Interactions between plants and primates shape community diversity in a rainforest in Madagascar

Herrera, James P.

doi:10.1111/1365-2656.12532

Cited by 17 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…However, biotic drivers such as interspecific and intraspecific competition also interact with abiotic factors to influence species distributions and diversity (Lehman et al. , Brown & Yoder , Herrera ). Understanding the relative influences of each often requires a substantial amount of information, but is essential to elucidate the driving factors of population dynamics and extinction risk in species of conservation concern (Johnson , Davidson et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A biogeographical perspective on the variation in mouse lemur density throughout Madagascar

et al. 2017

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Madagascar is home to the smallest primates in the world, the mouse lemurs (Microcebus species). Twenty‐four species of mouse lemur are currently recognised and are found in variable ecosystems, from dry forests and spiny deserts to humid forests. Due to their widespread distribution and the large number of sympatric species, mouse lemurs can be used as a model to understand the linkages among species richness, population density, and habitat. As all lemurs are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, this information can also be used to inform conservation management. We hypothesise that on an island‐wide scale, we will find higher population densities in western dry forests than in eastern humid forests because the western dry forests exhibit lower species richness, more sympatric habitat use, and lower resource stability than the eastern humid forests. We conducted a literature review of population density estimates of known mouse lemur species, and used those data to conduct a meta‐analysis and estimate overall average population density by geographic region. Our findings suggest that mouse lemur species living in western dry forest generally exhibit higher densities than those in eastern humid forests. This may be partly explained by higher habitat fragmentation in western dry forests, where species co‐occur, but is likely to be a function of the magnitude and variability in seasonally available resources in each forest type. Higher seasonality results in less constant food availability and lower levels of environmental predictability, fostering species capable of coping with environmental change and maintaining high densities throughout periods of resource paucity. Our study highlights the importance of conducting Microcebus population density research that adheres to standardised methodological approaches. We point to the need for population density estimates for several species for which data are lacking. Such knowledge is important to assess the conservation status of these species, but also to enhance our ability to identify the macro‐biogeographical and local ecological drivers of interspecific and intraspecific variability in population density.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A biogeographical perspective on the variation in mouse lemur density throughout Madagascar

et al. 2017

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“…While our analyses are correlative, and thus cannot infer causality, it is reasonable to assume that given the close ties between plant species and the animals that rely on them, the diversity and composition of plant communities is likely to determine, in part, which animal species co-occur (Watson et al 2004, Scott et al 2006, Ballhorn et al 2016, Herrera 2016. In particular, patterns of mammal diversity were strongly associated with plant diversity.…”

Section: Plant Diversity Predicts Animal Diversitymentioning

confidence: 92%

Anthropogenic threats can have cascading homogenizing effects on the phylogenetic and functional diversity of tropical ecosystems

Park

Razafindratsima

2018

Ecography

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Determining the mechanisms that underlie species distributions and assemblages is necessary to effectively preserve biodiversity. This cannot be accomplished by examining a single taxonomic group, as communities comprise a plethora of interactions across species and trophic levels. Here, we examine the patterns and relationships among plant, mammal, and bird diversity in Madagascar, a hotspot of biodiversity and endemism, across taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional axes. We found that plant community diversity and structure are shaped by geography and climate, and have significant influences on the taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity of mammals and birds. Patterns of primate diversity, in particular, were strongly correlated with patterns of plant diversity. Furthermore, our findings suggest that plant and animal communities could become more phylogenetically and functionally clustered in the future, leading to homogenization of the flora and fauna. These results underscore the importance and need of multi‐taxon approaches to conservation, given that even small threats to plant diversity can have significant cascading effects on mammalian and avian community diversity, structure, and function.

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“…The first field survey was conducted in southeast Madagascar, at Ranomafana National Park (Ranomafana) and the adjoining corridor forest to the north. Surveys were conducted between 2011 and 2014 by JPH, TL, and field assistants (described in detail in Herrera, ). At Ranomafana, 31 transects (1–3 km long) were distributed among five sites that varied in elevation and human disturbance.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These field surveys used the line‐transect method of distance sampling (Buckland, Plumptre, Thomas, & Rexstad, ). Details on the 2011–2014 Ranomafana study are published elsewhere (Herrera, ) and the methods were the same as those used in Makira and Masoala. Details on survey efforts per transect are given in Supporting Information Table S1.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Trees were measured for DBH using a DBH tape, and tree height, crown height, and crown diameter, estimated by eye. Further details can be found in Herrera (). The level of sampling for trees on transects may under represent rare species but we opted to take multiple samples along the length of the transects rather than fewer plots that would have had more intensive sampling but necessarily fewer samples total.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Estimating the population size of lemurs based on their mutualistic food trees

Herrera

Borgerson

Tongasoa

et al. 2018

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim Species’ distributions and abundances are primarily determined by the suitability of environmental conditions, including climate and interactions with sympatric species, but also increasingly by human activities. Modelling tools can help in assessing the extinction risk of affected species. By combining species distribution modelling of abiotic and biotic niches with population size modelling, we estimated the abundance of 19 lemur taxa in three regions, especially focusing on 10 species that are considered Endangered or Critically Endangered. Location Madagascar. Taxa Lemurs (Primates) and angiosperm trees. Methods We used climate data, field samples, and published occurrence data on trees to construct species distribution models (SDM) for lemur food tree species. We then inferred the SDMs for lemurs based on the probability of occurrence of their food trees as well as climate. Finally, we used tree SDMs, topography, distance to the forest edge, and field estimates of lemur population density to predict lemur abundance in general linear models. Results The SDMs of lemur food trees were stronger predictors of the occurrence of lemurs than climate. The predicted probability of presence of food trees, slope, elevation, and distance from the forest edge were significant correlates of lemur density. We found that sixteen species had minimum estimated abundances greater than 10,000 individuals over >1,000km2. Three lemur species are especially threatened, with less than 2,500 individuals predicted for Cheirogaleus sibreei, and heavy hunting pressure for the relatively small populations of Indri indri and Hapalemur occidentalis. Main conclusions Biotic interactors were important variables in SDMs for lemurs, allowing refined estimates of ranges and abundances. This paper provides an analytical workflow that can be applied to other taxonomic groups to substantiate estimates of species’ vulnerability to extinction.

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Interactions between plants and primates shape community diversity in a rainforest in Madagascar

Cited by 17 publications

References 45 publications

A biogeographical perspective on the variation in mouse lemur density throughout Madagascar

A biogeographical perspective on the variation in mouse lemur density throughout Madagascar

Anthropogenic threats can have cascading homogenizing effects on the phylogenetic and functional diversity of tropical ecosystems

Estimating the population size of lemurs based on their mutualistic food trees

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