Vol. 15 - Deutsches Primatenzentrum

Lemur News Vol. 15, 2010 Page 71
search, and lemur conservation. Each chapter contains significant
updates from the second edition. The ancient geology
of Madagascar is covered in meticulous detail, while the theories
of lemur origins are explored in depth, leaving both
reader and researcher alike desperate for more definitive
answers.The chapter on the extinct subfossil lemurs is beautifully
illustrated with new peer-reviewed artwork from
award-winning illustrator Stephen D. Nash, and has new details
about their biology and extinction.The history of lemur
research and discovery expands greatly upon the work from
the last half century–a topic greatly underrepresented in the
previous edition. Additionally, the chapter is loaded with
newly added artwork from the 1700s and 1800s. The lemur
conservation chapter provides a critical update on the newest
emerging threats faced by lemurs and their habitat,
namely the logging of precious hardwoods and bushmeat
hunting. Additional detail is also provided about other important
threats that received little mention previously, such
as invasive species, cattle-raising, and mining.
The bulk of the book details the description, geographic
range,natural history,conservation status,and best locations
to observe each of the 101 species and subspecies of lemur.
(This total is up from the 71 taxa detailed in the second edition,yet
the authors note that upcoming research may reveal
as many as 110 to 125 lemur taxa!) Each species section
sports a portrait photo, detailed range map, and other photos
to enrich the lavish textual content.Once again,the third
edition sets itself apart from the previous editions with its
encyclopedic coverage of details from the lemur research literature.Species,such
as the silky sifaka (Propithecus candidus),
are discussed in significantly greater detail,bringing everyone
from bright-eyed ecotourists to veteran lemur researcher
up to speed on the latest findings.
The second edition of Lemurs of Madagascar sold out quickly,
leaving shelves empty as early as February 2008. The third
edition is poised to do the same. With a print run of 10,000
copies,nearly two-thirds are already spoken for according to
Jill Lucena.To help promote conservation education in Madagascar,
CI is generously donating 3,000 copies to its partner
in the field,NGO Fanamby.CI hopes that the remaining copies
will spark the public’s interest in Madagascar’s ecological
gems and spur a new wave of ecotourism to bolster conservation
efforts.
Once again, CI has provided an invaluable tool for a diverse
audience, which includes ecotourists, Malagasy tour guides,
students,lemur researchers,and lemur enthusiasts.Although
larger and not quite as portable as its predecessors, the increased
size of the third edition hosts a wealth of enhanced
encyclopedic detail,new and stunning artwork by Stephen D.
Nash, and additional color photos and illustrations. With a
copy of this printing in hand, the only things missing are a
backpack full of supplies and an airline ticket to Madagascar.
So what are you waiting for?
Alex Dunkel
Theses Completed
Blanco,M.B.2010.Reproductive biology of mouse and dwarf
lemurs of eastern Madagascar,with an emphasis on brown
mouse lemurs (Microcebus rufus) at Ranomafana National
Park,a southeastern rainforest.PhD Dissertation.University
of Massachusetts, Amherst.
This dissertation investigates reproductive schedules of
brown mouse lemurs at Ranomafana,using intensive trap-
ping techniques. The reproductive condition of female
mouse lemurs was recorded on the basis of vaginal morphology,vaginal
smears,body mass gain profiles and nipple
development. Testis size was measured in males throughout
the reproductive season. The timing of the first seasonal
estrus was determined in frequently captured females
over multiple years and it showed individual periodicities
close to 365 days,consistent with endogenous regulation
and entrainment by photoperiod. The timing of
estrus did not correlate with female age or body mass.
Males showed testicular regression during the rainy season,
although there was high inter-individual variation in
testes size at any given point during the reproductive season.
Furthermore, some individuals completed testicular
regression earlier than others. Implications for polyestry
are discussed.
For comparative purposes,mouse lemurs were also trapped
at two study sites in the Tsinjoarivo area: one in a forest
fragment and the other within continuous forest.
These forests are higher in altitude than the main study
area at Ranomafana. Trapping success for mouse lemurs
was lower at Tsinjoarivo than Ranomafana.Albeit preliminary,
data from Tsinjoarivo suggest that females have lower
reproductive success than do females at Ranomafana.
Nevertheless, mouse lemurs in the Tsinjoarivo forest
fragment did not appear to be in "poorer" condition than
those in the continuous forest.It had been reported in the
literature that western gray mouse lemurs captured in secondary
forests have lower body masses and lower recapture
rates than those captured in primary forest; in fact,
the opposite was true of the mouse lemurs at Tsinjoarivo.
I additionally collected data on a larger member of the
family Cheirogaleidae, the dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleus),
which live in sympatry with Microcebus at Ranomafana and
Tsinjoarivo. I analyzed the patterns of growth, development
and reproduction in Cheirogaleus and Microcebus and
compared dwarf and mouse lemurs to other similarlysized
prosimians which do not undergo torpor or hibernation.These
comparisons draw attention to the unusual
reproductive and metabolic strategies employed by cheirogaleids
to cope with Madagascar’s unpredictable environments,
which ultimately define their very unique life
histories.
Key words: Cheirogaleus, Madagascar, Microcebus, Mouse
lemurs, Rainforest, Ranomafana, Reproduction, Tsinjoarivo.
Bonaventure, R.T.A.R. 2010. Ecologie et comportement de
Propithecus verrreauxi dans les zones d’extension de la
Réserve Spéciale de Bezà Mahafaly.Engineer in agronomy,
option Eaux et forêts.Eaux et forêts,Ecole Supérieure des
Sciences Agronomiques de l’Université d’Antananarivo
(ESSA), Madagascar.
The population of Propithecus verreauxi in the special
reserve of Bezà Mahafaly is one of the conservation targets
of the site which is the subject of a long-term follow.
Natural destruction of their habitat and the pressure of
hunting which is exerted on this species outside of the
current reserve are the origin of the sifakas’ decline.With
the park extension project under way, furthering the
knowledge on behavior and ecology of Propithecus verreauxi
in disturbed areas outside the current reserve is essential
for decision-making regarding conservation measures
for this species. Thus,a study of behavior and ecology
of the sifakas was carried out in the extension area of the
special reserve of Bezà Mahafaly in gallery and transition
forest at the end of the dry period. The study was centered
on 3 focal groups including one in the gallery forest
and two in the transition forest. The method of focal animal
sampling was chosen to study their behavior.A floristic
inventory according to the Gentry method, which
includes transects of 2 x 50 m, was carried out to study
the habitat. On the whole, 120h of observations of sifaka
behavior were carried out and 12 transects were walked.
In disturbed areas, the sifakas still consumed preferred
plants.This resulted in a high intake of 2 or 3 easily digestible
plant species while at the same time a large variety of
other species was consumed.Thus,the disturbance of the
sites did not influence food intake of the sifakas.Moreover,