Stable isotopes complement focal individual observations and confirm dietary variability in reddish–gray mouse lemurs ( Microcebus griseorufus ) from southwestern Madagascar

Dados Bibliográficos

ID8318979
AutoresBrooke E Crowley (0000-0002-8462-6806, Department of Geology University of Cincinnati Cincinnati OH 45221, autor correspondente), Emilienne Rasoazanabary (Department of Anthropology Stony Brook University Stony Brook NY 11794), L R Godfrey (0000-0001-9997-0207, University of Massachusetts Amherst)
Ano2014
Volume155
Fascículo1
Páginas77-90
Data de publicação2014-09-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.22555
PMID24898417
OpenAlexW1558166695
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas16
Referências citadas51

We examine the ecology of reddish‐gray mouse lemurs from three habitats at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve using focal follows and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope data. Focal observations indicate dietary differences among habitats as well as sexes and seasons. Both sexes consume more arthropods during the rainy season but overall, females consume more sugar‐rich exudates and fruit than males, and individuals from riparian forest consume fewer arthropods and more fruit than those in xeric or dry forest. We ask whether these observations are isotopically detectable. Isotope data support differences between seasons and sexes. Nitrogen isotope values are higher during the rainy season when lemurs consume more arthropods, and higher in males than females, particularly during the dry season. However, differences among populations inferred from focal observations are not fully supported. Lemurs from riparian forest have lower isotope values than those in xeric scrub, but isotope data suggest that lemurs from the dry forest eat the least animal matter and that focal observations overestimated dry forest arthropod consumption. Overall, our results suggest that observational and isotopic data are complementary. Isotope data can be obtained from a larger number of individuals and can quantify ingestion of animal matter, but they apparently cannot quantify the relative consumption of different sugar‐rich foods. Combined focal and isotope data provide valuable insight into the dietary constraints of reddish‐grey mouse lemurs, with implications for their vulnerability to future habitat change. Am J Phys Anthropol 155:77–90, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Biology · Deserts and xeric shrublands · Dry season · Habitat · Lemur · Primate · Riparian zone · Stable isotope ratio · Wet season · δ13C · Ecology · Isotope Analysis in Ecology · Marine animal studies overview · Primate Behavior and Ecology