Lemur catta in small forest fragments: Which variables best predict population viability?

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Gould ◽  
Laura L. E. Cowen
Keyword(s):  
Lemur Catta ◽  
Population Viability ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Small Forest

A new species of Andean golden poison frog (Andinobates, Dendrobatidae) from the Eastern Andes of Colombia

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5047 (5) ◽  
pp. 531-546
Author(s):  
GIOVANNI A. CHAVES-PORTILLA ◽  
ERIKA NATHALIA SALAZAR ◽  
JOSÉ GIL-ACERO ◽  
ADRIANA DORADO-CORREA ◽  
ROBERTO MÁRQUEZ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Unique Combination ◽  
Color Patterns ◽  
Mitochondrial Markers ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Small Forest

A new species of Andinobates (Dendrobatidae) is described from the East Andes of Colombia, just 37 km away from the Colombian capital, Bogotá. Andinobates supata sp. nov., represents the second known species of yellow Andinobates, and can be distinguished from the other, Andinobates tolimensis, by an unique combination of ventral and dorsal color patterns. Our phylogenetic analyses, based on ≈ 1120 bp from two mitochondrial markers (16S rRNA and cytochrome b) showed that this new taxon is sister to a clade formed by A. cassidyhornae, A. bombetes, A. opisthomelas, A. tolimensis and A. virolinensis. The new species appears to be restricted to a handful of small forest fragments (<10 ha) distributed in no more than 5 km2, between 1800–2000 m elevation, where the human activity is high. In addition, more than 90% of the original forest has been logged at the type locality, and its watersheds receive considerable agrochemical discharges. Altogether, the evidence suggests that this new species should be listed as Critically Endangered and should receive immediate attention regarding basic research and urgent conservation measures.  

scholarly journals The persistence of ant-following birds in small amazonian forest fragments

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (0) ◽  
pp. 249-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee H. Harper
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Ant Colonies ◽  
Amazonian Forest ◽  
Army Ant ◽  
Continuous Forest ◽  
Introduced Birds ◽  
Small Forest

SUMMARYMist-net captures of army ant-following bird were monitored during the isolation of central Amazonian forest fragments of 1 ha (n = 5), 10 ha (n = 4) and 100 ha (n = 1). Post-isolation captures of the three obligate ant-following birds Dendrocinela merula, Pithys albifrons, and Gymnopithys rufigula decreased significantly in all fragments. post-isolation captures of four facultative ant-following species were not significantly different in forest fragments of 1 ha and 10 ha, although two species decreased significantly in the 100 ha fragment. Experimental introductions of obligate species into small forest fragments in the absence and presence of introduced Eciton burchelli army ant colonies resulted in significantly greater recaptures of introduced birds when active army ant colonies were present. Of the 105 birds introduced, 58 ' 55%) crossed 100-320 m od dedorested area an were recaptured in continuous forest.

scholarly journals Uncovering the herpetological diversity of small forest fragments in south-eastern Madagascar (Haute Matsiatra)

2021 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-343
Author(s):  
Francesco Belluardo ◽  
Darwin Díaz Quirós ◽  
Javier Lobón-Rovira ◽  
Gonçalo M. Rosa ◽  
Malalatiana Rasoazanany ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Systematic Account ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Candidate Species ◽  
Reference Sequences ◽  
Taxonomic Approach ◽  
Small Forest

Madagascar has historically suffered from high fragmentation of forested habitats, often leading to biodiversity loss. Neverthless, forest fragments still retain high levels of biological diversity. The Haute Matsiatra Region (south-eastern Madagascar) hosts the renowned Andringitra National Park and several surrounding isolated forest fragments embedded in a matrix of human-dominated landscape. During a herpetological survey conducted in the Region, we visited a total of 25 sites. We applied a molecular taxonomic approach to identify the collected material and generate new reference sequences to improve the molecular identification of Malagasy herpetofauna. We identified a total of 28 amphibian and 38 squamate taxa and provided a systematic account for each one of them. Nine of the identified taxa are candidate species, amongst which one was newly identified. We extended the known distributional range of 21 taxa (nine amphibians and 12 squamates). Although the largest forest fragments hold a higher number of species, we also detected a relatively high herpetological diversity in small patches. Our results highlight the importance of investigating small forest fragments to contribute to a better understanding of the patterns of diversity and distribution of the amphibians and reptiles of Madagascar.

Seasonal patterns of male affiliation in ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) in diverse habitats across southern Madagascar

Behaviour ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 151 (7) ◽  
pp. 935-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise N. Gabriel ◽  
Lisa Gould ◽  
Elizabeth A. Kelley
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Lemur Catta ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Annual Reproductive Cycle ◽  
Mating Period ◽  
South Central ◽  
Rocky Outcrop ◽  
Seasonally Breeding

We examined the mechanisms guiding male affiliative relationships among ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) to investigate the adaptive significance of male social bonds in a female dominant, strictly seasonally breeding strepsirhine primate. To test whether male affiliative relationships were driven by reproductive and/or ecological conditions, we compared the frequency of male affiliation across the annual reproductive cycle in populations of L. catta inhabiting three habitat types found within its geographic range: (1) gallery forest at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve in southwestern Madagascar; (2) spiny bush at Cap Sainte-Marie (CSM) in southern Madagascar; and (3) rocky-outcrop forest fragments at Anja Reserve and the Tsaranoro Valley in Madagascar’s south-central highlands. Each study period spanned the gestation, lactation/migration, post-migration, and mating periods. Inter-male affiliation rates varied across reproductive periods at each of the four sites, with the highest frequencies being observed during the gestation and lactation/migration periods and the lowest frequencies occurring during the mating period. In contrast, we found no clear patterns in male–female affiliation rates with respect to reproductive period. Comparing the Beza Mahafaly and CSM populations, rates of inter-male affiliation were higher at CSM during the gestation and lactation/migration periods, and rates male–female affiliation were higher at CSM across all seasons except the post-migration period. We suggest that inter-male affiliative relationships in L. catta may provide beneficial social interactions (i.e., grooming, ectoparasite control, predator protection, vigilance against extra-group male agonism) when females are unavailable, particularly during male dispersal, as well as under harsh climatic conditions characteristic of some L. catta habitats.

scholarly journals Song Post and Foraging Site Characteristics of Breeding Varied Thrushes in Northwestern California

The Condor ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurie J. Beck ◽  
T. Luke George
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Foraging Site ◽  
Foliage Density ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Small Forest

Abstract We used a hierarchical approach to describe habitat characteristics of song posts and foraging sites used by Varied Thrushes (Ixoreus naevius) in coastal redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests of northwestern California. We measured mesohabitat (0.04-ha circular plots) and microhabitat (0.5-m radius) scale attributes centered on occupied and random song posts and foraging locations at four study sites during March–August of 1994 and 1995. Ninety-five percent of song posts were in trees or snags. Male thrushes used song posts with low foliage density near the top of large conifers (microhabitat scale), located on steeper slopes, surrounded by a high density of trees, and centered in drainages closer to water (mesohabitat scale) as compared to random locations. Varied Thrushes foraged predominantly on the ground early in the breeding season, then subsequently included fruit in their diet after the young had fledged. Although many variables were correlated with ground foraging locations, microhabitat foliage density had the greatest explanatory power, indicating thrushes selected foraging locations primarily at the microhabitat scale, and emphasizing the importance of measuring habitat characteristics at the appropriate spatial scale. Abrupt forest edges, such as those produced by clearcuts, may reduce habitat suitability for Varied Thrushes possibly explaining their absence from small forest fragments during the breeding season.

Tree diversity of small forest fragments in ecotonal regions: why must these fragments be preserved?

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 525-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Santana Machado ◽  
Marco Aurélio Leite Fontes ◽  
Rubens Manoel dos Santos ◽  
Paulo Oswaldo Garcia ◽  
Camila Lais Farrapo
Keyword(s):  
Tree Diversity ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Small Forest

scholarly journals Mammal communities are larger and more diverse in moderately developed areas

eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arielle Waldstein Parsons ◽  
Tavis Forrester ◽  
Megan C Baker-Whatton ◽  
William J McShea ◽  
Christopher T Rota ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Sensitive Species ◽  
Citizen Scientist ◽  
Animal Abundance ◽  
Residential Yards ◽  
Mammal Communities ◽  
Small Forest

Developed areas are thought to have low species diversity, low animal abundance, few native predators, and thus low resilience and ecological function. Working with citizen scientist volunteers to survey mammals at 1427 sites across two development gradients (wild-rural-exurban-suburban-urban) and four plot types (large forests, small forest fragments, open areas and residential yards) in the eastern US, we show that developed areas actually had significantly higher or statistically similar mammalian occupancy, relative abundance, richness and diversity compared to wild areas. However, although some animals can thrive in suburbia, conservation of wild areas and preservation of green space within cities are needed to protect sensitive species and to give all species the chance to adapt and persist in the Anthropocene.

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