Abstract
To investigate the importance of mixed-species plantations as a potential habitat for small arboreal primates, we radio-tracked six Dian’s tarsiers (Tarsius dianae) in such an area in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, and explored their selectivity for certain vegetation types. The animals strongly favored sporadic dense shrubbery over more open structures, yet they also utilized cash-crop cultivations for hunting insects. This paper documents the first habitat use analysis of tarsiers on agricultural land and exemplifies the vital role of mixed-species plantations in conserving wildlife when nearby forest is logged.
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Notes
Shekelle et al. (1997) pointed out this might be a junior synonym to T. dentatus.
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Acknowledgments
We wish to thank LIPI, PHKA, POLRI, and BTNLL for granting research permits; Jatna Supriatna and Noviar Andayani from UI Jakarta for officially sponsoring the studies; and Leo, Sapri, and Thony for their help in the field. No animal was harmed, and all radio-collars were retrieved after tracking. The study was part of a larger research project supported by the German Academic Exchange Service and the German National Academic Foundation.
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Merker, S., Yustian, I. Habitat use analysis of Dian’s tarsier (Tarsius dianae) in a mixed-species plantation in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Primates 49, 161–164 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-007-0072-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-007-0072-z