rasmie@acad.umass.edu

My research examines the behavior, reproduction, conservation, and ecology of mouse lemurs (Microcebus griseorufus) at the Beza Mahafaly research center in Madagascar. Preliminary findings show that the gallery forests at Beza contain the highest numbers of mouse lemurs and that this population is most active high in the trees. Mouse lemurs at Ihazoara and the spiny forests show similar activity patterns, but mouse lemurs in Ihazoara are most vunerable to predation due to the placement of their nests being closer to the ground. Of these three populations, mouse lemurs in the spiny forests use tree trunks as nest most frequently which acts to provide a greater measure of protection against predators (see image below).