A Systematic Review and Quantitative Analysis of Socioecological Variability in Diademed Sifaka ( Propithecus diadema ) and Black‐and‐White Ruffed Lemurs ( Varecia variegata ) in Madagascar

Bibliographic Data

ID24214183
AuthorsGiovanna Bonadonna (0000-0001-5245-0909, Department of Anthropology Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis Missouri USA), Emily E Wroblewski (0000-0003-3032-6514, Department of Anthropology Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis Missouri USA), Krista M Milich (0000-0003-1475-8720, Department of Anthropology Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis Missouri USA)
Year2026
Volume88
Issue9
Publication date2026-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Primatology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0275-2565 • E-ISSN: 1098-2345
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajp.70211
LanguageEN
References cited110

Madagascar's endangered, endemic primates represent 21% of global primate species. Among them, the Critically Endangered diademed sifaka ( Propithecus diadema ) and black‐and‐white ruffed lemur ( Varecia variegata ) have overlapping ranges and are considered umbrella and flagship species. This review synthesizes the available research for both species to assess research gaps and ecological variability across their distributions amid ongoing conservation challenges. We identified 182 studies (1987–2024) from which we compiled data about research focus, study sites, and socioecological characteristics (home range size, daily path length, population density, and diet composition) and conducted a narrative and quantitative synthesis to compare species' behavioral ecology across disturbed and undisturbed sites. Studies predominantly focused on behavioral ecology and spanned 86 sites within 44 larger geographic areas. Of these study areas, 67% were considered disturbed. Studies in unprotected areas comprised over 20% of the research effort for each species; among protected areas, P. diadema was more frequently studied in areas with lower protection status than V. variegata . Nearly half of studies involved one long‐term research site for each species, highlighting the contributions of long‐term studies but uneven coverage across species' distributions. Ranging behavior and diet were site‐specific and more influenced by local and geographic characteristics than disturbance. We found limited dietary overlap between species. Our synthesis underscores both species' ecological flexibility, a possible key to long‐term survival, and cautions against broad species generalizations based on a few well‐studied sites. We emphasize the need for research in less‐studied, conservation priority areas to augment ecological comparisons and maintain population reservoirs.

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