A Systematic Review and Quantitative Analysis of Socioecological Variability in Diademed Sifaka (Propithecus diadema) and Black-and-White Ruffed Lemurs (Varecia variegata) in Madagascar.

Authors

Giovanna Bonadonna, Emily E Wroblewski, Krista M Milich

Published in

American journal of primatology. Volume 88. Issue 9. Pages e70211.

Abstract

Madagascar's endangered, endemic primates represent 21% of global primate species. Among them, the Critically Endangered diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema) and black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata) have overlapping ranges and are considered umbrella and flagship species. This review synthesizes the available research for both species to assess research gaps and ecological variability across their distributions amid ongoing conservation challenges. We identified 182 studies (1987-2024) from which we compiled data about research focus, study sites, and socioecological characteristics (home range size, daily path length, population density, and diet composition) and conducted a narrative and quantitative synthesis to compare species' behavioral ecology across disturbed and undisturbed sites. Studies predominantly focused on behavioral ecology and spanned 86 sites within 44 larger geographic areas. Of these study areas, 67% were considered disturbed. Studies in unprotected areas comprised over 20% of the research effort for each species; among protected areas, P. diadema was more frequently studied in areas with lower protection status than V. variegata. Nearly half of studies involved one long-term research site for each species, highlighting the contributions of long-term studies but uneven coverage across species' distributions. Ranging behavior and diet were site-specific and more influenced by local and geographic characteristics than disturbance. We found limited dietary overlap between species. Our synthesis underscores both species' ecological flexibility, a possible key to long-term survival, and cautions against broad species generalizations based on a few well-studied sites. We emphasize the need for research in less-studied, conservation priority areas to augment ecological comparisons and maintain population reservoirs.

PMID:
42806785
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 29 Sep 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.