Gallery Forest

All six known specimens of the early hominid Sahelanthropus tchadensis come from Toros-Menalla site 266 (TM 266), a single locality in the Djurab Desert, northern Chad, central Africa. Here we present a preliminary analysis of the palaeontological and palaeoecological context of ...

In Madagascar, the gallery forests of the south are among the most endangered. Tamarind trees (Tamarindus indica) dominate these riverine forests and are a keystone food resource for ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta). At Berenty Reserve, the presence of tamarind trees is declining, and there is little recruitment of young trees. Because mature tamarinds inhibit growth under their crowns, seeds must be dispersed away from adult trees if tree recruitment is to occur. Ring-tailed lemurs are likely seed dispersers; however, because they spend much of their feeding, siesta, and sleeping time in tamarinds, they may defecate a majority of the tamarind seeds under tamarind trees. To determine whether they disperse tamarind seeds away from overhanging tamarind tree crowns, we observed two troops for 10 days each, noted the locations of feeding and defecation, and collected seeds from feces and fruit for germination. We also collected additional data on tamarind seedling recruitment under natural conditions, in which seedling germination was abundant after extensive rain, including under the canopy. However, seedling survival to 1 year was lower when growing under mature tamarind tree crowns than when growing away from an overhanging crown. Despite low fruit abundance averaging two fruits/m3 in tamarind crowns, lemurs fed on tamarind fruit for 32% of their feeding samples. Daily path lengths averaged 1,266 m, and lemurs deposited seeds throughout their ranges. Fifty-eight percent of the 417 recorded lemur defecations were on the ground away from overhanging tamarind tree crowns. Tamarind seeds collected from both fruit and feces germinated. Because lemurs deposited viable seeds on the ground away from overhanging mature tamarind tree crowns, we conclude that ring-tailed lemurs provide tamarind tree seed dispersal services.

Lamto forests have in common the main species of Celtis spp and Triplochiton scleroxylon semi-deciduous forests. Stratas may be distinguished for most of them.
Profile-diagrams here presented give an idea of the different types of forests in the Reserve. The main characteristics of the floristical and physionomical evolution from forests areas progressing upon savanna may be seen by comparison between these profiles.

... a UMR 1752 CNRS, CEA, Orme-des-Merisiers, laboratoire des sciences du climat etde l'environnement, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France. b CNRS, CDF ... Elles varient, en fonction des espèces, de 300 à 400 m/an. Nous avons ensuite ...

1Habitat loss and fragmentation are the principal causes of the loss of biological diversity. In addition, parasitic diseases are an emerging threat to many animals. Nevertheless, relatively few studies have tested how habitat loss and fragmentation influence the prevalence and richness of parasites in animals.2Several studies of nonhuman primates have shown that measures of human activity and forest fragmentation correlate with parasitism in primates. However, these studies have not tested for the ecological mechanism(s) by which human activities or forest fragmentation influence the prevalence and richness of parasites.3We tested the hypothesis that increased host density due to forest fragmentation and loss mediates increases in the prevalence and richness of gastrointestinal parasites in two forest primates, the Tana River red colobus (Procolobus rufomitratus, Peters 1879) and mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus galeritus, Peters 1879). We focused on population density because epidemiological theory states that host density is a key determinant of the prevalence and richness of directly transmitted parasites in animals.4The Tana River red colobus and mangabey are endemic to a highly fragmented forest ecosystem in eastern Kenya where habitat changes are caused by a growing human population increasingly dependent on forest resources and on clearing forest for cultivation.5We found that the prevalence of parasites in the two monkeys was very high compared to primates elsewhere. Density of monkeys was positively associated with forest area and disturbance in forests. In turn, the prevalence and richness of parasites was significantly associated with monkey density, and attributes indicative of human disturbance in forests.6We also found significant differences in the patterns of parasitism between the colobus and the mangabey possibly attributable to differences in their behavioural ecology. Colobus are arboreal folivores while mangabeys are terrestrial habitat generalists.Habitat loss and fragmentation are the principal causes of the loss of biological diversity. In addition, parasitic diseases are an emerging threat to many animals. Nevertheless, relatively few studies have tested how habitat loss and fragmentation influence the prevalence and richness of parasites in animals.Several studies of nonhuman primates have shown that measures of human activity and forest fragmentation correlate with parasitism in primates. However, these studies have not tested for the ecological mechanism(s) by which human activities or forest fragmentation influence the prevalence and richness of parasites.We tested the hypothesis that increased host density due to forest fragmentation and loss mediates increases in the prevalence and richness of gastrointestinal parasites in two forest primates, the Tana River red colobus (Procolobus rufomitratus, Peters 1879) and mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus galeritus, Peters 1879). We focused on population density because epidemiological theory states that host density is a key determinant of the prevalence and richness of directly transmitted parasites in animals.The Tana River red colobus and mangabey are endemic to a highly fragmented forest ecosystem in eastern Kenya where habitat changes are caused by a growing human population increasingly dependent on forest resources and on clearing forest for cultivation.We found that the prevalence of parasites in the two monkeys was very high compared to primates elsewhere. Density of monkeys was positively associated with forest area and disturbance in forests. In turn, the prevalence and richness of parasites was significantly associated with monkey density, and attributes indicative of human disturbance in forests.We also found significant differences in the patterns of parasitism between the colobus and the mangabey possibly attributable to differences in their behavioural ecology. Colobus are arboreal folivores while mangabeys are terrestrial habitat generalists.

Primatology in Brazil is a relatively recent research field in zoology, mainly in the Southern region. In the state of Paraná, despite of some isolated efforts, little is known about primate distribution and occurrence. The goal of this work is to concentrate all the available information on primate registers and to verify their distribution in the state. Scientific collections at

In order to determine whether ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) adapt their ranging and select an optimal diet at a time of food shortage, we observed two adjacent troops in Berenty Reserve, Madagascar for over 250 h. The troops, created by a recent fission, ranged through closed canopy gallery forest next to a river and open forest away from the river. We conducted the study in September–October, 2000, normally a time of seasonally low resource availability, which was intensified by damage from a previous windstorm and recent drought. To examine the impact of environmental stress, we mapped their ranging patterns, intertroop encounters, feeding patches, siesta trees, and sleeping trees. We then correlated their ranging and feeding behavior with nutritional analyses of leaves and fruit from tamarind trees located in different parts of their ranges. One of the troops, D1A, ranged farther into open forest than previously. However, the range for troop D1B and the closed canopy portion of D1A's range were located in traditional positions for historical troops D and E. Both troops ate significantly more mature leaves from the tamarind trees in the closed canopy forest, where the leaves had significantly higher nutritional content (water and protein) than that of open forest samples. They fed on tamarind fruit significantly more often in the open forest away from the river, where it was more abundant. The lemurs selected a diet that maximized leaf water and protein and ranged where fruit was most abundant but at high energetic costs for troop D1A.

Floristic composition and community structure of vascular epiphytes in a gallery forest of the Central Depression of Rio Grande do Sul). Although gallery forests are widespread throughout the neotropics, little information is available about vascular epiphytism in these formations. The objective of this study was to describe the floristic composition and community structure of vascular epiphytes in a gallery forest

Analysis of botanical data is presented from the standpoint of chimpanzee natural history. The Sudano-Guinean gallery forest type dominated by the tree Gilletiodendron glandulosum appears to be important habitat for chimpanzees due to vegeta- tion structure, presence of permanent surface water, and, particularly, abundance of diverse food plants throughout the year. Based on fecal analysis, observation of feeding remains, observation of sympatric primates, ethnographic research, and literature review, sixty proba- ble chimpanzee food plants have been identified in the Gilletiodendron forest of Mali. Phytogeographical analysis indicates that chimpanzees in Mali’s Sudanian climate zone eat mainly Sudano-Guinean plant species. Heavy reliance on Sudano-Guinean vegetation may indicate that modern chimpanzee populations in savanna areas are relicts, and that the species was originally adapted to mesic Guinean forests. There appears to be niche separation based on topography between humans and chimpanzees which breaks down in times of human food shortage, and the potential for competition is high.

O estudo foi desenvolvido em um trecho de floresta de galeria na Área de Proteção Especial do Barreiro integrante do Parque Estadual do Rola-Moça, Região Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte (MG). O objetivo foi determinar a composição desse trecho de floresta, importante como subsídio à projetos de recuperação e enriquecimento dessa tipologia. A composição florística foi determinada a partir de uma amostragem fitossociológica na qual foi utilizado o método de parcelas sendo demarcadas 36 parcelas de 10×10m, além de coletas complementares realizadas fora da amostragem. Foram relacionados todos os indivíduos arbóreos com circunferência de tronco a 1,30m do solo igual ou superior a 15cm. Encontrou-se 97 espécies, distribuídas por 79 gêneros de 43 famílias. A composição florística quando comparada com outras florestas de galeria no Sudeste e Centro-Oeste apresentou baixa similaridade, sendo a maior semelhança verificada com as florestas do sul de Minas. A riqueza florística apresentou difer...

An ongoing controversy in Amazonian palaeoecology is the manner in which Amazonian rainforest communities have responded to environmental change over the last glacial–interglacial cycle. Much of this controversy results from an inability to identify the floristic heterogeneity exhibited by rainforest communities within fossil pollen records. We apply multivariate (Principal Components Analysis) and classification (Unweighted Pair Group with Arithmetic Mean Agglomerative Classification) techniques to floral-biometric, modern pollen trap and lake sediment pollen data situated within different rainforest communities in the tropical lowlands of Amazonian Bolivia. Modern pollen rain analyses from artificial pollen traps show that evergreen terra firme (well-drained), evergreen terra firme liana, evergreen seasonally inundated, and evergreen riparian rainforests may be readily differentiated, floristically and palynologically. Analogue matching techniques, based on Euclidean distance measures, are employed to compare these pollen signatures with surface sediment pollen assemblages from five lakes: Laguna Bella Vista, Laguna Chaplin, and Laguna Huachi situated within the Madeira-Tapajós moist forest ecoregion, and Laguna Isirere and Laguna Loma Suarez, which are situated within forest patches in the Beni savanna ecoregion. The same numerical techniques are used to compare rainforest pollen trap signatures with the fossil pollen record of Laguna Chaplin.

Pollen assemblages of pollen traps situated within riparian forest communities are most similar to surface sediment samples from Lagunas Bella Vista and Chaplin. Pollen derived from terra firme forests also comprises a significant proportion of these assemblages. Together, these pollen spectra successfully identify riparian and terra firme rainforest communities surrounding the two lakes today. Close similarity between terra firme liana pollen trap assemblages and surface samples obtained from Laguna Huachi, a lake surrounded by relatively undisturbed liana forest, suggests liana forest pollen rain may also be identified within lake sediment records. Pollen spectra obtained from surface sediment samples from lakes situated within gallery forests of the Beni savanna ecoregion are significantly different to those obtained from the Madeira-Tapajós ecoregion, reflecting their different floristic compositions. By applying our findings to the previously published Laguna Chaplin Quaternary pollen record, we show that differentiation between riparian and terra firme rainforest pollen assemblages can lead to more robust and detailed palaeovegetation reconstructions than has hitherto been possible.

Reconciliation is defined as the first postconflict affinitive contact between former opponents. While
reconciliation in anthropoid primates has been widely investigated, few studies have focused on postconflict mechanisms in prosimians, and only in captivity. Unlike anthropoids, Malagasy prosimians show female dominance, lack of sexual dimorphism and seasonal breeding. However, they share features with
anthropoids such as cohesive societies, female philopatry and individual recognition. Comparing social
prosimians with anthropoids is crucial for understanding the evolution of reconciliation dynamics.
Here we present the first study on reconciliation in a wild prosimian. We focused on thePropithecus verreauxi (sifaka) of the Berenty forest (southern Madagascar). We examined postconflict behaviour in the
light of theoretical expectations based on potential costs and benefits of the individuals involved. Our results indicate thatP. verreauxican evaluate possible risks and benefits of engaging in postconflict reunions.
Victims were most likely to interact affinitively with the aggressor after low-intensity aggression. Moreover,
only the conflicts occurring outside the feeding context were reconciled. Such results are consonant with
the fact that, inP. verreauxi, social dominance is translated more into feeding priority than into a framework
of despotic relationships. In agreement with the valuable relationship hypothesis,P. verreauxiwere more
likely to reconcile with valuable partners: reconciliation preferentially occurred between subordinates
and top-ranking individuals, and between animals sharing good relationships (high levels of affinitive
behaviours). Over the short term, reconciliation inP. verreauxiseems to have an important role in reducing
the probability of further attacks by the aggressor.

This chapter aims to review current knowledge of the key vegetation
types, and their composition, structure, distribution, and fire regime across the South
American tropics during the global Last Glacial Maximum ca. 21,000 cal yr BP (calendar
years before present). We do this by synthesising previously published Last
Glacial Maximum fossil pollen and charcoal data as well as Last Glacial Maximum
vegetation model simulations, in comparison with ecoregion/biome maps of
present day vegetation. Both model simulations and empirical data suggest that
there were no large-scale differences in major biome distributions between the
Last Glacial Maximum and present (notwithstanding the Atlantic forests of SE
Brazil), with biome shifts largely associated with ecotonal areas – downslope expansion
of montane grasslands in the Andes at the expense of montane forest, and
savanna expansion at the expense of rainforest and gallery forest at the Amazon
basin margins. However, species composition and structure of these Last Glacial
Maximum forests was quite different from those of today. At the Last Glacial
Maximum, pollen data show that montane Andean taxa descended into the lowlands
to form novel non-analogue forest communities with lowland Amazonian
taxa, whilst vegetation model simulations show that carbon limitation caused by
low atmospheric CO2 likely produced forest communities with reduced canopy
density and hence lower biomass than present-day forests. These pollen datamodel
comparisons show that although Amazonia was probably still dominated
by closed forest at the Last Glacial Maximum, its carbon store may have been
only 50% of present. Most charcoal records show reduced burning during the Last
Glacial Maximum compared with today, most likely due to the significantly colder
temperatures.

We provide a survey of a folivorous lemur, Propithecus verreauxi (sifaka), in the Berenty Reserve, southern Madagascar. Higher densities of folivores in small patches occur in either high-quality food areas or in less disturbed refugia. The skewness of sex ratio, which in lemurs is often male-biased, can be critically exacerbated in population stress. We predicted that sifaka would show higher densities in areas where protein-rich food is abundant (prediction 1a) and in refugium areas (prediction 1b). Owing to increased competition by brown and ring-tailed lemurs and decreased food production by tamarind trees, we expected an extremely male-biased sex ratio (prediction 2). In November–December 2006, we counted and sexed 206 adult/subadult sifaka (49 groups) during daily walks in different forest zones (Ankoba secondary forest, to the north, Malaza gallery/scrub areas, and spiny forest, to the south). Sifaka may have decreased in the gallery forest to concentrate in Ankoba (in a sort of out-of-Malaza). The area contains protein-rich food (prediction 1a confirmed). Sifaka are proportionally more concentrated in the spiny area than in the degraded scrub forest (prediction 1b confirmed). The sex ratio is extremely male biased, possibly due to either high sifaka density, in Ankoba, or food availability reduction, in Malaza (prediction 2 confirmed). The sifaka population seems to be under stress: researchers need to resume demographic studies, interrupted in Berenty in the mid-1980s, to preserve in situ a species that is difficult to protect ex situ.