Diet and Effects of Sanford’s Brown Lemur (Eulemur sanfordiArchbold 1932) Gut-passage on the Germination of Plant Species in Amber forestMadagascar

摘要

belongs to a groupof endemic lemur species in Amber Mountain National Park, Madagascar. The diet of and the effects of gut-passage on the germination of seedswere studied to determine how the feeding activities of this lemur affect the integrity ofthis forest ecosystem. A specific group of was observed andmonitored during 396 hours from the end of the dry season to the beginning of the rainyseason. Field observers recorded the food items taken, plant species consumed, plantsorgans preferred and the forest layer in which food was harvested by this species. Seedswere sorted from discarded food items left by the group of being followed. Germination tests allowed analysis of the germination potentialof the collected seeds. Feeding times for variedsignificantly ( = 0.01) across the study period (from September toFebruary). Their feeding activities were intense between December and February, peaking inJanuary (90%). They spent more time eating fruits than other organs of plants. Feedingpatterns on ripe fruit also varied significantly ( = 0.01) during thestudy. consumed 34 plant species, with 21% from the family ofMoraceae. This group of observed lemurs consumed 9 to 17 plant species per month andpreferred trees greater than 10 m tall. Overall, seeds that passed through the gut ofthese lemurs had significantly higher germination rates than those seeds that did not( = 5.87, = 0.02). The average latency period ofpassed and control seeds ranged from 35 to 83 days and from 52 to 95 days, respectively. ’s gut passage provides better germination of seeds speciesthey consumed. This could contribute to the conservation of plant diversity. play an important role in Amber forest ecosystem to preserve someendemic species.