Research Themes
MadaGap's three inter-connected research themes are based on the scientific expertise of our leadership team and collaborators. Through these themes, which span spatial and temporal scales, we aim to learn more about which lemurs live where in Madagascar (Biogeography), how they persist in challenging and changing habitats (Ecology and Physiology), and what roles they play to keep forests functioning and healthy (Ecosystem Services).
1. Which lemurs live where: Biogeography
Coming soon: New initiatives in this theme. Stay tuned.
Madagascar is one of Earth's hottest biodiversity hotspots. Yet, despite centuries of field research and rapidly advancing technology to document wildlife, we are missing crucial information about which lemurs live where. This is particularly true for lemurs that look similar to the human eye, but are totally distinct species, and that live in hard-to-reach forests.
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Knowing how different lemur species are distributed across Madagascar is essential both for conservation assessments, and to piece together their fascinating history against the backdrop of an ever-changing Madagascar.​
2. Lemurs in changing habitats: Ecophysiology
Madagascar is an island of change. Natural changes over deep time required species to adapt to a variety of conditions, including unpredictable environments. Now, anthropogenic change at a rapid pace is further altering habitats and pushing wildlife to the brink of extinction.
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Under this theme, we study how wildlife copes with changing and challenging conditions, including fragmented forests and warming climates. In so doing, we learn about flexibility and resilience, and hope to predict how endangered species will fare.
Coming soon: New initiatives in this theme. Stay tuned.
3. What do lemurs do: Ecosystem services
Coming soon: New initiatives in this theme. Stay tuned.
Lemurs play essential roles to keep Madagascar's forests healthy and functional. These roles include dispersing the seeds of fruiting trees, pollinating flowers, cycling nutrients, and serving as food for predators like the fosa, as well as many snakes and birds of prey.
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Under this theme, we study how lemurs interact with other species in their environment, determine which ecosystem services are provided by which species of lemurs, and the consequences to forest health when lemurs are extirpated or lost from a particular habitat.