Mass change, environmental variability and female fertility in wild Propithecus verreauxi.

摘要: Accurate estimates of mass and size are important in a wide range research questions population evolutionary biology, yet such data still rare for wild primates. This study presents detailed longitudinal from large indriids, demonstrates links between fluctuations body mass, environmental cycles, reproduction. Understanding these is necessary step toward explaining the function evolution distinctive features lemur biology behavior. During first 12 years an ongoing sifaka, Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi, at Beza Mahafaly southwest Madagascar, 320 animals were captured weighed throughout year. Adult males females exhibit seasonal cycles loss, with losing significantly more than males. In 2 drought this pattern was especially pronounced. Compared to lighter females, who heavier time mating season likely give birth following season. By showing (1) seasonally greater loss reproductive compared males, particularly years, (2) close link female fertility, (3) uncoupling periods highest gestation lactation, results suggest that energy acquisition storage critically life history strategies “capital breeding” may be feature sifaka strategies.