Socio-ecological and genetical study of the evolution of life histories of lemur species

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We analyzed 22-year demographic data of a wild ringtailed lemur population. The longest life span was 20 years (female) and 13 years (male). The mean life span of females was 4.8 years. Mean birth rate of adult females (> 4 years) was over 70%, and no sign of reproductive senescence. Based on the microsatellite analyses, the paternities of 19 infants were decided. Out of them, only four infants were sired by alpha-males. Behavioral data showed that estrus females mated with multiple males, irrespective of their ranks. No sexual difference was observed in body mass. Their body mass decreased from 2.2-2.3 kg recorded in 1999 to 1.99 kg in 2011, which may have originated from many factors including environmental changes. Morphological features of tails, stink glands, and facial forms were also analyzed. Polymorphic microsatellite loci for two endemic trees were characterized in order to investigate gene flow via pollination and seed dispersal by brown lemur.