Ecophysiology, ecological consequences and evolution of tropical hibernation in sympatric dwarf lemurs from high-altitude rainforests of Madagascar

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Torpor and hibemation are generally favourable strategies in seasonal environments where energy conservation is critical during periods of resource scarcity. Thus, heterothermie endothermy is not restricted to temperate environments but it can also occur in tropical habitats such as Madagascar's forests which are characterized by environmental unpredictability and strong seasonality. This project will target the ecophysiology of heterothermy and energetic balances in two tropical primates, i.e., the partially sympatric dwarf lemur species Cheirogaleus crossleyi and C. sibreei. The study will be conducted by a combination of well-established ecological and state-of-the-art ecophysiological approaches and methods. By comparing different dwarf lemur species living under maritedly different as well as same climatic conditions, we aim to 1) determine which factors influence propensity to enter heterothermie states and thermoregulatory pattems during activity and hibemation 2) assess how anthropogenic alteration of habitat, i.e., forest fragmentation, affects ecophysiological parameters 3) evaluate the adaptive value of tropical hibemation under present-day climatic conditions (according to the "Epaminondas effect") 4) shed light on fundamental principles of the evolution of hibernation in a tropical environment.