Life on the edge: behavioural and physiological responses of Verreaux's sifakas (<i>Propithecus verreauxi</i>) to forest edges
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Published:2021-02-09
Issue:1
Volume:8
Page:1-13
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ISSN:2363-4715
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Container-title:Primate Biology
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Primate Biol.
Author:
Dinter Klara,Heistermann Michael,Kappeler Peter M.,Fichtel Claudia
Abstract
Abstract. Forest edges change micro-environmental conditions, thereby
affecting the ecology of many forest-dwelling species. Understanding such
edge effects is particularly important for Malagasy primates because many of
them live in highly fragmented forests today. The aim of our study was to
assess the influence of forest edge effects on activity budgets, feeding
ecology, and stress hormone output (measured as faecal glucocorticoid
metabolite – fGCM – levels) in wild Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi), a group living,
arboreal lemur. We observed five habituated groups: three living in the
forest interior and two at an established forest edge. There was no
difference in average daily temperatures between edge and interior habitats;
however, within the edge site, the average daily temperature incrementally
increased over 450 m from the forest edge towards the interior forest of the edge habitat, and the population density
was lower at the edge site. Activity budgets differed between groups living
in the two microhabitats, with individuals living near the edge spending
more time travelling and less time feeding. Groups living near the edge also
tended to have smaller home ranges and core areas than groups in the forest
interior. In addition, edge groups had elevated average fGCM concentrations,
and birth rates were lower for females living in the edge habitat. Combined
with lower levels of fruit consumption at the edge, these results suggest
that nutritional stress might be a limiting factor for Verreaux's sifakas
when living near a forest edge. Hence, Verreaux's sifakas appear to be
sensitive to microhabitat characteristics linked to forest edges; a result
with implications for the conservation of this critically endangered lemurid
species.
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
Subject
Animal Science and Zoology
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