Titre |
Ecological differentiation of two sympatric mouse lemur species (Microcebus murinus and M. ravelobesis) in a dry deciduous forest of Northwestern Madagascar. |
Descripteur matière |
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Résumé |
Both mouse lemur species differ significantly with respect to their sleeping sites. M. murinus preferentially occupied closed, deep tree holes whereas M. ravelobensis were mainly found on branches and lianas and only rarely in tree holes. This species-specific usage pattern of protected sleeping sites seems to be connected to the species-specific response to disturbances. Whereas M. murinus were usually hiding within their shelters, M. ravelobensis regularly showed a flight response when an observer approached. The use of different sleeping sites in combination with a speciesspecific behavioural response to disturbances reduces the interspecific competition for this important resource andcan therefore be regarded as one possible explanation for the stable coexistence of these two sibling species in this study site. |