Abstract

Forest fragmentation may lead to substantial declines in food availability for primary consumers, especially presenting a challenge for frugivores, such as the Critically Endangered black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata). We investigated how forest fragmentation impacts the diet and activity budgets of V. variegata across three forest fragments-71 ha, 232 ha, and 597 ha-in Kianjavato, Madagascar. We collected phenological and lemur behavioural data over 17 months. We found that in both small fragments (< 500 ha), there was lower tree basal area, tree species diversity, and availability of fruit from large tree species compared to the largest fragment. Despite overall lower fruit availability, we found that individuals in the smallest forest maintained a high degree of frugivory year-round but had high measures of dietary diversity. In contrast, individuals in the other small-fragment consumed large proportions of flowers seasonally and showed low dietary diversity. These individuals consumed nectar from the traveller's tree (Ravenala sp.) for more than 40% of the annual diet-much higher than the 3-5% reported for continuous forest populations. In both smaller fragments, individuals rested less and fed more than in the largest forest (i.e., energy-maximizing strategies). These results suggest that highly frugivorous lemurs have the flexibility to employ starkly contrasting strategies in response to reduced food availability and habitat quality, even within the same network of forests.

Keywords

Habitat fragmentation; Behavioural flexibility; Diet; Activity budgets

Published in

International Journal of Primatology
2023, Volume: 44, number: 6, pages: 1200-1225
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Holmes, Sheila

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Zoology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-023-00397-0

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/126369