Natural History of the Brown Mouse Lemur

Sylvia Atsalis is Coordinator of the Student Center for Science Engagement at Northeastern Illinois University. She has over twenty years experience teaching, advising, and offering professional development to students in STEM disciplines.

• Contents *List of Figures *List of Tables *List of Pictures *Prologue and Acknowledgements Chapter One: Mouse Lemurs, The World'sSmallest Primates *The Cheirogaleidae *Researching the Brown Mouse Lemur *Mouse Lemur Distribution *Distinctive Features of the CheirogaleidaeChapter Two: Researching The Brown Mouse Lemur *Description of the Study Site *Rainfall and Temperature Patterns *Phenological Monitoring*Flowering and Fruiting Patterns *Insect Abundance *Live-Trapping Mouse Lemurs *Observing Mouse Lemurs Chapter Three: Diet and FeedingEcology *The Diet of Mouse Lemurs *Investigating Diet in the Brown Mouse Lemur *Use of Plants and Prey *Frugivory *Bakerella, the fruit ofpreference *Beetles, the prey of preference *Other organic matter found in fecal samples *Fruit: availability and consumption *Phytochemical analysisof fruits eaten *Animal prey: availability and consumption*Observations of Mouse Lemurs Feeding *Mouse Lemurs and Mistletoes *Mouse Lemurs andBeetles *Comparing the Diets of Mouse Lemur Species *What Can Mouse Lemurs Tell Us About Primate Origins *Fecal Sampling as a Way to StudyDiet *Suggested Directions for Future Studies *Chapter Summary Chapter Four: Seasonal Changes in Body Mass and Activity Levels *How SmallMammals Respond to Climatic and Resource Fluctuations *Seasonl Fluctuations in the Cheirogaleidae *Investigating Seasonal Flucutations in theBrown Mouse Lemur *Fattening and Hibernation *Population Fluctuations in Body Mass, Tail Circumference and Activity Levels *Differences inSeasonal Response *Comparing Seasonal Responses of Mouse Lemur Species *Emerging from Hibernation *Sleeping Nests *The Effects of Trapping*Suggested Directions for Future Studies *Chapter Summary Chapter Five-The Social Life of the Brown Mouse Lemur *Sociality in NocturnalStrepsirrhines *Investigating Social Organization in the Brown Mouse Lemur *Social Interactions of the Brown Mouse Lemur *Trap Data and SpatialDistribution *Changes in Population Composition *The Solitary Mouse Lemur *Spatial Distribution of Males and Females *Migration Patterns andPopulation Continuity *Population Residents *Scramble and Contest Competition *Suggested Directions for Future Studies *Chapter SummaryChapter Six-Reproduction in Mouse Lemurs *Reproductive Patterns of Mouse Lemurs *Assessing Reproductive Condition in the Brown Mouse Lemur*Estrous Cycles, Gestation, and Births *Reproductive Seasonality *The Advantages of Estrous Synchronyx