Variances in Frequency and Location of Olfactory Communication in Free Ranging and Non-Free Ranging Lemur catta.

BY LINDSEY SHAPIRO

Lemur catta natural history

u Over 100 species of lemursu Lemur catta are one the most

studied- over 2,000 nationwide (Petter et al 1965)

u Described 1758 (Linnaeus, 1758)

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lemur_catta_range_map.svg

Social behavior

u 2-25 individuals u Matrilineal society (Jolly,

1966)

u Territorial u Territories range from 15

to 57 acre (Sussman 1991) http://fineartamerica.com/featured/ringtailed-lemur-lemur-catta-group-gerry-

Primates in captivity

u Unnatural enclosures, lack of stimuli, social deprivation (Mallapur 2005)

u Swedish animals welfare regulations state that the minimum enclosure 30 m², 0.05% of the lemurs smallest natural ranges (Thernstrom, 2010)

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Olfactory communication

u The perception of air/water borne molecules from one animal to another (Bossert & Wilson 1962)

u Volatile and nonvolatile compounds (Belcher et al, 1990)u Advertising reproductive status, intrasexual competition, intragroup

communication, territoriality, and carry identifying signatures (Drea et al, 2007)

u Males -brachial, antibrachial and scrotal glands u Female- labial gland (Mittermeier et al. 1994)

Research Goal

u Differences between free ranging and non-free ranging Lemur catta

u Frequency and location u Introduction foreign object*

Hypothesis

u H1.The free ranging lemurs will scent mark more frequently than the non-free ranging lemurs.

u H2.The dominant females will scent mark more frequently than the subordinate females in both groups.

u H3. The presence of a foreign object will result in an increased olfactory response in all individuals.

u H0: There will be no differences between the free ranging and caged individuals in respect to olfactory communication

Methods

u Conducted at research institute u Has over 30 Lemur cattau 12 were focused on for this research u 10 days

Subjects and housing

u Indoor 10'H x 7.5'W x 7.0' L. outdoor 10'H x 7.5' W x 14'L

u FR enclosure 1.48 to 14.33 acres

http://lemur.duke.edu/discover/for-researchers/facilities/

Sex Name DOB Enclosure RankF Brigitta 5/16/11 Cg18-20 Dom FM Nikos 3/23/13 Cg18-20 Dom M

F Doreus 3/17/00 Cg 1-5 Dom FF Justine 3/22/05 Cg 1-5 Sub FF Hibernia 3/17/09 Cg 1-5 Sub F*M Onyx 3/28/13 Cg 1-5 Dom M

M Teres 3/23/95 NHE1 Dom MF Persephone 4/25/05 NHE1 Dom F

M Aracus 5/23/98 NHE4 Dom MF Shroeder 3/22/92 NHE4 Sub FF Leisl 7/15/08 NHE4 Dom F*F Gretl 4/09/12 NHE4 Sub F

Data Collection

u Focal Animal Sampling

u Each individual was observed for 45 minute periods once per day

u All olfactions were recorded as well as location of mark (foreign object/ enclosure)

u Analyzed using JMP Pro 12 (SAS, Cary NC) 95 percent confidence intervals

Pictured above is Aracus, a free ranging male, exhibiting 3 different marks

Results: Confirming prior research

u By sex- males marked significantly higher (p<0.0001) u Olfactions by gland- significant

differences between all three u Brachial marking the most and

scrotal marking the least u P<.0001 (Drea & Scordato 2008).

(Kappeler 1998)

Individual VariationMales Females

Larger group marked more Non- free ranging marked more

Mark Location For Population

u L.cattamarked the stool significantly more often than they marked elsewhere.

u Introduction of a foreign object warranted an increase in territorial marking (p=0.0025)

Mark Location by Enclosure Type(female)

F-Non-free-rangers p=0.1266 F Free-rangers p=0.0012

Due to the infrequency, hard to deem significant

Mark Location by Enclosure Type(Male)

u Novel Finding

u Increases frequency may be due to lack of stimuli

M free-rangers p=0.0694 M-non-free rangers p=0.0002

Conclusion

u H1.The free ranging lemurs will scent mark more frequently than the non-free ranging lemurs.

u H2.The dominant females will scent mark more frequently than the subordinate females in both groups. Semi-proved

u H3. The presence of a foreign object will result in an increased olfactory response in all individuals. Proved

Conclusion

u Non- free rangers marked more on average

u Males in larger groups marked more than when housed in pairs

u Significant differences between individuals

u Entire population found interest in foreign object- male non-free rangers

Limitations

u Liesl’s twins u Doreus & Hibernia shared dominanceu Weather

Future Research

u Larger sample size-longer time periodu Vocal and visual communication u Olfactory behavior in the wild u Enclosures in different zoos

http://thedomesticbuzz.com/island-of-lemurs-madagascar-exclusively-in-imax-and-imax-3d/

Acknowledgements

u Mentor, and everyone at the research institute

u My teachers

u My brother

u My parents

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