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Intraspecific variation in hair δ 13 C and δ 15 N values of ring‐tailed lemurs ( Lemur catta ) with known individual histories, behavior, and feeding ecology
Author(s) -
Loudon James E.,
Sponheimer Matt,
Sauther Michelle L.,
Cuozzo Frank P.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.20605
Subject(s) - lemur catta , lemur , intraspecific competition , primate , ecology , biology , zoology , δ13c , sympatric speciation , stable isotope ratio , physics , quantum mechanics
Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions were analyzed from hair samples of 30 sympatric ring‐tailed lemurs ( Lemur catta ) inhabiting the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar. All lemurs were known individuals involved in a longitudinal study, which allowed us to explore the degree to which group membership, sex, health status, and migration influenced their stable isotope compositions. The differences in δ 13 C and δ 15 N values between groups were small (<1.5‰) but highly significant. In fact, each group was tightly clustered, and discriminant function analysis of the stable isotope data assigned individuals to the group in which they were originally collared with over 90% accuracy. In general, the differences between groups reflected the degree to which they utilized forested versus open habitats. As open habitats at Beza Mahafaly often correspond to areas of anthropogenic disturbance, these data suggest that isotopic data can be useful for addressing questions of lemur conservation. There were few sex differences, but significant differences did occur between individuals of normal and suboptimal health, with those in poor health (especially those in the worst condition) being enriched in 15 N and to a lesser degree 13 C compared with healthy individuals. Moreover, lemurs that had emigrated between 2003 and 2004 had different δ 13 C and δ 15 N compositions than their original groups. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.