Lemurs / Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects (PDF)

Preface.- Origins of Lemurs.- History of Lemur Ecological Studies.- Climate, Evolution of Traits, Effect of Environmental Pressures on Lemur Ecology Today.- Ecology and Diet of Sub-Fossil Lemur Species and Reasons for Extinction.- The Impact of Ecology on the Dental Adaptations of Extant Lemurids.- Lemur catta: Adaptation of a Lemur Species to a Markedly Arid Habitat.- Ecology and Sub-Speciation of Eulemur fulvus, the Most Widespread Diurnal Species of Lemur.- The Red-Bellied Lemur: Ecology of a Pair-Bonded Rainforest Species.- An Example of Sympatry and Polyspecific Associations in Lemurs: E. coronatus and E.f. sanfordii in Northern Madagascar.- E. mongoz and Cathemerality: Adaptation to a Seasonal Enviornment.- The Sifakas: Adaptations of a Widespread genus (Propithecus).- Propithecus verreauxi: Ecology and Adaptations of the White Sifaka to a Dry Habitat Covering a Large Geographic Area.- The Indri: Ecology of a Large Rainforest Lemur.- Hapalemur: The Only Primates who are Bamboo Specialists.- Varecia: Adaptations of the Ruffed Lumur to a Very Wet Habitat and Frequent Cyclones.- Lipilemur and Avahi: Evolution of Small-Bodies Nocturnal Primates to Folivory.- Cheirogaleus: Hibernation and Fat Storage in the Dwarf Lemur as a Strategy to Cope with Marked Seasonality.- Microcebus (the Mouse Lemurs): The Ecology, Adaptations, and Distribution of the Smallest Primate Genera.- Ecology and Adaptations of Mirz and Phaner.- Index.

From the reviews:

"Gould and Sauther provide a broad update on a variety of lemurs … . Gould and Sauther’s volume is organized into 4 sections. … I appreciated that most chapters go beyond social behavior and ecology to integrate a wide range of phylogenetic, physiological and morphological data to the question of lemur adaptations. … are excellent resources as overviews and introductions to their topics. Persons who work on any lemur taxon will want to own Lemurs, Ecology and Adaptation … ." (Leanne T. Nash, International Journal of Primatology, Vol. 28, 2007)

"Lemurs: Ecology and Adaptation, edited by Lisa Gould and Michelle Sauther, represents a compilation of 20 chapters by 29 contributors who have conducted field work in Madagascar. … The book is divided into four sections covering lemur origins and ecology, the evolution of lemur traits, ecology and adaptation, and lemur adaptations to changing environments. … I heartily recommend this up-to-date volume to any professional behavioral ecologist or graduate student interested in the primates of Madagascar." (Diane K. Brockman, Journal of Mammalian Evolution, Vol. 15, 2008)

"Lemurs: Ecology and Adaptation sets out to provide a single source of information from a wealth of lemur research collected during the last fifteen years. … Serious lemur researchers will find this book to be a useful and informative resource, whilst students will find it to be a good introduction to – and overview of – lemur studies." (Kara Moses, Primate Eye, February, 2009)