Mouse lemurs (Primates: Cheirogaleidae) cultivate green fruit gardens

Génin, Fabien; Rambeloarivony, Hajarimanitra

doi:10.1093/biolinnean/bly087

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Our reconstruction explains why the connection only allowed the dispersal of aquatic animals (crocodiles, hippopotamuses, one family of frogs), with one possible exception: the gecko Hemidactylus , which may have been a human introduction (Table 2). Again, seed dispersal by birds and lemurs probably assisted the colonization of Madagascar by plant families such as the Anacardiaceae, Brassicaceae (Capparoidae), Ebenaceae, Loganiaceae, Malvaceae [including Bombacoidae (baobabs, Adansonia ) and Tilioidae ( Grewia )], Salvadoraceae and mistletoes (Loranthaceae and Viscaceae; Génin & Rambeloarivony, 2018). At least two groups of birds are likely to have become established on Madagascar at that time: the endemic Vangidae, related to the African batises (Platysteiridae; Jønsson et al., 2012), and the asities, related to the African broadbills (Eurylaimidae; Prum et al., 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeographic mechanisms involved in the colonization of Madagascar by African vertebrates: Rifting, rafting and runways

Masters

Génin

Zhang

et al. 2020

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim: For 80 years, popular opinion has held that most of Madagascar's terrestrial vertebrates arrived from Africa by transoceanic dispersal (i.e. rafting or swimming). We reviewed this proposition, focussing on three ad hoc hypotheses proposed to render this unlikely scenario more feasible: (a) Could hibernation have helped mammals to reach Madagascar? (b) Could the aquatic abilities of hippopotamuses have enabled them to swim the Mozambique Channel? (c) How valid is the Ali-Huber model predicting that eastward Palaeogene surface currents allowed rafts to reach Madagascar in 3-4 weeks? Finally, we explored the alternative hypothesis of geodispersal via short-lived land bridges between Africa and Madagascar.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeographic mechanisms involved in the colonization of Madagascar by African vertebrates: Rifting, rafting and runways

Masters

Génin

Zhang

et al. 2020

Journal of Biogeography

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“…A discontinuous Late Miocene connection with Africa is also indicated by the presence of zoochorous plants with small fruits that were probably initially dispersed by birds and fruit bats (Génin & Rambeloarivony, 2018). Among the bird taxa that colonized Madagascar at this time, only two lineages, the asities (Philepittinae within Eurylaimidae, related to the insectivorous broadbills) and the sunbirds (Nectariidae), developed strict relationships with plants and became major pollinators and seed dispersers.…”

Section: Malagasy Woodiness and Seed Dispersal By Dwarf Lemursmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the most spectacular cases, co-evolution may yield reciprocal benefits (Futuyma & Slatkin, 1983). For instance, butterflies may increase the reproductive rates of the plants they parasitize as caterpillars by pollinating them in exchange for nectar when they reach the imago stage (Feinsinger, 1983); and many plants produce edible fruits adapted in terms of size, shape, colour and scent for the animals that disperse their seeds (zoochory syndromes) (Feinsinger, 1983;Janzen, 1983;Tiffney, 1986;Sussman, 1991;Mack, 2000;Sussman et al, 2013;Génin & Rambeloarivony, 2018;Valenta et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, habitats are dynamic biotic constructions, made up of co-evolved organisms (Lewontin, 1983;Varela et al, 1991;Laland & Boorgert, 2008;Odling-Smee et al, 2013). Such interdependence among organisms may limit the dispersal of species, but may also facilitate it when entire co-evolved systems expand their geographic ranges, and generalize interspecific relationships as pre-existing associations are joined by new species (Génin & Rambeloarivony, 2018;Watson, 2020). This generalization forms stable systems of diffuse co-evolution, identified as biomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Co-evolution assists geographic dispersal: the case of Madagascar

Génin

Mazza

Pellen

et al. 2022

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

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Interspecific associations may limit the dispersal of individual species, but may also facilitate it when entire co-evolved systems expand their geographic ranges. We tested the recent proposal that episodic land bridges linked Africa and Madagascar at three stages during the Cenozoic by comparing divergence estimates of Madagascar’s angiosperm taxa with their dispersal mechanisms. Plants that rely on gravity for seed dispersal indicate at least two episodes of land connection between Africa and Madagascar, in the Early Palaeocene and Early Oligocene. Seed dispersal by strepsirrhine primates possibly evolved in the Palaeocene, with the divergence of at least one endemic Malagasy angiosperm genus, Burasaia (Menispermaceae). This genus may have facilitated the lemur colonization of Madagascar. Frugivory, nectarivory and gummivory probably generalized in the Oligocene, with the co-evolution of modern lemurs and at least 10 new Malagasy angiosperm families. In the Late Miocene, more angiosperms were probably brought from Africa by birds via a discontinuous land connection, and radiated on Madagascar in diffuse association with birds (asities) and dwarf nocturnal lemurs (cheirogaleids). During the same connective episode, Madagascar was probably colonized by hippopotamuses, which both followed and re-seeded a variety of plants, forming the grassy Uapaca ‘tapia’ forest and ericoid ‘savoka’ thicket.

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“…As with Dromiciops , these small mammals are active throughout the canopy and act as principal dispersers of mistletoe seeds in their habitats. They also undergo prolonged periods of torpor/hibernation during periods of low resource availability (Génin & Rambeloarivony, 2018 , and references therein).…”

Section: Introduction: Relictual Lineages Marsupials and Dr...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The ecology and evolution of the monito del monte, a relict species from the southern South America temperate forests

Fontúrbel

Pérez

Bozinovic

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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The arboreal marsupial monito del monte (genus Dromiciops , with two recognized species) is a paradigmatic mammal. It is the sole living representative of the order Microbiotheria, the ancestor lineage of Australian marsupials. Also, this marsupial is the unique frugivorous mammal in the temperate rainforest, being the main seed disperser of several endemic plants of this ecosystem, thus acting as keystone species. Dromiciops is also one of the few hibernating mammals in South America, spending half of the year in a physiological dormancy where metabolism is reduced to 10% of normal levels. This capacity to reduce energy expenditure in winter contrasts with the enormous energy turnover rate they experience in spring and summer. The unique life history strategies of this living Microbiotheria, characterized by an alternation of life in the slow and fast lanes, putatively represent ancestral traits that permitted these cold‐adapted mammals to survive in this environment. Here, we describe the ecological role of this emblematic marsupial, summarizing the ecophysiology of hibernation and sociality, updated phylogeographic relationships, reproductive cycle, trophic relationships, mutualisms, conservation, and threats. This marsupial shows high densities, despite presenting slow reproductive rates, a paradox explained by the unique characteristics of its three‐dimensional habitat. We finally suggest immediate actions to protect these species that may be threatened in the near future due to habitat destruction and climate change.

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Mouse lemurs (Primates: Cheirogaleidae) cultivate green fruit gardens

Cited by 11 publications

References 47 publications

Biogeographic mechanisms involved in the colonization of Madagascar by African vertebrates: Rifting, rafting and runways

Biogeographic mechanisms involved in the colonization of Madagascar by African vertebrates: Rifting, rafting and runways

Co-evolution assists geographic dispersal: the case of Madagascar

The ecology and evolution of the monito del monte, a relict species from the southern South America temperate forests

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