Mittermeier's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur mittermeieri)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 14258729

Conservation of two sportive lemurs in northwest Madagascar

This project is included in a PhD research conducted by Miss Leslie Wilmet from 2013 until 2017. The  project focus on genus Lepilemur, an exemplary of the mammalian fauna of the island of Madagascar in urgent need of effective conservation measures. Some of those sportive lemurs (Lepilemur spp.) located in remote areas, are still scarcely known. Forest fragmentation occurs in those isolated areas and lead to large numbers of small patches that may sometimes be insufficient to sustain a viable population of a species. Sportive lemurs being nocturnal medium-sized primate, exclusively arboreal, are very affected by deforestation and habitat fragmentation and are in need of effective conservation measures. Therefore, specific studies are required to investigate those areas in order to be able to determine the minimum fragment size where species occur and assess conservation strategy.

This project focuses on two unstudied species: L. dorsalis and L. mittermeieri. They are distributed in the northwest of Madagascar, respectively in the Manongarivo Special Reserve and the Ampasindava Peninsula. They are classified respectively as vulnerable and endangered on the IUCN Red List (2014). So far very little information has been collected on those taxa. Indeed, both species have been described but none has been studied yet in the field. Ecological data are urgently needed in order to determine the risk of extinction existing for those forest-dependent species. Specifically, we will assess the impact on these species of habitat degradation and fragmentation; evaluate population size and densities; identify their habitat use and niche characteristics in order to endeavour to derive specific conservation guidelines for the genus.

With a conservation objective in mind, results of our project will bring information essential to local forest managers (MRPA, MNP, AEECL). We involve Malagasy people in the project and this may ensure its long term relevance as team members may contribute to be involved in the development of future conservation actions.