Lemurs - Ecology and Adaptation

Lemurs: Ecology and Adaptation brings together information from recent research, and provides new insight into the study of lemur origins, and the ecology and adaptation of both extant and recently extinct lemurs. In addition, it addresses issues of primate behavioral ecology and how environment can play a major role in explaining species variation. Moreover, in a larger context, the information contained in this volume expands our knowledge of primate ecology and allows us further insight into mammalian adaptations to unusual and often harsh environmental conditions that arise from both natural and anthropogenic factors.
The book is divided into two sections. The first section is a background to lemurs and their ecology and it includes chapters on origins of lemurs, history of ecological studies on lemurs in Madagascar, theories relating to the evolution of lemur traits, and ecology of the recently extinct (sub-fossil) lemurs. Section two is comprised of chapters focusing on the ecology and adaptations of many species of extant lemurs to the diverse habitats found on Madagascar, and in some cases, adaptations to extreme climatic variability and natural disasters.

List of contents

Lemur Origins, History of Ecological Studies on Lemurs, and the Ecology of the Recently Extinct (Subfossil) Lemurs.- Origin of the Malagasy Strepsirhine Primates.- Notes on the History of Ecological Studies of Malagasy Lemurs.- Ecology and Extinction of Madagascar's Subfossil Lemurs.- The Evolution of Lemur Traits, Basic and Unusual Patterns.- Impact of Ecology on the Teeth of Extant Lemurs: A Review of Dental Adaptations, Function, and Life History.- Big Is Beautiful: Fat Storage and Hibernation as a Strategy to Cope with Marked Seasonality in the Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus medius).- Polyspecific Associations of Crowned Lemurs and Sanford's Lemurs in Madagascar.- Cathemerality in Lemurs.- Adaptations in the Aye-aye: A Review.- Connecting Ecology and Adaptation: Summaries and New Studies.- Evolutionary Divergence in the Brown Lemur Species Complex.- Ecological Diversity and Seasonal Adaptations of Mouse Lemurs (Microcebus spp.).- Social Pair-Bonding and Resource Defense in Wild Red-Bellied Lemurs (Eulemur rubriventer).- Lemur catta Ecology: What We Know and What We Need to Know.- Impact of Seasonality and Reproduction on Social Structure, Ranging Patterns, and Fission-Fusion Social Organization in Red Ruffed Lemurs.- Ecologically Enigmatic Lemurs: The Sifakas of the Eastern Forests (Propithecus candidus, P. diadema, P. edwardsi, P. perrieri, and P. tattersalli).- Behavioral and Ecological Adaptations in Two Small Folivorous Lemurs with Different Social Organization: Avabi and Lepilemur.- The Feeding Ecology and Related Adaptations of Indri indri.- Behavior and Ecology of Gentle Lemurs (Genus Hapalemur).- Lemur Adaptations to a Changing Environment, Natural and Anthropogenic Stress.- Considering Climate Change Effects in Lemur Ecology and Conservation.- DietComposition, Foraging, and Feeding Behavior in Relation to Habitat Disturbance: Implications for the Adaptability of Ruffed Lemurs (Varecia variegata editorium) in Manombo Forest, Madagascar.- Overview on the Health and Disease Ecology of Wild Lemurs: Conservation Implications.

Summary

Lemurs: Ecology and Adaptation brings together information from recent research, and provides new insight into the study of lemur origins, and the ecology and adaptation of both extant and recently extinct lemurs. In addition, it addresses issues of primate behavioral ecology and how environment can play a major role in explaining species variation. Moreover, in a larger context, the information contained in this volume expands our knowledge of primate ecology and allows us further insight into mammalian adaptations to unusual and often harsh environmental conditions that arise from both natural and anthropogenic factors.

The book is divided into two sections. The first section is a background to lemurs and their ecology and it includes chapters on origins of lemurs, history of ecological studies on lemurs in Madagascar, theories relating to the evolution of lemur traits, and ecology of the recently extinct (sub-fossil) lemurs. Section two is comprised of chapters focusing on the ecology and adaptations of many species of extant lemurs to the diverse habitats found on Madagascar, and in some cases, adaptations to extreme climatic variability and natural disasters.

Additional text

From the reviews:

"Gould and Sauther provide a broad update on a variety of lemurs … . Gould and Sauther’s volume is organized into 4 sections. … I appreciated that most chapters go beyond social behavior and ecology to integrate a wide range of phylogenetic, physiological and morphological data to the question of lemur adaptations. … are excellent resources as overviews and introductions to their topics. Persons who work on any lemur taxon will want to own Lemurs, Ecology and Adaptation … ." (Leanne T. Nash, International Journal of Primatology, Vol. 28, 2007)

"Lemurs: Ecology and Adaptation, edited by Lisa Gould and Michelle Sauther, represents a compilation of 20 chapters by 29 contributors who have conducted field work in Madagascar. … The book is divided into four sections covering lemur origins and ecology, the evolution of lemur traits, ecology and adaptation, and lemur adaptations to changing environments. … I heartily recommend this up-to-date volume to any professional behavioral ecologist or graduate student interested in the primates of Madagascar." (Diane K. Brockman, Journal of Mammalian Evolution, Vol. 15, 2008)

"Lemurs: Ecology and Adaptation sets out to provide a single source of information from a wealth of lemur research collected during the last fifteen years. … Serious lemur researchers will find this book to be a useful and informative resource, whilst students will find it to be a good introduction to – and overview of – lemur studies." (Kara Moses, Primate Eye, February, 2009)

Report

From the reviews:

"Gould and Sauther provide a broad update on a variety of lemurs ... . Gould and Sauther's volume is organized into 4 sections. ... I appreciated that most chapters go beyond social behavior and ecology to integrate a wide range of phylogenetic, physiological and morphological data to the question of lemur adaptations. ... are excellent resources as overviews and introductions to their topics. Persons who work on any lemur taxon will want to own Lemurs, Ecology and Adaptation ... ." (Leanne T. Nash, International Journal of Primatology, Vol. 28, 2007)
"Lemurs: Ecology and Adaptation, edited by Lisa Gould and Michelle Sauther, represents a compilation of 20 chapters by 29 contributors who have conducted field work in Madagascar. ... The book is divided into four sections covering lemur origins and ecology, the evolution of lemur traits, ecology and adaptation, and lemur adaptations to changing environments. ... I heartily recommend this up-to-date volume to any professional behavioral ecologist or graduate student interested in the primates of Madagascar." (Diane K. Brockman, Journal of Mammalian Evolution, Vol. 15, 2008)
"Lemurs: Ecology and Adaptation sets out to provide a single source of information from a wealth of lemur research collected during the last fifteen years. ... Serious lemur researchers will find this book to be a useful and informative resource, whilst students will find it to be a good introduction to - and overview of - lemur studies." (Kara Moses, Primate Eye, February, 2009)

Product details

• Assisted by: Lis Gould (Editor), Lisa Gould (Editor), L Sauther (Editor), L Sauther (Editor), M. L. Sauther (Editor), M.L. Sauther (Editor)
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 21.10.2010
• EAN: 9781441941800
• ISBN: 978-1-4419-4180-0
• No. of pages: 450
• Dimensions: 156 mm x 234 mm x 24 mm
• Weight: 709 g
• Illustrations: XX, 450 p. 78 illus.
• Series: Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects; Developments in Primatology, Progress and Prospects
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Zoology; Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Miscellaneous; C, Life Sciences, Anthropology, Ecology, Zoology & animal sciences, Neurosciences, Ecological science, the Biosphere, Behavioral Sciences, Biomedical and Life Sciences, Animal Ecology, Zoology, Behaviourism, Behavioural theory, Behavioral Genetics, Developmental biology, Zoology and animal sciences