Abstract
Four groups of blue-eyed black lemurs (Eulemur flavifrons) were under continuous observation over a 3-year period. Data on group composition and dynamics were regularly recorded. Groups were multimale, multifemale ranging in size from six to eleven individuals, including three to seven adults. The number of resident individuals (those remaining in the same social group for the duration of the study) varied between groups, but any given group never contained more than three adult females. Both male and female migrations occurred, but only males were seen immigrating to a foreign social group. Sex ratio at birth varied strongly between years and could be male biased.
Resume
Quatre groupes de lemurs noirs (Eulemur flavifrons) ont fait l’objet d’un suivi continu sur une période de trois ans. Des données concernant la composition des groupes et leur stabilité ont pu être collectées régulièrement. Les associations sont de type multimâles-multifemelles. La taille des groupes oscille entre six et 11 individus, le nombre d’adultes variant de trois à sept. Le nombre d’individus résidents (présents dans un groupe donné tout au long de l’étude) varie en fonction des groupes. Toutefois, le nombre de femelles adultes présentes dans un groupe ne dépasse jamais trois. Les migrations concernent aussi bien les mâles adultes que les femelles adultes, mais seul les mâles semblent immigrer dans de nouveaux groupes. Le sexe ratio à la naissance varie selon les années et peut présenter un biais en faveur des mâles.
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Acknowledgments
We acknowledge the Department of Paleontology and Biological Anthropology, University of Antananarivo and l’Association Nationale pour la Gestion des Aires Protégées. Special thanks to Christoph and Nora Schwitzer and the guides. This study was supported by l’Association Européenne pour l’Etude et la Conservation des Lémuriens, and the Centre de Primatologie de l’Université Louis Pasteur de Strasbourg. We are grateful to A. Ruiz for correcting the English.
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Randriatahina, G.H., Roeder, JJ. (2012). Group Size, Composition and Stability in a Wild Population of Blue-Eyed Black Lemurs (Eulemur flavifrons) at Ankarafa, Sahamalaza National Park. In: Masters, J., Gamba, M., Génin, F. (eds) Leaping Ahead. Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4511-1_15
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