demonstrates that some nocturnal lemurs can adapt to degraded habitats and thrive within fragmented forests, whilst other species are less capable of doing so.

show abstract

Highly Variable Densities and a Decline in Critically Endangered Golden-Crowned Sifaka (Propithecus tattersalli) Abundance from 2008–2018

Cited by 2 publications

References 63 publications

Preliminary survey of the threatened carnivores in the Daraina Loky-Manambato Protected Area, Madagascar

Preliminary survey of the threatened carnivores in the Daraina Loky-Manambato Protected Area, Madagascar

Impact of forest fragmentation and associated edge effects on the population density of four nocturnal lemur species in North West Madagascar

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About