Seasonal Differences in the Encounter Rate of the Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) in the Transitional Forests of Northwest Madagascar: Implications for Reliable Population Density Assessment
| العنوان: | Seasonal Differences in the Encounter Rate of the Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) in the Transitional Forests of Northwest Madagascar: Implications for Reliable Population Density Assessment |
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| المؤلفون: | Daniel Hending, Heriniaina Randrianarison, Niaina Nirina Mahefa Andriamavosoloarisoa, Christina Ranohatra-Hending, James Sedera Solofondranohatra, Haja Roger Tongasoa, Herinirina Tahina Ranarison, Victoria Gehrke, Natacha Andrianirina, Marc Holderied, Grainne McCabe, Sam Cotton |
| المصدر: | International Journal of Primatology. |
| بيانات النشر: | Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2023. |
| سنة النشر: | 2023 |
| مصطلحات موضوعية: | Animal Science and Zoology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
| الوصف: | Primate encounter rates often vary throughout the year due to seasonal differences in activity, ecology, and behaviour. One notably extreme behaviour is continuous hibernation. Although a rare adaptation in primates, the dwarf lemurs of Madagascar (genus Cheirogaleus) enter obligate hibernation each year during the dry season, after spending the wet season consuming high-energy foods. Whilst seasonal changes in activity in some Cheirogaleus populations are well-known, many species remain little-studied, and there is no specific information on their encounter rates, nor when they enter and emerge from hibernation. This uncertainty critically affects reliable calculation of population density estimates for these highly threatened lemurs. In this study, we assessed how encounter rates of the fat-tailed dwarf lemur (C. medius) vary seasonally in the transitional forests of the Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park, northwest Madagascar, during a 4-year period. We established a system of line transects (N = 60) throughout our study area, on which we conducted distance sampling of C. medius. We then used our distance sampling data to calculate encounter rate and population density data. We found encounter rates of C. medius to be significantly higher during the wet season compared with the dry season. Furthermore, encounter rates of C. medius were particularly low from May–August. These results provide some evidence to suggest the time period that C. medius hibernate in Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park. These findings underpin the importance of careful study design when surveying threatened species with seasonal differences in activity, such as those that hibernate. This study also demonstrates the importance of species-specific behavioural data for accurate population density assessment, which is required to inform conservation action. |
| تدمد: | 1573-8604 0164-0291 |
| URL الوصول: | https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::25b48e9551da5e3aa3189e490641c0ff https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-023-00353-y |
| حقوق: | OPEN |
| رقم الأكسشن: | edsair.doi...........25b48e9551da5e3aa3189e490641c0ff |
| قاعدة البيانات: | OpenAIRE |
Find this article in full text from Springer Verlag. | تدمد: | 15738604 01640291 |
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