Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Bauer, Gordon

Keywords

Ringtailed Lemurs, Mongoose Lemurs, Red Ruffed Lemurs, Habitat, Diet, Animal Behavior

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

This study examines Ringtailed, Mongoose, and Red Ruffed lemurs in an 8.7 acre forest in Southwest Florida. Weekly observations were conducted to record lemur activity (resting, social behavior, foraging, and moving) nearest neighbor, GPS location, and eating behavior including plant part and plant species. All three species engaged in resting behavior more than social behavior, moving, or foraging and were also near a conspecific more than being in contact or far away. Range maps were generated and showed that the Mongoose lemurs were almost completely within the range of Ringtailed lemurs. The Red Ruffed lemurs’ range was mostly on the opposite side of the forest from the Ringtailed and Mongoose lemurs’ ranges. Wax Myrtle trees were consumed the most out of any other plant species and leaves were the favored plant part. These results resemble that of wild lemurs and the current study can aid in lemur conservation.

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