Different competitive potential in two coexisting mouse lemur species in northwestern Madagascar

摘要: Interspecific competition has been suggested to influence the biogeographic distribution patterns of species. A high competitive potential could entail species-specific advantages during resource acquisition that translate into a higher for range expansion. We investigated whether differences in morphologically similar and partially sympatric gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) golden-brown ravelobensis) may help explain their geographic sizes. carried out encounter experiments with 14 pairs captured female lemurs both The experimental dyads were tested two-cage arrangement, individuals being separated from each other outside experiments. Two days habituation four subsequent 1-h conducted, before releasing animals again wild. In general, M. murinus won significantly more conflicts than partners. eight pairs, there was significant species bias winning conflicts, 87.5% these dyads, “dyad winner”. did not depend on body mass. Furthermore, winners” spent time feeding (P < 0.05) less spatially restricted losers”. To conclude, our results suggest widely distributed indeed have regional endemic ravelobensis, which may, among possible factors, enabled this expand geographically, despite presence competing congeners. Am J Phys Anthropol 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.