Daily activity and light exposure levels for five species of lemurs at the duke lemur center

dc.contributor.author

Rea, Mark S

dc.contributor.author

Figueiro, Mariana G

dc.contributor.author

Jones, Geoffrey E

dc.contributor.author

Glander, Kenneth E

dc.date.accessioned

2018-03-01T20:20:12Z

dc.date.available

2018-03-01T20:20:12Z

dc.date.issued

2014-01-01

dc.description.abstract

Light is the primary synchronizer of all biological rhythms, yet little is known about the role of the 24-hour luminous environment on nonhuman primate circadian patterns, making it difficult to understand the photic niche of the ancestral primate. Here we present the first data on proximate light-dark exposure and activity-rest patterns in free-ranging nonhuman primates. Four individuals each of five species of lemurs at the Duke Lemur Center (Eulemur mongoz, Lemur catta, Propithecus coquereli, Varecia rubra, and Varecia variegata variegata) were fitted with a Daysimeter-D pendant that contained light and accelerometer sensors. Our results reveal common as well as species-specific light exposure and behavior patterns. As expected, all five species were more active between sunrise and sunset. All five species demonstrated an anticipatory increase in their pre-sunrise activity that peaked at sunrise with all but V. rubra showing a reduction within an hour. All five species reduced activity during mid-day. Four of the five stayed active after sunset, but P. coquereli began reducing their activity about 2 hours before sunset. Other subtle differences in the recorded light exposure and activity patterns suggest species-specific photic niches and behaviors. The eventual application of the Daysimeter-D in the wild may help to better understand the adaptive evolution of ancestral primates. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

dc.identifier.eissn

1096-8644

dc.identifier.issn

0002-9483

dc.identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10161/16154

dc.publisher

Wiley

dc.relation.ispartof

American Journal of Physical Anthropology

dc.relation.isversionof

10.1002/ajpa.22409

dc.title

Daily activity and light exposure levels for five species of lemurs at the duke lemur center

dc.type

Journal article

duke.contributor.orcid

Glander, Kenneth E|0000-0001-9563-4660

pubs.begin-page

68

pubs.end-page

77

pubs.issue

1

pubs.organisational-group

Duke

pubs.organisational-group

Evolutionary Anthropology

pubs.organisational-group

Trinity College of Arts & Sciences

pubs.publication-status

Published

pubs.volume

153

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
13 Rea et al.pdf
Size:
631.7 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Published version