Strychnos Madagascariensis) for Conservation of Northern Sportive Lemurs (Lepilemur Milanoii and L

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Strychnos Madagascariensis) for Conservation of Northern Sportive Lemurs (Lepilemur Milanoii and L MADAGASCAR CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT VOLUME 1 0 | ISSUE 2 — AUGUST 201 5 PAGE 53 ARTICLE http://dx.doi.org/1 0.431 4/mcd.v1 0i2.3 The value of the spineless monkey orange tree (Strychnos madagascariensis) for conservation of northern sportive lemurs (Lepilemur milanoii and L. ankaranensis) Jordi SalmonaI, Matthew BanksII, Tantely Nirina Correspondence: RalantoharijaonaIII, Emmanuel RasolondraibeIII, Jordi Salmona Radavison ZaranainaIII, Ando RakotonanaharyIII, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal Sébastien WohlhauserIV, Brent J. Sewall II, E-mail: [email protected] Lounès ChikhiI, V, VI ABSTRACT que Strychnos madagascariensis (Loganiaceae) était fréquem- Tree hollows provide shelters for a large number of forest-de- ment utilisé comme site dortoir par les deux espèces de lépile- pendent vertebrate species worldwide. In Madagascar, where high murs présentes, Lepilemur ankaranensis and L. milanoii historical and ongoing rates of deforestation and forest degrada- (Lepilemuridae). Cette espèce d’arbre concernait 32,5% (n = 1 50) tion are responsible for a major environmental crisis, reduced des 458 sites dortoirs enregistrés. Ce résultat suggère que S. ma- availability of tree hollows may lead to declines in hollow-dwelling dagascariensis pourrait être important pour la conservation des species such as sportive lemurs, one of the most species-rich lémuriens dépendant de sites dortoirs. groups of lemurs. The identification of native tree species used by hollow-dwelling lemurs may facilitate targeted management inter- INTRODUCTION ventions to maintain or improve habitat quality for these lemurs. The identification of important interspecific interactions can be of During an extensive survey of sportive lemurs in northern Mada- significant value for conservation management (Caro 2007, Ber- gascar, we identified one tree species, Strychnos madagascarien- ger-Tal et al. 201 1 ). For instance, knowing the major plant species sis (Loganiaceae), the spineless monkey orange tree, as a principal on which an endangered species relies for feeding, resting or sleeping site of two species of northern sportive lemurs, Lepile- dwelling can be of particular importance when establishing mur ankaranensis and L. milanoii (Lepilemuridae). This tree spe- conservation, reforestation and/or timber and forest use plans cies represented 32.5% (n=1 50) of the 458 sleeping sites recorded. (Rose et al. 2001 , Lindenmayer et al. 2006). Sleeping sites are This result suggests that S. madagascariensis may be valuable for crucial for the survival of terrestrial vertebrates (Anderson 1 998), the conservation of hollow-dwelling lemurs. and in particular burrows, nests, tree hollows, and other structures provide protection from climatic extremes (e.g., Cheiro- RÉSUMÉ galeus sp., Dausmann et al. 2004) and predators (e.g., Allocebus De nombreux vertébrés forestiers à travers le monde trouvent re- trichotis, Biebouw et al. 2009). Tree hollows are a critical structural fuge dans des cavités et des trous d’arbres. À Madagascar, les attribute of native forests worldwide and a large number of verte- taux de déforestation historiques et actuels sont responsables brate species (e.g., Cheirogaleidae family of primates, nocturnal d’une crise environnementale majeure. Dans ce contexte, une birds of the Strigidae family, etc.) are closely associated with these disponibilité réduite d’arbres pourvus de cavités pourrait entrainer hollows (Newton 1 994, Gibbons and Lindenmayer 2002). le déclin des espèces dépendant de ces abris comme par Primates spend about half of their life at sleeping sites, and exemple les lépilemurs, un des groupes de lémuriens les plus their use has been suggested to be important for understanding riches en espèces. L’identification des espèces d’arbres indigènes the diversity of primates’ adaptations to their environment (An- creusés de trous et utilisés par les lémuriens pourrait faciliter la derson 1 998). In Madagascar two families of lemurs (Cheirogalei- mise en place d’actions de conservation ayant pour but de dae and Lepilemuridae) are known to extensively use tree hollows maintenir ou améliorer l’habitat de ces lémuriens. Au cours d’une (Mittermeier et al. 201 0). étude réalisée dans le Nord de Madagascar, nous avons observé I Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2781 -901 Oeiras, Portugal II Department of Biology, Temple University, 1 900 N. 1 2th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1 91 22, United States III Université de Mahajanga, Faculté des Sciences, BP 652, Mahajanga 401 , Madagascar IV -, Madagascar V Laboratoire Evolution & Diversité Biologique, UMR 51 74 CNRS – Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France VI Université de Toulouse, UMR 51 74 EDB, Toulouse, France Madagascar Conservation & Development is the journal of Indian Ocean e-Ink. It is produced under the respon- sibility of this institution. The views expressed in contri- butions to MCD are solely those of the authors and not those of the journal editors or the publisher. All the Issues and articles are freely available at http://www.journalmcd.com Contact Journal MCD [email protected] for general inquiries regarding MCD [email protected] to support the journal Madagascar Conservation & Development Institute and Museum of Anthropology University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 1 90 CH-8057 Zurich Switzerland Indian Ocean e-Ink Promoting African Publishing and Education www.ioeink.com Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG) Madagascar Research and Conservation Program BP 3391 Antananarivo, 1 01 , Madagascar MADAGASCAR CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT VOLUME 1 0 | ISSUE 2 — AUGUST 201 5 PAGE 54 Lepilemur milanoii and L. ankaranensis are two sportive le- MATERIAL AND METHODS mur species of the family Lepilemuridae with neighboring and STUDY REGION. We visited all 1 7 major forests within the partly overlapping distributions in northern Madagascar (Figure 1 , known distribution of the two Lepilemur species (Figure 1 ) Louis Jr. et al. 2006). They can be very abundant in some forests during the dry seasons (April–November) of 201 1 , 201 2, and 201 3. (e.g., in Ankarana and Solaniampilana, Hawkins et al. 1 990, Salmo- Specifically, we visited the Loky-Manambato region (Daraina) and na et al. 201 4a), yet, little is known about the biology of these noc- the Andrafiamena-Andavakoera massif, both Category V protected turnal species. Apart from several estimates of their population areas managed by the NGO Fanamby, as well as the Ankarana Na- densities and population sizes (Meyers and Ratsirarson 1 989, tional Park and the Analamerana Special Reserve, both managed Hawkins et al. 1 990, Meyler et al. 201 2, Salmona et al. 201 4a), their by Madagascar National Parks (Figure 1 ). These study sites have ecology and behavior remains understudied. In particular, while it been previously described in detail by several authors (Hawkins et is known that these species use tree sleeping sites during the day al. 1 990, Goodman and Wilmé 2006a, Ranirison 2006, Burivalo- (Mittermeier et al. 201 0), no specific study has yet been published va 201 1 ). Briefly, these are mainly fragmented dry forests, fre- that identifies the tree species used as sleeping sites in these re- quently surrounded and/or connected by riparian corridors or gions. However a large body of literature covers the biology and smaller fragments. Yet, some forests in the south of the Loky-Ma- behavioral ecology of several other sportive lemur species. nambato region (Binara, Antsahabe, Bobankora) as well as some Schmid and Ganzhorn (1 996) studied for instance L. ruficaudatus valleys of Andrafiamena, and some corridors of the Ankarana Pla- and showed that they have the lowest basal metabolic rate of all teau harbor sub-humid forests (Moat and Smith 2007). While most folivorous mammals, which may allow them to subsist on leaves forests of the Loky-Manambato region lie on distinct granito-mig- with a high toxic allelochemicals but low energy and protein matic blocks separated by alluvium, Ankarana is a typical tsingy li- content. This further suggests that sleeping sites may provide mestone plateau, bisected by basalt corridors, that extends in the sportive lemurs shelters to limit energy expenses and maintain east to the limestone blocks in the northern part of Analamerana low diurnal basal metabolism in adverse climatic conditions. In- and Andrafiamena. The southern part of Andrafiamena forest lies deed, the presence of Sahamalaza sportive lemurs (L. sahamala- above sandstone soil and Andavakoera basement rocks (igneous zensis) in tree hollows was negatively correlated to rainfall, and and metamorphic, Goodman and Wilmé 2006b). tree hollows were reported as not occupied at all in the rainy sea- son (Seiler 201 2). This stresses the function of potential tree hol- FIELD PROCEDURES. During diurnal surveys we actively and lows as a kind of ‘dry season residence’ in dry regions of opportunistically (during other research activities) searched Madagascar. Moreover it may also serve as shelter from aerial and for sportive lemurs. From most of the 36 camp sites, surveys terrestrial predators (Fichtel 2007, Seiler et al. 201 3). Several stu- spread, when allowed by the topography, in a star-like manner, dies reported the use of a diversity of sleeping sites per individual and included transects, existing trails, and areas off trail. Additio- and the shared use of sleeping sites by partners or relatives (Ra- nal maps of all surveyed sites and recorded Global Positioning soloharijaona et al. 2003, Zinner et al. 2003)
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