Title
Patterns in predator-primate distribution, relative activity, and co-occupancy across fragmented and contiguous forests in northeastern, Madagascar
Author(s)
Zach J. Farris, Sarah M. Karpanty, Felix Ratelolahy and Marcella J. Kelly
Published
2014
Publisher
International Journal of Primatology
Abstract
Predator-primate interactions remain under studied. Much of our knowledge on predator-primate dynamics has resulted from indirect investigations of these interactions; however, novel approaches are needed to better understand the spatial relationships between predators and primates across changing landscapes. We combined photographic surveys of predators with line transect sampling of lemurs across contiguous and fragmented forests to: 1) compare relative activity of predators and lemurs in each forest type; 2) estimate occupancy and detection for predators and lemurs across the landscape; 3) estimate predator-primate co-occupancy or interactions across each forest type; and 4) assess which variables influence occupancy, detection, and co-occupancy across the landscape. In fragmented forest sites we found strong decreases in endemic carnivore and lemur activity, increases in exotic carnivore and human (local) activity, and increases in positive association ('attraction') between Locals and lemurs, as well as domestic dog and lemurs. Domestic dog-lemur interactions changed from no association or negative association ('avoidance') in contiguous forest to positive ('attraction') in fragmented forest. Finally, distance to forest edge and distance to nearby villages proved important in predicting predator occupancy and detection. These results highlight the growing threat to endemic carnivores and lemurs with increases in habitat loss and fragmentation throughout Madagascar. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the effectiveness of these novel techniques to investigate how multi-predator species impact primate species across contiguous and fragmented forests.
Keywords
Exotic predators, Fosa, Interaction occupancy model, Lemur, Multi-species occupancy, predator-prey dynamics
Full Citation
Farris, Z. F., Sarah M. Karpanty, S. M., Ratelolahy, F. and Kelly, M. J. 2014. Patterns in predator-primate distribution, relative activity, and co-occupancy across fragmented and contiguous forests in northeastern, Madagascar. International Journal of Primatology
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