Response of diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema) to fosa (Cryptoprocta ferox) predation in the Betampona Strict Nature Reserve, Madagascar

Large‐bodied mammals living in fragmented habitats are at higher risk of extinction, and such risk can be influenced by ecological factors such as predator–prey system dynamics. These dynamics can be particularly complex for conservation management when one endangered species preys on another endang...

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Published in:	Ecology and evolution Vol. 14; no. 4; pp. e11248 - n/a
Main Authors:	Bonadonna, G., Ramilijaona, O. M., Raharivololona, B. M., Andrianarimisa, A., Razafindraibe, H., Freeman, K., Rasambainarivo, F., Wroblewski, E. E., Milich, K. M.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-04-2024 John Wiley and Sons Inc Wiley
Subjects:	Agricultural land Anti-predator behavior Behavioural Ecology Biodiversity Ecology Breeding Community Ecology Compounding effects Conservation Conservation Ecology Cryptoprocta ferox Endangered & extinct species Endangered species fragmented habitat Habitats Inbreeding isolated habitat lemur anti‐predator strategy Life History Ecology Low altitude Movement Ecology Nature reserves Population density Population Ecology Predation Predator-prey interactions Predators predator–prey dynamics Prey Primates Propithecus diadema Rainforests Spatial Ecology Species extinction System dynamics Threatened species Zoology Madagascar fragmented habitat conservation Propithecus diadema isolated habitat predator–prey dynamics Cryptoprocta ferox lemur anti‐predator strategy
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Summary:	Large‐bodied mammals living in fragmented habitats are at higher risk of extinction, and such risk can be influenced by ecological factors such as predator–prey system dynamics. These dynamics can be particularly complex for conservation management when one endangered species preys on another endangered species in an isolated or poor‐quality habitat. Here we describe predation events observed over 19 months that involved two threatened species: the largest carnivore in Madagascar, the fosa (Cryptoprocta ferox), and three groups of diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema) in the Betampona Strict Nature Reserve. This site is a 22 km2 low‐altitude rainforest that is surrounded by agricultural land and isolated from larger forest corridors. We aim to (1) assess the behavioral changes of P. diadema in response to fosa attacks and identify any antipredator strategies that they adopted, and (2) quantify the frequency of fosa attacks and the predation impact on the sifaka population. We report five direct observations of fosa predation attempts (one successful), the discovery of a dead sifaka with evidence of fosa predation, and the disappearance of three individuals. We describe the observed attacks and compare the sifaka activity budgets and movement patterns before and after the events. To escape the predator, sifakas fled short distances, hid, and remained vigilant. The impact of predation, combined with low reproductive rates and potentially high inbreeding of this isolated diademed sifaka population, could affect the survival of this species in Betampona. Given the compounding effects of habitat isolation and high hunting pressure, community‐specific conservation strategies should incorporate predator–prey dynamics via longitudinal monitoring of predator and prey population densities and quantifying the predation pressure between them. Our study explores predator‐prey dynamics in a fragmented habitat, focusing on the consequences of fosa predation for three groups of diademed sifakas over 19 months of observation in the Betampona Strict Nature Reserve, Madagascar. We report five direct observations of fosa predation attempts, of which one was successful, the discovery of the body of a sifaka with evidence of fosa predation, and the disappearance of three individuals. The sifakas' strategy to escape fosa predation was to flee short distances, hide, and remain vigilant. This research offers insights into how predator‐prey ecology affects the conservation of threatened species and their habitat.
Bibliography:	G. Bonadonna and O. M. Ramilijaona should be considered joint first authors. E. E. Wroblewski and K. M. Milich equally contributed to the manuscript. ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	2045-7758 2045-7758
DOI:	10.1002/ece3.11248