Meeting Abstract

P2.12A  Jan. 5  Males go where the females and good habitats are: evidence from the slender loris Loris tardigradus KAR GUPTA, K; Arizona State University kaberi@asu.edu

Studies have shown that effects of habitat modification on primate populations are complex and depend upon many factors such as intensity of modification, proximity to the primary forests and time since the modification took place. Little is known, however, about the impact of such modification on behavioral ecology of individuals. This study addresses the effects of long-term habitat modifications on habitat use by the slender loris Loris tardigradus in Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, India. Mundanthurai plateau contains moist, dry deciduous and scrub forest. 28 adult lorises were radio-collared during 2002-2003, and were followed both nocturnally and diurnally. Three male types were recorded based on range size and association with females: settled paired and settled unpaired, and roaming males. We measured habitat structure within home ranges. Moist deciduous habitats were occupied by females, associated males and settled unpaired males, whereas roaming males were relegated to open thorn scrubs and plantations. We estimated availability of moist deciduous patches were16% and dry deciduous thorn scrub forest 50% in the plateau. We found arthropod abundance was higher in the moist deciduous than in the dry deciduous forests. Females and settled paired males used more diverse tree species than roaming males and settled unpaired males. However, all male types and females used continuous canopy, thorny tree/climber complex for both sleeping sites and foraging. These suggest that even though the roaming males are living in the resource poor habitats, they are selectively using areas with better canopy structure and higher arthropod abundance.