Behavior and diet of the Critically Endangered Eulemur cinereiceps in Manombo forest, southeast Madagascar

Manombo Special Reserve is a parcel of rainforest along the southeastern coast of Madagascar, containing eight lemur species, including the White-collared brown lemur (Eulemur cinereiceps [Eulemur albocollaris]). Following a drastic cyclone in the region in January of 1997, the population of E. cinereiceps at Manombo was reduced by half. Results indicate that individuals of this critically endangered species at Manombo consume a total of 54 plant species belonging to 24 families, with over two - thirds of the diet comprised of ripe and unripe fruits. White - collared brown lemurs also opportunistically feed on novel food items and invasive plants in their recovering habitat. We report the first record of E. cinereiceps consuming a shelf fungus species growing on invasive trees. During feeding, lemurs tore pieces of the fungus from the trees with their hands and mouth (chewing cycle duration mean 0.28 s; SD 0.01). White - collared brown lemurs also consumed spicy fruits of a non - native plant species (Aframomum angustifolium) growing in highly disturbed open areas. Feeding bouts typically began by stripping away the outer covering with the anterior dentition, with pulp and seeds then consumed (chewing cycle duration mean 0.22 s; SD 0.005). This is the first record of consumption of either of these resources for any lemur species at Manombo. Ability to feed on items like A. angustifolium may permit E. cinereiceps to avoid competition with other species in this highly degraded forest environment

The Alaotra gentle lemur: Population estimation and subsequent implications

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (DWCT) has conducted since 1994 several census’ on the population of the Alaotran gentle lemur to observe the development of the population in time and space

Ten years into the marshes – Hapalemur alaotrensis conservation, one step forward and two steps back?

Natural resource management problems typically involve a multitude of stakeholders with diverse sets of needs and interests, and often conflicting worldviews in an environment with growing uncertainty. Such problems are termed “wicked” problems, where there are no right or wrong solutions, only more or less acceptable ones. In the case of Lake Alaotra, growing agricultural pressures have a negative impact on the wetland biodiversity and especially on the Alaotra gentle lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis) restricted to these marshlands. The species survival is highly uncertain because of increased habitat loss caused mainly by marshland fires. The conservation work for this unique lemur is complex and complicated and requires the involvement and collaboration of decision-making institutions, NGOs, universities and riverine communities. From the inception of projects to their implementation phase, all parties need clearly defined responsibilities and transparency in communication in order to run projects successfully. This article describes the approach that Madagascar Wildlife Conservation has been implementing during the past ten years at Lake Alaotra, discussing the plan of action and challenges for environmental education, ecotourism and alternative livelihoods. Les problèmes de gestion des ressources naturelles impliquent généralement une multitude d’intervenants avec divers ensembles de besoins et d’intérêts, et souvent, les visions du monde contradictoires dans un environnement avec une incertitude croissante. Ces problèmes sont appelés problèmes sournois, ‘wicked problems’ en anglais, où il n’y a pas de bonnes ou de mauvaises solutions, seules plus ou moins acceptables. Dans le cas du lac Alaotra, la croissance des pressions agricoles a un impact négatif sur la biodiversité des zones humides, et en particulier sur l’Alaotra lémurien douce (Hapalemur alaotrensis) limitée à ces marais. La survie de l’espèce est très incertaine en raison de l’augmentation de la perte d’habitat causée principalement par les feux de marais. Les travaux de conservation pour ce lémurien unique sont complexes et compliqués, et nécessitent l’implication et la collaboration sur la prise de décision des institutions, des ONG, des universités et des communautés riveraines. Cela implique que toutes les parties, depuis la création de projets à leur phase de mise en oeuvre, partagent un terrain d’entente avec les avantages clairement définis de pouvoir de décision, les responsabilités et la transparence dans la communication. Madagascar Wildlife Conservation a travaillé sur le lac depuis plus de dix ans, y compris l’éducation environnementale, l'écotourisme et les moyens de subsistance alternatifs dans le plan d’action. Cet article met en évidence l’approche adoptée et examine ses défis

Behavior and diet of the Critically Endangered Eulemur cinereiceps in Manombo forest, southeast Madagascar

Manombo Special Reserve is a parcel of rainforest along the southeastern coast of Madagascar, containing eight lemur species, including the White-collared brown lemur (Eulemur cinereiceps [Eulemur albocollaris]). Following a drastic cyclone in the region in January of 1997, the population of E. cinereiceps at Manombo was reduced by half. Results indicate that individuals of this critically endangered species at Manombo consume a total of 54 plant species belonging to 24 families, with over two-thirds of the diet comprised of ripe and unripe fruits. White-collared brown lemurs also opportunistically feed on novel food items and invasive plants in their recovering habitat. We report the first record of E. cinereiceps consuming a shelf fungus species growing on invasive trees. During feeding, lemurs tore pieces of the fungus from the trees with their hands and mouth (chewing cycle duration mean 0.28 s; SD 0.01). White-collared brown lemurs also consumed spicy fruits of a non-native plant species (Aframomum angustifolium) growing in highly disturbed open areas. Feeding bouts typically began by stripping away the outer covering with the anterior dentition, with pulp and seeds then consumed (chewing cycle duration mean 0.22 s; SD 0.005). This is the first record of consumption of either of these resources for any lemur species at Manombo. Ability to feed on items like A. angustifolium may permit E. cinereiceps to avoid competition with other species in this highly degraded forest environment.RÉSUMÉ La Réserve Spéciale de Manombo est un fragment de forêt dense humide de basse altitude et située le long de la côte Sud-est de Madagascar. Cette partie de forêt abrite au total huit espèces de lémuriens, y compris le Lémur à collier blanc (Eulemur cinereiceps [Eulemur albocollaris]). Le passage dramatique du cyclone Gretelle dans la région en janvier 1997 a réduit de moitié la taille de la population d’E. cinereiceps dans sa zone de distribution. Les résultats des études effectuées sur les individus restants de cette espèce, qui est classée comme Gravement Menacée, permettent d’énumérer un total de 54 espèces de plantes appartenant à 24 familles qui sont consommées par l’espèce. D’autre part, deux tiers du régime alimentaire d’E. cinereiceps sont représentés par des fruits mûrs ou non. Le Lémur à collier blanc consomme occasionnellement une quantité assez importante de plantes envahissantes pour assurer ses besoins nutritifs, ce qui n’est pas habituel dans l’histoire naturelle de la vie des lémuriens. La présente étude constitue également la première observation de consommation d’une espèce inconnue de champignon par les représentants d’E. cinereiceps. Dans le présent cas, ledit champignon venait juste de pousser sur un pied mort de Cecropia peltata, une espèce allogène et envahissante de la région. Durant la prise de nourriture, l’animal a arraché des morceaux du champignon sur l’arbre mort avec la main et puis la bouche. La partie consommée a été mâchée par l’animal pendant une période de 0,28 s. Le Lémur à collier blanc consomme aussi des fruits épicés d’une espèce de plante allogène (Aframomum angustifolium) qui ne pousse que dans des zones ouvertes et extrêmement dégradées. La prise de nourriture sur cette espèce de plante commence par l’enlèvement de la partie dure du fruit, pour cela l’animal utilise ses dents antérieures très puissantes, puis il tire soigneusement en même temps avec ses dents et sa langue la partie charnue et les graines. Cette prise de nourriture s’effectue pendant une période d’environ 0,22 s. C’était la première fois dans l’histoire des lémuriens de Manombo que des observations ont été effectuées sur un animal en train de manger des espèces de plantes inhabituelles. L’aptitude de manger des espèces de plantes telle que A. angustifolium pourrait permettre à E. cinereiceps d’éviter la compétition avec les autres espèces de lémuriens vivant dans cet environnement dégradé

An evaluation of the interactions among household economies, human health, and wildlife hunting in the Lac Alaotra wetland complex of Madagascar

In Madagascar, wildlife conservation and human food security and nutrition are deeply interconnected as many people rely on wild foods for sustenance. The Lac Alaotra wetland complex is an ecoregion which is indispensable to both the future food security of Madagascar’s people and the conservation of its endemic wildlife. The region is Madagascar’s largest rice production area, providing thousands of tons of rice and fish to the residents of one of the world’s least food secure nations. The wetland complex also provides habitat to numerous threatened species, including two Critically Endangered mammals found only in the Lac Alaotra wetland complex. Environmental managers must understand how people affect their local environment and how the environment, in turn, affects these people, their livelihoods, and their motivations for future natural resource use. Without an adequate understanding of the complex interactions of local people and their natural environment, it will be impossible to prevent, mitigate, or adapt to future unwanted changes in this complex social-ecological system. We used health assessments of 1 953 residents and semistructured interviews of members of 485 households in 1 9 communities within the Lac Alaotra wetland complex to investigate human-environmental interactions (including current natural resource use and hunting, and how these behaviors affect local economies and human wellbeing). Our team found that, while rates of wildlife consumption were very low throughout the region, the members of 485 surveyed households ate 975 mammals in 2013, including at least 1 6 Alaotra gentle lemurs. Thirteen percent of households had consumed wildlife in 201 3 and less than 1% of hunted wildlife was sold. Employment rates and annual income were both higher than other regions in Madagascar, and food costs were comparatively low. Nevertheless, 98% of households experienced food insecurity, and coping mechanisms (e.g.,  reducing portion sizes) appear to disproportionately affect young children and non-working members of households. Half of households did not receive the minimum recommended kilocalories per person per day. We found high rates of child malnutrition consistent with national rural statistics. While wildlife consumption does not appear to have significant economic or health benefits in the communities in the Alaotra wetland complex, high food insecurity significantly increased the number of forest and marshland mammals eaten by households. To improve child nutrition and wildlife conservation, we recommend targeted interventions that improve food security

Short Communication on the Alaotra gentle lemur: Population estimation and subsequent implications

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (DWCT) has conducted since 1994 several census’ on the population of the Alaotran gentle lemur to observe the development of the population in time and space