We did not evolve from chimpanzees.   Darwin never claimed that we did.  But such misconceptions fuel the controversy that surrounds evolution and take away from scientific advancements.  Humans and chimpanzees evolved from a common ancestor approximately 6 million years ago, and that common ancestor was as different from today’s chimpanzees as we are.   Now go back 70 million years!  Based on molecular evidence, that is when a population of rodent-like mammals first evolved definitive primate traits: grasping hands, forward facing eyes, and a relatively large brain (among other things).  Modern day prosimians (the lemurs, lorises, and bushbabies) most closely resemble those first primates, and that’s one of the many reasons that the research done at the Duke Lemur Center is so important and so interesting!

Researchers from around the world come to the DLC to study these unique primates, not only to better understand and therefore better conserve their wild counterparts, but also to understand our own evolutionary history: genetic diversity, cognition, play behavior, mate preference, locomotion, metabolism and energetics, communication…  And these studies would not be possible were it not for Charles Darwin, the men and women that prompted the Scientific Revolution before him, and the men and women that have continued the advancement of scientific knowledge since.

Happy Darwin Day!

-Erin Ehmke, Ph.D

DLC Research Manager

It’s clear that Katie is passionate about lemurs.  Bubbling with enthusiasm, she explains the twofold benefits of her research.  Firstly, she hopes to answer the question, ‘Is there one best mate for everyone in the population, or is there one mate specific to each individual?’  Put in human terms, would Brad Pitt be the best mate for any human female, or should we all be searching for our individual ‘soul mate’?  This is the first experimental test of mate preference in primates, and the results may be applicable to humans.

Secondly, and most importantly, are the benefits to lemur conservation.  All lemurs are endangered.  Currently, breeding decisions for captive animals are made by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums, based on maintaining genetic diversity, but if this study shows that lemurs produce better offspring if they choose their own mates, it could change the way these decisions are made, to build up numbers and fitness of lemur species.

Using a molecule that controls the immune system in vertebrates, the MHC, Katie aims to find out whether the lemurs can distinguish between individuals with different genotypes, and if so, whether they prefer individuals with complementary genotypes to their own, or whether they are attracted to mates with the maximum heterozygosity, or genetic variation, regardless of their own genotype. 

Lemurs do use odor to tell the difference between individuals, and this experiment is a choice test, giving male lemurs the choice of two female odors and noting their reactions to each.  Today, however, is a habituation day, getting the lemurs used to coming down to check out the sticks – which is where the grape jelly comes in.

Our study participants, four male lemurs named Chandler, Limerick, Herodotus and Cebes, start bouncing around their enclosure when they see us coming.  Actually, Katie reckons it’s the craisins that are causing all the excitement, and she could be right, as it is easy to separate the lemurs from one another using the craisins as a lure.  Next, two wooden dowels are inserted into each enclosure and securely duct-taped in place.  Each stick is spread with a smear of grape jelly, and we wait.  Not for long, the lemurs have done this before, and soon they are licking, chewing, scent-marking and trying really hard to pull the sticks into the enclosure!

After a couple of days of the grape jelly treatment, the real experiment begins.  The procedure is the same with the sticks and duct tape, but this time the lemurs are videotaped, and three sticks are presented to each lemur, two with different female odors and one control.  The odors have been collected during regular vet examinations of the lemurs, using tiny sterilized cotton swabs, and stored in vials.  The odors have to be from lemurs previously unknown to the study participants, and Katie has spent time at other facilities around the country collecting samples. 

Herodotus is the first to be tested.  He watches the setting up, then climbs quickly down to check out the sticks.  He is very interested in the odors, sniffing, and scent-marking enthusiastically with his wrist and shoulder glands.  After a couple of minutes of intense interest, he retreats and grooms himself, but is soon back down and all over the sticks.  Katie interprets his body language – “Best. Day. Ever.”

Video caption:  Ring-tailed lemur Tugger shows a definite interest in the two outer sticks that have been marked with female odors.

-Mel Norris

Duke Lemur Center Volunteer

This week we sent out a shipment of 53 donated veterinary reference books, destined for the College of Veterinary Medicine of Madagascar, Antananarivo. The books will reinforce the new school’s fledgling library which has a tiny budget with which to purchase badly needed reference books. Our 53 books have been shipped to colleague Dr. Peter Balasky in south Florida who has kindly offered space in his ship container going to Madagascar, in February. Arrangements have been made to remove the books from the container at the port of Tamatave, and store them at the MFG office until they can be transported to Antananarivo, and the college. This brings the total of books that we have donated to the Madagascar Vet. School to 321. Thanks to our vets Cathy Williams and Bobby Schopler as well as others for collecting the donated books, and to dedicated volunteer Vicki Willard for making a record of each and every book that we send out. May the books contribute in a meaningful way to the training of veterinarians in Madagascar!

-Charlie Welch

Conservation Coordinator

“With great sadness, I write to announce an event that I have dreaded for many months now.  Our beloved Romeo, the western hemisphere’s only diademed sifaka to be successfully housed in captivity, died this morning of natural causes after a prolonged illness.  Death at the Duke Lemur Center is a rare event, and each one is felt as a grievous loss, but in Romeo’s case, the grief is profound.

Romeo was an exquisitely beautiful creature, and was gentle and responsive to his caretakers.  To see him was to be enchanted by him, and for those who cared for him day in and day out, he was a vivid presence.  He was also a symbol of hope and optimism.  He was a survivor who beat the odds, and was a source of special pride to all of the DLC staff.  He first came to the DLC from Madagascar in 1993, along with his mother and an adult male. Sadly, both adults in Romeo’s group died soon after leaving their native Madagascar.  All lemurs are fragile creatures, but sifakas are especially vulnerable.  They are devoted leaf eaters, and as such, have an extremely sensitive digestive system.  Romeo, perhaps because he was still nursing from his mother, adapted to his new environment, and survived.  He went on to live to be 19 years old, an age far beyond what could be hoped for in the wild.  His long and rich life is a testament to the remarkable care that he received from the DLC staff over the years.  

We will miss our beautiful boy.”

-Dr. Anne Yoder

DLC Director

In just four days I leave for Madagascar where I’ll remain until August.  The usual pre-trip mix of excitement and anxiety has set in.  Four giant duffel bags are already full of research and camping gear for myself and our research team as well as forest and city cloths, medications (daily malaria pills etc…), and anything that is hard to find in Madagascar (like good batteries, ziplock bags, and computer supplies). 

Duke Lemur Center’s conservation program in the SAVA region of northeastern Madagascar has already begun and several new programs are in development.  Phase two of the environmental education program will soon begin in which newly trained teacher trainers will lead workshops for the school directors.  Ultimately, each of the 2,431 primary school teachers in this region will receive the official environmental education manual and training in how to use it in their classes.

One of the most exciting lemur conservation developments is the possible discovery of the greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus) by our team in collaboration with the Aspinall Foundation and the Malagasy ngo Mitsinjo.  Local reports led us to probable feeding traces and fecal samples (see Figures 1 and 2) in the Antohaka Lava forest 20km south of Marojejy National Park.  With only an estimated few hundred individuals remaining, this is perhaps the rarest lemur in Madagascar.  This species has not been documented this far north in hundreds of years at least.  Currently, the closest populations are several hundred kilometers south.  We hope to obtain photographs or visual sightings in the near future. 

blog

-David Haring

January is not my favorite month.  The holidays are over, and with them all those wonderful three and four day work weeks.  It’s cold, dreary and dark outside.  The holiday cookies have all been eaten.   But in all that dreary darkness there is one bright spot at the Lemur Center:  January marks the true start of the sifaka birth season!  While most seasonally breeding diurnal lemurs give birth in the spring, peak birth season months for sifaka are January and February (with occasional births in December and March).  There are a few scientific theories out there that explain why sifaka have evolved to have their infants in mid winter; which in surprisingly seasonal Madagascar, is the coolest, driest time of year with the least amount of resources available for wild lemurs.  The main theory states that being born in the leanest time of year means that the youngsters will be starting to eat food on their own three or four months later, during time of peak resources.  This coincidence of peak infant feeding and natural food availability will perhaps  give rapidly developing youngsters the boost they need to make it through the following winter.  Four DLC sifaka females are thought to be pregnant:  Rupillia and Pia are expected to give birth the first half of January, and Rodelinda and Drusilla are anticipated to deliver the second half of the month.  We will keep you posted when the props start popping!

-David Haring

My name is Leah and I am a sophomore at Duke University studying Environmental Science and Policy and Evolutionary Anthropology and I am lucky enough to have been involved at the Lemur Center since the start of my freshman year.

In addition to my duties as a tour guide at our unique “Lemur Landing” facility, I have been working as a research assistant in Dr. Brian Hare’s Lab. My current “Hare Lab” research entails collecting videos of the lemurs yawning for an emotional contagion study.

Encouraging lemurs to yawn can be quite a challenge, but I am fortunate that instead of testing a lot of different animals I have had the incredible opportunity to work with just two family groups all year. This has allowed me to get to know the individuals within each group, which has been a very rewarding experience. It is always nice to have a friendly furry face welcome you to work and Johan (a Ring-tail lemur) has taken this task upon himself. Unfortunately I am not allowed to bring the lemurs back to my apartment!

I was recently trained to give Behind the Scenes Tours, which has also been an amazing experience. It is a privilege to be able to take guests into our animal building and watch their faces light up as they experience the wonders of lemurs close up and first hand. Working in education outreach is something that I especially enjoy because not only do I get to share my passion for lemurs and conservation I am also constantly learning new things.

I just want to thank all of the staff at the Lemur Center and everyone who comes out and supports us for allowing me to have the best jobs an undergraduate student could ever have. The Lemur Center is an incredible resource and I can’t wait to share my adventures there next semester with you. Until then Happy Holidays!