Abstract
We investigated habitat preferences and, specifically, variable use of habitat by members of a population of Loris tardigradus tardigradus to assess their ecological plasticity, i.e., ability to respond to environmental changes. We assessed habitat structure (tree heights, connectivity, floristic composition, and liana abundance) and radio-tracked 14 adult lorises in Masmullah Proposed Forest Reserve (MPFR) in Sri Lanka. The loris population of MPFR has not adapted to exploiting the agricultural environment surrounding and fragmenting the forest, staying within the remaining narrow, isolated forest tracts. However, the animals do show some accommodation to habitat changes, making use of regenerating plantations and forest edges, possibly because of their higher arthropod abundance.
Resume
Nous avons étudié les types d’habitat préférés par Loris tardigradus tardigradus, et spécifiquement les différences observées au sein d’une population de cette espèce, afin d’évaluer sa plasticité écologique, i.e. sa capacité à répondre aux changements environnementaux. Nous avons caractérisé la structure de l’habitat (hauteur des arbres, connectivité, composition floristique et abondance en lianes) et radio-pisté 14 loris adultes à Masmullah, au Sri Lanka, dans la zone incluse dans une Proposition de Classement en Réserve Forestière. La population de loris de cette possible future réserve ne s’est pas adaptée à la mise en culture et la fragmentation de l’habitat, et demeure cantonnée à d’étroites bandes de forêt. Cependant, les animaux se sont quelque peu adaptés au changement, et utilisent les plantations abandonnées et les lisières, peut-être du fait d’une plus grande abondance en arthropodes.
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Acknowledgments
We thank the Departments of Forestry and Wildlife Conservation for providing research permits and A.S. Beresford and K. Davey for field assistance. We are grateful to Oxford Brookes University, P.S.G.B., Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, the L.S.B. Leakey Foundation, and National Geographic for additional financial assistance.
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Bernede, L., Bearder, S.K., Gunawardene, A. (2012). Habitat Use by the Red Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus tardigradus) in Masmullah Proposed Forest Reserve in Sri Lanka. In: Masters, J., Gamba, M., Génin, F. (eds) Leaping Ahead. Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4511-1_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4511-1_9
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