Black Lemur Eulemur Research Articles

Range and conservation updates for the Critically Endangered blue-eyed black lemur Eulemur flavifrons and the Vulnerable black lemur Eulemur macaco

AbstractThe Critically Endangered blue-eyed black lemur Eulemur flavifrons of north-western Madagascar is one of the most threatened primates. The majority of research and conservation efforts for the species have been restricted to the Sahamalaza Peninsula but there are unstudied and unprotected populations farther inland. The dearth of information regarding the transition between E. flavifrons and its parapatric sister species, the Vulnerable black lemur Eulemur macaco, and the possibility of a hybrid population complicates conservation planning for both species. We surveyed 29 forest fragments across both species’ ranges to investigate the boundary between the taxa, whether hybrids persist, and the threats to lemurs in the region. We found E. flavifrons in six fragments and E. macaco in 17. We never observed E. flavifrons and E. macaco in the same location and we found no conclusive evidence of hybrids. Three fragments in which E. flavifrons was present were north of the Andranomalaza River, which had previously been considered the barrier between the two species. Based on these observations and a literature review, we provide updated ranges, increasing the extent of occurrence (EOO) of E. flavifrons by 28.7% and reducing the EOO of E. macaco by 44.5%. We also evaluate the capacity of protected areas to conserve these lemurs. We recommend additional surveys and the implementation of an education programme in this region to help conserve both species.

Evolutionary history inferred from the de novo assembly of a nonmodel organism, the blue-eyed black lemur.

Lemurs, the living primates most distantly related to humans, demonstrate incredible diversity in behaviour, life history patterns and adaptive traits. Although many lemur species are endangered within their native Madagascar, there is no high-quality genome assembly from this taxon, limiting population and conservation genetic studies. One critically endangered lemur is the blue-eyed black lemur Eulemur flavifrons. This species is fixed for blue irises, a convergent trait that evolved at least four times in primates and was subject to positive selection in humans, where 5′ regulatory variation of OCA2 explains most of the brown/blue eye colour differences. We built a de novo genome assembly for E. flavifrons, providing the most complete lemur genome to date, and a high confidence consensus sequence for close sister species E. macaco, the (brown-eyed) black lemur. From diversity and divergence patterns across the genomes, we estimated a recent split time of the two species (160 Kya) and temporal fluctuations in effective population sizes that accord with known environmental changes. By looking for regions of unusually low diversity, we identified potential signals of directional selection in E. flavifrons at MITF, a melanocyte development gene that regulates OCA2 and has previously been associated with variation in human iris colour, as well as at several other genes involved in melanin biosynthesis in mammals. Our study thus illustrates how whole-genome sequencing of a few individuals can illuminate the demographic and selection history of nonmodel species.

Parasite prevalence in blue-eyed black lemurs Eulemur flavifrons in differently degraded forest fragments

ESR Endangered Species Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials ESR 12:215-225 (2010) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00304 Contribution to the Theme Section 'Responses of animals to habitat alteration' Parasite prevalence in blue-eyed black lemurs Eulemur flavifrons in differently degraded forest fragments Nora Schwitzer1,4, Dagmar Clough2, Horst Zahner1, Werner Kaumanns3, Peter Kappeler2, Christoph Schwitzer4,* 1Institut für Parasitologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Rudolf-Buchheim-Strasse 2, 35392 Giessen, Germany 2Abteilung Verhaltensökologie & Soziobiologie/Anthropologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany 3Eschenweg 5, 37130 Gleichen, Germany 4Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA, UK *Corresponding author. Email: cschwitzer@bristolzoo.org.uk ABSTRACT: The parasite burden of an animal population has frequently been used as an indicator of the stress level to which the population is exposed. Primates inhabiting small forest fragments are more likely to experience human contact, reduced food availability and restricted ranging—any or all of which may contribute to a higher parasite prevalence—than populations inhabiting intact primary forest. Recent and ongoing human exploitation of otherwise intact forest may also affect disease burden and parasite transmission in primates. The parasites of blue-eyed black lemurs Eulemur flavifrons have not as yet been subject to scientific research. This paper describes the various parasites found in E. flavifrons and shows parasite prevalence in lemur groups living in differently degraded fragments of the Ankarafa Forest in Sahamalaza National Park, northwest Madagascar. We analysed 166 faecal samples of E. flavifrons inhabiting primary forest and 168 from groups inhabiting secondary forest. In addition, faecal samples and ectoparasites were collected from 18 immobilised lemurs. Forty-three (12.9%) samples contained parasite eggs (Lemuricola spp. and Callistoura spp.) or oocysts. Ten (55.6%) of the 18 samples from immobilised lemurs contained adult Lemuricola spp. Parasite prevalence was significantly higher in secondary than in primary forest, at 7.9 and 4.8% of all positive samples, respectively. Prevalence was high when compared to other studies on parasite load in wild lemurs, suggesting that in our survey area, E. flavifrons were generally under pressure, possibly due to the high degree of fragmentation and degradation of the remaining forest habitat. KEY WORDS: Eulemur flavifrons · Primary forest · Secondary forest · Lemuricola · Callistoura · Seasonality Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Schwitzer N, Clough D, Zahner H, Kaumanns W, Kappeler P, Schwitzer C (2010) Parasite prevalence in blue-eyed black lemurs Eulemur flavifrons in differently degraded forest fragments. Endang Species Res 12:215-225. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00304Export citation Mail this link - Contents Mailing Lists - RSS Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in ESR Vol. 12, No. 3. Online publication date: September 20, 2010 Print ISSN: 1863-5407; Online ISSN: 1613-4796 Copyright © 2010 Inter-Research.

Cathemeral activity patterns of the blue-eyed black lemur Eulemur macaco flavifrons in intact and degraded forest fragments

This study describes the activity pattern of the blue-eyed black lemur Eulemur macaco flavifrons for the first time and investigates the parameters, such as season or habitat, that may influ- ence the distribution of activity over the 24 h cycle. Four groups of E. m. flavifrons in 2 forest frag- ments with different degrees of degradation were followed for 24 h mo -1 over a 7 mo period between July 2004 and July 2005. Blue-eyed black lemurs exhibited a bimodal activity pattern which peaked during the morning and evening twilight. The groups consistently showed activity bouts both during the day and at night, a behaviour that corresponds to Tattersall's (1987) definition of cathemerality. The proportion of illuminated lunar disc and the nocturnal illumination index were positively associ- ated with the amount of nocturnal activity. Total activity, both diurnal and nocturnal, was signifi- cantly higher in the secondary than in the primary forest. In view of our results, the cathemeral behaviour of E. m. flavifrons may best be explained as flexible responses to a framework of varying environmental factors, each of which may enhance or inhibit activity within the lemurs' range of adaptability. This temporal behavioural plasticity may be an adaptation to an erratic and severe climate with frequent droughts and cyclones and unpredictable resource availability.