A Natural History of the Brown Mouse Lemur

Abstract

Contents *List of Figures *List of Tables *List of Pictures *Prologue and Acknowledgements Chapter One: Mouse Lemurs, The World's Smallest Primates *The Cheirogaleidae *Researching the Brown Mouse Lemur *Mouse Lemur Distribution *Distinctive Features of the Cheirogaleidae Chapter Two: Researching The Brown Mouse Lemur *Description of the Study Site *Rainfall and Temperature Patterns *Phenological Monitoring *Flowering and Fruiting Patterns *Insect Abundance *Live-Trapping Mouse Lemurs *Observing Mouse Lemurs Chapter Three: Diet and Feeding Ecology *The Diet of Mouse Lemurs *Investigating Diet in the Brown Mouse Lemur *Use of Plants and Prey *Frugivory *Bakerella, the fruit of preference *Beetles, the prey of preference *Other organic matter found in fecal samples *Fruit: availability and consumption *Phytochemical analysis of fruits eaten *Animal prey: availability and consumption*Observations of Mouse Lemurs Feeding *Mouse Lemurs and Mistletoes *Mouse Lemurs and Beetles *Comparing the Diets of Mouse Lemur Species *What Can Mouse Lemurs Tell Us About Primate Origins *Fecal Sampling as a Way to Study Diet *Suggested Directions for Future Studies *Chapter Summary Chapter Four: Seasonal Changes in Body Mass and Activity Levels *How Small Mammals Respond to Climatic and Resource Fluctuations *Seasonl Fluctuations in the Cheirogaleidae *Investigating Seasonal Flucutations in the Brown Mouse Lemur *Fattening and Hibernation *Population Fluctuations in Body Mass, Tail Circumference and Activity Levels *Differences in Seasonal Response *Comparing Seasonal Responses of Mouse Lemur Species *Emerging from Hibernation *Sleeping Nests *The Effects of Trapping *Suggested Directions for Future Studies *Chapter Summary Chapter Five-The Social Life of the Brown Mouse Lemur *Sociality in Nocturnal Strepsirrhines *Investigating Social Organization in the Brown Mouse Lemur *Social Interactions of the Brown Mouse Lemur *Trap Data and Spatial Distribution *Changes in Population Composition *The Solitary Mouse Lemur *Spatial Distribution of Males and Females *Migration Patterns and Population Continuity *Population Residents *Scramble and Contest Competition *Suggested Directions for Future Studies *Chapter Summary Chapter Six-Reproduction in Mouse Lemurs *Reproductive Patterns of Mouse Lemurs *Assessing Reproductive Condition in the Brown Mouse Lemur *Estrous Cycles, Gestation, and Births *Reproductive Seasonality *The Advantages of Estrous Synchrony x