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Body weight is an important attribute of any animal and influences its biology in many ways. In the case of the fat-tailed dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus medius ), this is of special interest because animals of this species store fat to survive extended torpor phases during the austral winter and, as a result, show extreme seasonal variation in body weight. In this paper, I present field data from a 20-month study at the Forestry Station of Ampijoroa in northwestern Madagascar on body weights of repeatedly trapped individuals combined with trapping results to investigate the general biology and notably the social life of C.?medius. The most remarkable physical characteristic of wild C.?medius is a dramatic weight-loss in males in September following emergence from torpor. Trapping results showed that adult males emerge from torpor earlier than females and offspring, even though food is still scarce. Early emergence from torpor puts males at an energetic disadvantage and confers no advantage in terms of access to females. Observation data from nightly follows indicate that males patrol their home range, probably to guarantee its integrity for the coming active season and to secure the food supply for their families. The high energetic costs of this strategy is argued to represent a form of paternal investment. Body weight data of repeatedly captured individuals showed that they may reach adult size and sexual maturity at 2 years of age but are not socially mature before the age of 3 years. The data presented may serve as a guide for keeping C. medius at a suitable weight in captivity. Am. J. Primatol. 49:265–280, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phylogenetic diversity of extant lemurs represents one of the most important but least studied aspects of the conservation biology of primates. The phylogenetic diversity of a species is inversely proportional to the relative number and closeness of its phylogenetic relatives. Phylogenetic diversity can then be used to determine conservation priorities for specific biogeographic regions. Although Malagasy strepsirhines represent the highest phylogenetic diversity among primates at the global level, there are few phylogenetic data on species-specific and regional conservation plans for lemurs in Madagascar. Therefore, in this paper the following questions are addressed for extant lemurs: 1) how does the measure of taxonomic uniqueness used by Mittermeier et at ([1992] Lemurs of Madagascar; Gland, Switzerland: IUCN) equate with an index of phylogenetic diversity, 2) what are the regional conservation priorities based on analyses of phylogenetic diversity in extant lemurs, and 3) what conservation recommendations can be made based on analyses of phylogenetic diversity in lemurs? Taxonomic endemicity standardized weight (TESW) indices of phylogenetic diversity were used to determine the evolutionary component of biodiversity and to prioritize regions for conserving lemur taxa. TESW refers to the standardization of phylogenetic diversity indices for widespread taxa and endemicity of species. The phylogenetic data came from recent genetic studies of Malagasy strepsirhines at the species level. Lemur species were assigned as being either present or absent in six biogeographic regions. TESW indices were combined with data on lemur complementarity and protected areas to assign conservation priorities at the regional level. Although there were no overall differences between taxonomic ranks and phylogenetic rankings, there were significant differences for the top-ranked taxa. The phylogenetic component of lemur diversity is greatest for Daubentonia madagascariensis, Allocebus trichotis, Lepilemur septentrionalis, Indri indri, and Mirza coquereli. Regional conservation priorities are highest for lemurs that range into northeast humid forests and western dry forests. Expansion of existing protected areas in these regions may provide the most rapid method for preserving lemurs. In the long term, new protected areas must be created because there are lemur species that: 1) are not found in existing protected areas, 2) exist only in one or two protected areas, and 3) are still being discovered outside the current network of protected areas. Data on the population dynamics and feeding ecology of phylogenetically important species are needed to ensure that protected areas adequately conserve lemur populations in Madagascar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed changes in contraceptive use and fertility between 2009 and 2013 in the Velondriake locally managed marine area of southwest Madagascar where marine conservation organization Blue Ventures began implementing an integrated health-environment program in 2007. The proportion of sexually active women aged 15 to 49 years using hormonal contraception and/or condoms during last intercourse increased more than twofold from 25 percent in 2009 to 59 percent in 2013. The number of births in the last 12 months per 1,000 women of reproductive age declined by 20 percent over the same period from 178 in 2009 to 143 in 2013. This program increased access to family planning for previously under-served communities, leading to uptake of modern contraceptives with an associated decline in fertility. These results suggest that this program has enabled couples to avoid unintended pregnancies, thereby bolstering local marine conservation initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Madagascar spider tortoise Pyxis arachnoides is facing pressure from habitat destruction, hunting for food and collection for the exotic pet-trade. Very little is known of the biology and ecology of P. arachnoides. This study centres on a subspecies population of P. arachnoides arachnoides, within the southern dry forests of the Anakao region of southwest Madagascar . Surveys were carried out across 83, one hectare, quadrants over 12 months, during both the wet and dry seasons, with respective seasonal mean population densities recorded at 4.63 and 2.08 individuals per ha. This significant variation was accompanied by a variation in micro habitat preference between the seasons, with P. a. arachnoides moving to areas of greater vegetation cover during the warmer wet season. P. a. arachnoides was only recorded as feeding during the wet months, a period of increased activity. The subspecies became less active during the dry season, with some individuals entering a dormant phase. There was generally a greater abundance of females encountered throughout the year, usually weighing less than males. Juvenile abundance peaked during February and March. Six-year-old specimens were the most regularly encountered individuals and a mean age throughout the survey was recorded at 11.25 years. Résumé La Pyxide arachnoïde de Madagascar, Pyxis arachnoides, subit des pressions comprenant la destruction de son habitat, la chasse alimentaire et le prélèvement destiné au commerce d’animaux exotiques. On connaît très peu de la biologie et de l’écologie de P. arachnoides. Cette étude se focalise sur une population de la sous-espèce P. arachnoides arachnoides vivant dans la forêt sèche du sud, dans la région de l’Anakao au sud ouest de Madagascar. Des reconnaissances ont été menées dans 83 quadrats d’un hectare, durant 12 mois au cours des saisons sèche et humide, où l’on a relevé des densités moyennes saisonnières de respectivement 4,63 et 2,08 individus à l’hectare. Cette variation significative était assortie d’une variation dans la préférence de micro habitat entre les saisons, où P. a. arachnoides se déplace vers des zones à couvert végétal plus étendu durant la saison humide plus chaude. On n’a observé P. a. arachnoides s’alimenter que durant les mois humides durant laquelle son activité est plus importante. Cette sous-espèce devient moins active au cours de la saison sèche, où certains individus entrent en phase dormante. On a généralement constaté tout au long de l’année une plus grande abondance de femelles, qui pèsent habituellement moins que les mâles. L’abondance maximale de juvéniles se situe en février et mars. Les individus rencontrés le plus régulièrement étaient des spécimens âgés de six ans, et l’âge moyen enregistré tout au long de l’étude était de 11,25 ans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]