ECOLOGY OF THE WHITE-FRONTED BROWN LEMUR (EULEMUR FULVUS ALBIFRONS) IN BETAMPONA NATURAL RESERVE, MADAGASCAR. |
C. Toborowsky1 and T. Andriaharimalala2
1University of Missouri - St. Louis, Department of Biology, 8001 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA, 2Department des Biologie et Ecologie Vegatales, Universite d'Antananarivo, Madagascar |
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| The purpose of this study was to gather basic ecological data on white-fronted brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus albifrons) in an area of Eastern lowland rainforest in Madagascar. Behavioral and dietary data were collected using scan sampling on one focal group of white-fronted brown lemurs from April – July 2005 in Betampona Natural Reserve, Madagascar. Data were collected on several other groups opportunistically. E. f. albifrons were found in groups ranging from 1-22 individuals, generally in polygynandrous groups. Groups were cohesive except during a brief migration period in April, in which individuals split up and traveled 1-2 kilometers from primary forest to secondary forest. We observed our focal group resting for most observations (67%), followed by travel (15%) and feeding (12%). Thirty-eight plant species were eaten by E. f. albifrons during the four month study period, and preliminary data show that ripe fruits made up 46% of the overall diet, followed by nectar (40%). Due to the proportion of nectar consumed during the study, our data suggest that E. f. albifrons acts as a potential pollinator of the traveler’s palm, Ravenala madagascariensis in Betampona. Research supported by the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute and the Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund. |
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