In this comprehensive volume, written by experts in the field, information gathered on lemur ecology and adaptation over the past 15 years is presented by both seasoned and newer lemur researchers, and provides us with further knowledge concerning both well-studied and rarely studied extant species, as well as insights into the ecology and adaptation of some of the recently extinct lemurs. With the dramatic increase in behavioral and ecological studies on a great variety of lemur species in the past few decades, our knowledge concerning the adaptation of these charming primates to Madagascar's unpredictable and sometimes harsh environmental conditions has improved significantly. Lemurs: Ecology and Adaptation will be a useful and fascinating source book for researchers and students of primate ecology.

Zusammenfassung

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.

Inhalt
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 FissionFusion 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.