Food habits of the madagascar long-eared owl asio madagascariensis in two habitats in southern madagascar
TL;DR: Food remains recovered from regurgitated pellets of the Madagascar Long-eared Owl Asio madagascariensis were collected at two sites on Madagascar with different habitats and weather regimes.
Abstract: Summary Goodman, S M, Langrand, O & Raxworthy, C J 1993 Food habits of the Madagascar Long-eared Owl Asio madagascariensis in two habitats in southern Madagascar Ostrich 64:79-85 Food remains recovered from regurgitated pellets of the Madagascar Long-eared Owl Asio madagascariensis were collected at two sites on Madagascar with different habitats and weather regimes The localities are Beza Mahafaly, a sub-arid thorn scrub area in the southwest, and Bezavona Forest, a lower montane rain forest in southeastern Madagascar At Beza Mahafaly prey composition varied according to season Vertebrate prey included: frogs, lizards, birds, terrestrial insectivores, bats, lemurs and rodents The total biomass of lemurs (Microcebus) represented varies from approximately 8 to 40% Two samples from the Bezavona Forest included: frogs, geckos, birds, bats, lemurs and rodents Lemurs (Microcebus and either Hapalemur or Avahi) made up a total biomass of 24 % at this locality At both sites a significant proportion
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TL;DR: Seven species of Microcebus from western Madagascar are recognized, including a previously synonymized species, and 3 spp.
Abstract: The genus Microcebus (mouse lemurs) are the smallest extant primates. Until recently, they were considered to comprise two different species: Microcebus murinus, confined largely to dry forests on the western portion of Madagascar, and M. rufus, occurring in humid forest formations of eastern Madagascar. Specimens and recent field observations document rufous individuals in the west. However, the current taxonomy is entangled due to a lack of comparative material to quantify intrapopulation and intraspecific morphological variation. On the basis of recently collected specimens of Microcebus from 12 localities in portions of western Madagascar, from Ankarana in the north to Beza Mahafaly in the south, we present a revision using external, cranial, and dental characters. We recognize seven species of Microcebus from western Madagascar. We name and describe 3 spp., resurrect a previously synonymized species, and amend diagnoses for Microcebus murinus (J. F. Miller, 1777), M. myoxinus Peters, 1852, and M. ravelobensis Zimmermann et al., 1998.
195 citations
Cites background from "Food habits of the madagascar long-..."
...The Ihazoara Valley and Beza Mahafaly have been the sites of studies on the food habitats of two different species of owls, Tyto alba and Asio madagascariensis, both of which feed extensively on Microcebus (Goodman et al., 1993a, 1993b)....
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01 Jan 1993
TL;DR: The population dynamics of this species is reviewed in light of heavy predation pressure from two owls,particularly the implications of predation on social behavior and life-history traits of this small nocturnal primate.
Abstract: It has been postulated that predation has been an important selective force in molding social behavior in mammals. However, observations of predators taking primates are rare and most cases concern relatively large diurnal primates. For the lemurs of Madagascar little quantified information is available, and it has generally been assumed that predation by carnivores and raptors is rare. Contrary to expectations there is a considerable amount of data on the topic, derived from several different sources, which is presented herein. The most detailed information on lemur predation is for Microcebus murinus. The population dynamics of this species is reviewed in light of heavy predation pressure from two owls (Tyto alba and Asio madagascariensis),particularly the implications of predation on social behavior and life-history traits of this small nocturnal primate.
177 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors studied the insulation capacity of tree holes used by gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) in a primary dry deciduous forest in western Madagascar during the cool dry season.
Abstract: I studied the insulation capacity of tree holes used by gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) in a primary dry deciduous forest in western Madagascar during the cool dry season. Tree holes had an insulating effect, and fluctuations of air temperatures were less extreme inside the holes than outside them. The insulation capacity of the tree holes peaked between 0800 and 1100 hr, when ambient temperatures ranged between 25 and 30°C. To compare tree holes, I calculated the mean difference between the internal temperature )(Ti
) and the external temperature (Te
) for each tree hole. Thus large differences indicate good insulation capacities. The mean difference of tree holes in living trees was significantly larger than that of tree holes in dead trees, which shows that insulation in living trees is more effective. During the dry season, the insulation capacity of tree holes in living trees decreased and was lowest in July, whereas the insulation capacity of holes in dead trees remained approximately constant. Physiological studies under natural temperature and light condition in Microcebus murinus reveal that daily torpor saves around 40% of the daily energy expenditure compared to normothermia. However, torpor can be maintained only up to the threshold body and ambient temperature of 28°C, whereat Microcebus murinus have to terminate torpor actively. By occupying insulating tree holes, mouse lemurs may stay longer in torpor, which increases their daily energy savings by an extra 5%.
102 citations
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TL;DR: A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa by O P M Prozesky Pp 350 + 40 plates (Collins: London, January 1971) £250 as discussed by the authors, £250
Abstract: African Birds of Prey By Leslie Brown Pp 320 + 12 plates (Collins: London, February 1971) £225 A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa By O P M Prozesky Pp 350 + 40 plates (Collins: London, January 1971) £250
99 citations
01 Jan 2007
TL;DR: Since predation is thought to have affected morphological, ecological, and behavioral traits in primates, a comparison of the four regions may facilitate identification of broad biogeographic patterns that are associated with predation.
Abstract: Measuring the magnitude of predation has been deemed an important task in clarifying aspects of primate ecology (Terborgh & Janson, 1986). This goal is in keeping with a general theoretical shift noted by (1985) toward acknowledgment that predation often has a greater impact than resource competition on individual animals through behavior and life history; on prey populations through size and stability; and on ecosystems through diversity and relative abundance patterns. Biogeography, as a comparative observational science dealing with spatial and temporal scales too large for experimentation, seeks patterns of biodiversity upon which theories may be formulated (Brown & Lomolino, 1996). Primate predation studies benefit from a biogeographical approach when primates and their predators are assessed from the standpoint of four major regions: Africa, Madagascar, Asia, and the Neotropics. Since predation is thought to have affected morphological, ecological, and behavioral traits in primates (Hart, 2000; Zuberbuhler & Jenny, 2002), a comparison of the four regions may facilitate identification of broad biogeographic patterns that are associated with predation.
88 citations
Cites background from "Food habits of the madagascar long-..."
...Nocturnal raptors (the Malagasy owls) and the diurnal Madagascar harrier hawk (Polyboroides radiatus) are frequent predators on prosimians (Goodman et al., 1991; Goodman & Langrand, 1993; Goodman et al., 1993a, 1993b; Karpanty & Goodman, 1999; Brockman, 2003)....
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...The high reproductive potential of Microcebus counteracts what would seem to be an intolerable level of predation (Goodman et al., 1993c; Hill & Dunbar, 1998)....
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...…primates on Madagascar constitute a prey base for many species of endemic owls, for example, Tyto soumagnei, Otus rutilus, and Asio madagascariensis, along with the Malagasy subspecies of barn owl (Tyto alba affinis) (Goodman et al., 1991; Goodman & Langrand, 1993; Goodman et al., 1993a, 1993b)....
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...Owl predation on mouse lemurs (Goodman et al., 1993b) was estimated to be 25.0% annually....
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...The highest rate in the sample is 25.0% of a Microcebus population lost to predation each year (Goodman et al., 1993c)....
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References
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Book•
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01 Jan 1982
TL;DR: This is the eighth and final volume in the authoritative Birds of Africa series as discussed by the authors, which covers the Malagasy region which comprises Madagascar and the various islands and archipelagos of the Indian Ocean including the Seychelles, the Comoros, Mauritius and Reunion.
Abstract: This is the eighth and final volume in the authoritative Birds of Africa series. It covers the Malagasy region which comprises Madagascar and the various islands and archipelagos of the Indian Ocean including the Seychelles, the Comoros, Mauritius and Reunion. Every resident and migrant species is covered in full detail, comparable to other volumes in the series, and with a colour map for each species. Vagrants are treated in less detail. All species are illustrated on a beautiful series of 64 colour plates, with original artwork from John Gale and Brian Small.This is a major work of reference on the birds of the region and will remain the standard text for many years to come."
1,035 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1990
TL;DR: This book is a guide to the unusual bird life of Madagascar and provides a general introduction to the avifauna, with descriptions of adults and immatures, song, habitat and dietary requirements, nesting habits, and distribution and status.
Abstract: Madagascar, isolated for at least 120 million years and the fourth largest island in the world, is home to a remarkable variety of endemic animals and plants. This book is a guide to the unusual bird life of Madagascar. 40 watercolour illustrations provide clear and easy identification of all the Malagasy birds. Beginning with an overview of the natural habitats of Madagascar, the book then provides a general introduction to the avifauna. The endemic and endangered species are highlighted for each geographical region of the country. 17 prime bird observation sites are described in a section especially helpful to visitors to Madagascar. This section includes information on site accessibility, permit requirements, accommodation, observation facilities, and the species of birds found there. The guide to individual species is the heart of this book. Full information on each bird species is presented - descriptions of adults and immatures, song, habitat and dietary requirements, nesting habits, and distribution and status. The final section includes descriptions of birds not yet reported from Madagascar but likely to occur there, as well as distribution maps of the bird species. This book is a resource for bird enthusiasts and serious naturalists everywhere.
238 citations
01 Jan 1980
TL;DR: Annual variations in food production and composition in the forest of the west coast of Madagascar are presented in relation to different feeding strategies of five sympatric species of nocturnal prosimians, which involve combination of physiological and behavioral characteristics.
Abstract: Annual variations in food production and composition in the forest of the west coast of Madagascar are presented in relation to different feeding strategies of five sympatric species of nocturnal prosimians. These strategies involve combination of physiological and behavioral characteristics, which have been analyzed in the laboratory, and are presented in separate chapters in this volume. In Cheirogaleus medius and, to a lesser extent, in Microcebus murinus, the annual cycle of activity and lethargy plays a major role in the adaptation to variations in food availability. Nevertheless, seasonal variations in the patterns of food choices are a necessary complement to cope with overall changes in composition of the forest resources. In Microcebus coquereli and Phaner jurcijer, behavioral specializations on insect secretions and plant exudates, which are the basis of their respective diets, are also complemented by additional cycles involving physiological variations. The most folivorous species, Lepilemur ruficaudatus, is also subject to variations in physiological/behavioral patterns, following the environmental changes in climate and plant production.
189 citations