Effects of management strategies on the survival probability of a small
remnant population of mouse lemurs
Abstract
Multiple management strategies have been put in place in Madagascar to
slow down biodiversity loss, but evidence for their effectiveness
remains scarce. Using a long-term monitoring dataset and a custom-built
capture-mark-recapture model, we evaluated the effect of a protected
area and translocations on the survival of mouse lemurs (Microcebus
murinus) in the littoral forests of southeastern Madagascar. We found
that female mouse lemurs had overall higher apparent survival than
males, that annual survival probabilities were higher for both sexes in
protected forest fragments compared to degraded ones, and that survival
of translocated individuals was on average 66% lower than residents. We
also evidenced a positive effect of monthly temperature on female
survival in protected fragments but found no temporal trend in survival.
This study confirms the importance of protected areas as a conservation
tool and calls for careful planning of translocation efforts for
conservation of short-lived primate species.