Influence of Social Organization Patterns on Food Intake of Lemur Catta in the Berenty Reserve

Abstract

On the basis of previous work on the food preferences of Ring-tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta) with respect to habitat composition, there is good evidence that the distribution of plant resources affects the social dispersion pattern of this species. In addition, females have feeding priority. In order to understand the relationships between social organization of L. catta and food intake, the feeding habits of males and females were studied by means of focal animal sampling at the Berenty Reserve. The number of troop members feeding in the same food patch as the focal animal at the beginning and at the end of each feeding session was recorded. There seems to be no detrimental effect on the general condition of males associated with female dominance. The male strategy appears to benefit from these social organization patterns, which allows them to eat more efficiently than the females despite of the fact they were always displaced wherever they ate. Females show more variation in numerous feeding parameters than males Within L. catta, males and females seemed to have evolved different feeding strategies to cope with differences in their energy requirements, particularly with regards to reproduction.