Habitat use, activity patterns and parasite status of blue-eyed black lemurs (Eulemur flavifrons) in differently degraded forest fragments

In this study the impact of altered forest habitat on the blue-eyed black lemur (Eulemur flavifrons) was assessed with regard to habitat use, activity pattern and parasite burden. The aims were to identify structural vegetation characteristics that are important for the taxon, and to compare their availability in a primary and a secondary forest habitat. Home range size and habitat use of four groups of E. flavifrons as well as availability of food resources and sleeping trees, plant biodiversity and plant communities were therefore investigated in a primary and a secondary forest fragment.
The study aimed furthermore at describing the activity pattern of E. flavifrons, and investigating parameters that may influence the distribution of activity over the 24 hour cycle, such as season or habitat. Four groups of E. flavifrons were followed 24 h/month each during seven months between July 2004 and July 2005, altogether representing 600 h of observations. In addition, the gastrointestinal parasites of E. flavifrons were assessed. During a 10-month period, 334 faeces samples were collected. Furthermore samples and
ectoparasites were collected from 18 immobilized blue-eyed black lemurs.