Frederik Kiene

Doctoral student

Project:

Effects of habitat fragmentation on parasite communities in mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.) in northwestern Madagasca

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of forest fragmentation on ecto-, endo- and hemoparasite communities in the Grey Mouse Lemur (Microcebus murinus) and the Golden-Brown Mouse Lemur (Microcebus ravelobensis) in two fragmented ecological networks in northwestern Madagascar. Parasite prevalence, parasite richness and parasite infection intensity will be investigated as components of parasite load within all different study sites. For this purpose, mouse lemurs will be systematically trapped from the forest edge towards the interior of each fragment in a large number of forest fragments varying in size, shape, connectivity and structural integrity. All individuals of both mouse lemur species will be morphometrically characterized and weighed to determine their body condition, will be inspected for ectoparasites, and fecal and blood samples will be collected. All forest fragments will also be characterized with respect to the levels of anthropogenic disturbance, vegetation structure and nocturnal lemur population densities in collaboration with two parallel studies. Field work will be conducted across two successive dry seasons (May-October 2017/2018).