Genetic Confirmations of Dwarf Lemurs Across Madagascar Highlights Complex Biogeographic Patterns.

Blanco, Marina B.; Greene, Lydia K.; Andriamahaihavana, Antonin; Andriambeloson, Jean‐Basile; Andrianaivoarivelo, Radosoa; Andrianantenaina, Herizo; Andriantsalohimisantatra, Ando; Bemita, Landry; Birkinshaw, Chris; Dimbilahy, Jean Marcellin; Guevara, Elaine E.; Mahefaniaina, Anna Mananjara; Rajaonarison, Manitra F.; Rakotoarinivo, Toky H.; Rakotoarison, Fenonirina; Rakotozafy, Lovasoa Sylviane; Rambeloson, Elodi; Randriamboavonjy, Tianjanahary; Randriamihanta, Yockline; Rasoanaivo, Hoby A.

Genetic Confirmations of Dwarf Lemurs Across Madagascar Highlights Complex Biogeographic Patterns.

Name

Integrative_Conservation_-_2025_-_Blanco_-_Genetic_Confirmations_of_Dwarf_Lemurs_Across_Madagascar_Highlights_Complex.pdf

Description

visibility:open

Size

4.52 MB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (CRC64NVME)

uH3yKqKcmvU=

Resource type

Journal article

Creator (person)

Blanco, Marina B.

ORCID

Greene, Lydia K.

ORCID

Andriamahaihavana, Antonin

ORCID

Andriambeloson, Jean‐Basile

ORCID

Andrianaivoarivelo, Radosoa

ORCID

Andrianantenaina, Herizo

Andriantsalohimisantatra, Ando

Bemita, Landry

Birkinshaw, Chris

Dimbilahy, Jean Marcellin

Guevara, Elaine E.

ORCID

Mahefaniaina, Anna Mananjara

Rajaonarison, Manitra F.

Rakotoarinivo, Toky H.

Rakotoarison, Fenonirina

Rakotozafy, Lovasoa Sylviane

ORCID

Rambeloson, Elodi

ORCID

Randriamboavonjy, Tianjanahary

ORCID

Randriamihanta, Yockline

Rasoanaivo, Hoby A.

ORCID

Ravelojaona, Rojo N.

ORCID

Razafindramanana, Josia

ORCID

Rakotonomenjanahary, Sandratra R.

Rivoharison, Tahiry V.

Tongasoa, Haja R.

Williams, Rachel C.

Ratsoavina, Fanomezana M.

ORCID

Yoder, Anne D.

ORCID

Date published

December 15, 2025

Abstract

Conservation action, vital in biodiversity hotspots, depends on reliable data on endangered taxa. This is especially important for species that are morphologically cryptic and difficult to distinguish in the field. The dwarf lemurs of Madagascar (Cheirogaleus spp.) exemplify these challenges: They are widespread but endangered, nocturnal, small‐sized, and cryptic. The genus is diverse, with nine described species and as many candidate species, falling into four distinct lineages (“medius,” “sibreei,” “crossleyi,” and “major”). Many protected areas in Madagascar harbor dwarf lemur populations that await genetic species confirmation. Here, we collated tissue samples from 30 individual dwarf lemurs in 10 forest sites collected by a network of collaborators over a decade. We sequenced the simple but diagnostic cytochrome‐b marker gene and placed samples into a curated database of > 200 published sequences. Except for an individual from the “sibreei” lineage in Marojejy that separated from close relatives farther south, our samples fell into described or candidate species, supporting geographic clustering within lineages. We identified two sites in the northeast that harbor different assemblages of species from three distinct lineages in sympatry. We confirmed the presence of C. crossleyi at sites across Madagascar's central highlands, considerably extending its known range, and posit that this is the dominant dwarf lemur of the highlands north of the Mangoky river. Although our results are limited in resolution and call for in‐depth genomics, we advocate for foundational field work, natural history exploration, and survey/sampling expeditions to generate the very data on which sophisticated genomics and computational methods rely. 保护行动对于生物多样性热点地区至关重要, 它依赖于濒危类群的可靠数据。这对于那些形态隐蔽 (morphologically cryptic) 且难以在野外区分的物种尤为重要。马达加斯加的鼠狐猴属 ( spp.) 正是这些挑战的典型代表:它们分布广泛但濒临灭绝, 且为夜行性、体型小且隐蔽的物种。该属具有多样性, 包括9个已描述物种和同样数量的候选物种, 分为四个独特的谱系 (“medius”、“sibreei”、“crossleyi”和“major”) 。马达加斯加的许多保护区内栖息着尚待遗传物种确认的鼠狐猴种群。在此, 我们整理了合作网络在十年间于10个森林位点采集的30只鼠狐猴个体的组织样本。我们对简单但具有诊断价值的细胞色素b (cytochrome‐b) 标记基因进行了测序, 并将样本放入包含200多条已发表序列的精选数据库中。除了来自马洛杰吉 (Marojejy) 的一只“sibreei”谱系个体与其南部近亲分离外, 我们的样本均归入已描述物种或候选物种, 支持了谱系内的地理聚类。我们在东北部确定了两个位点, 那里栖息着来自三个不同谱系的物种构成的不同同域分布组合。我们确认了克氏鼠狐猴 ( ) 在马达加斯加中部高地多个位点的存在, 极大地扩展了其已知分布范围, 并推断这是Mangoky河以北高地的优势鼠狐猴物种。尽管我们的结果分辨率有限且需要深入的基因组学研究, 但我们提倡开展基础性的野外工作、自然史探索以及调查/采样考察, 以生成复杂基因组学和计算方法所依赖的基础数据。 Mifototra amin'ny tahirin‐kevitra azo antoka ny asa fiarovana, indrindra ho an'ireo karazan‐javamanan'aina akaiky ho lany tamingana, izay mitovy endrika ivelany kanefa sarotra avahana toy ireo Matavirambo eto Madagasikara ( spp.). Mavitrika amin'ny alina, mitovitovy endrika ivelany sy sarotra avahana izy ireo kanefa samihafa tarazo, na dia miparitaka amin'ny toerana maro eto Madagasikara aza. Misy karazana 9 ny spp. ary mitsinjara ho vondrona 4, “medius”, “sibreei”, “crossleyi”, ary “major”. Faritra arovana maro no hahitana ireo Matavirambo, saingy mila porofo ara‐poto‐tarazo ny fanammarinana ny taranaka misy azy ireo. Teto izahay dia nanangona santionana sela miisa 30 avy tamin'ireo Matavirambo miparitaka ao anatin'ny faritr'ala 10. Izany no tanteraka dia noho ny fiaraha‐miasa nisy teo amin ireo mpikaroka maro tao anatin'ny 10 taona. Nitsirika ny rindran‐damin'ny fototrin'ny aina tamin'ny fomba tsotra nefa azo antoka izahay ary niasa tamin'ny faritra cytochrome‐b. Ireo rindran‐damin'ny fototrin'ny aina ireo dia nalefa tao anaty ango‐kevitra mari‐pototra sy efa voamarina sahabo eo amin'ny 200 isa eo. Voamarina fa tafiditra amin'ny karazana na kandida ny ankamaroan'ny santionanay. Manaporofo izany fa misy famoriam‐piarahamonina araka ny jeografia ao amin'ireo fizarana, afa‐tsy ilay singa iray avy amin'ny fizarana “sibreei” ao Marojejy izay misaraka amin'ireo akaiky azy, izay voafaritra somary atsimo kokoa. Nahitana toerana roa any avaratra‐atsinanana izay samy mampiantrano karazana avy amin'ny fizarana (lignée) telo samihafa. Voamarina ihany koa fa dia karazana hita matetika amin'ny faritra avo afovoan'i Madagasikara. Mivelatra kokoa noho izany ny toeramponenany satria hahitana azy ihany koa hatrany amin'ny faritra avaratry ny renirano Mangoky. Na dia voafetra aza ny vokatra nasehonay ary mitaky fikarohana ara‐pototarazo lalindalina kokoa, dia manamafy ny maha‐zava dehibe ny fitsidihana toerana isankarazany sy ny fangalana santionany. Ilaina ihany koa ny fanadihadiana ny tantaram‐piainana ara‐voajanahary eny ifotony hanampiana ireo fitsirihana/santionana mba hanangonana ny angon‐drakitra izay ivon'ny fikarohana ara‐pototarazo sy fikajiana manaraka ny toetr'andro. Species are the unit by which we count biodiversity and assess extinction risk. We therefore need to know which species live where. Assigning species in the wild is challenging when individuals look alike, and when they are small‐sized and nocturnal. This is the case for the dwarf lemurs of Madagascar. There are currently nine known species and several candidate species of dwarf lemurs that inhabit different forests in Madagascar. These lemurs are only identifiable by sequencing their DNA, and many sites in Madagascar await such genetic species confirmations. We use a diagnostic marker gene to confirm the dwarf lemur species at 10 sites for which prior data were sparse or inconclusive. We find that multiple dwarf lemur species inhabit the same forests in northeastern Madagascar. We also show that one species, the furry‐eared dwarf lemur, is exclusively found in very small, fragmented forests across the central highlands. While acknowledging our limitations, we advocate for additional field surveys to better delineate true species geographic distributions. This information can help answer questions about how these lemurs got there in the first place and whether they may be resilient or tolerant to impending climate and anthropogenic changes. Ny karazana no singa entina mandrefy ny karazan‐java‐anan'aina sy hanombanana ny tatao mety hahalany tamingana azy. Noho izany, zava‐dehibe ny fahalalàna mazava momba ny toerana misy ny karazana tsirairay. Sarotra anefa ny mamantatra ny karazana rehefa mitovy endrika ivelany sy samy mavitrika amin’ny alina izy ireo. Izany indrindra no zava‐misy amin’ny Mativirambo na dwarf lemurs eto Madagasikara. Amin’izao fotoana izao dia karazana 9 no efa voafaritra ara‐tsiansa, ary misy karazana kandida maromaro hafa fantatra fa monina amin’ny ala manerana an’i Madagasikara. Amin'ny ankapobeny dia amin'ny alalan'ny fandaharana ny rindran‐damin’ny fototrin'ny aina (ADN) ihany no ahafahana mamantatra tsara ireo Matavirambo ireo, ary mbola maro amin'ny toerana eto Madagasikara no tsy mbola manana fanamafisana ara‐pototarazo ny karazana misy. Mampiasa mari‐pototra ADN izahay mba hamantarana sy hanamafisana ny karazana Matavirambo amin'ny toerana 10 izay mbola tsy nisy ny angon‐drakitra hatramin’izay. Hitanay fa misy karazana Matavirambo maro monina anaty ala iray any avaratra atsinanan'i Madagasikara. Nasehonay ihany koa fa ny iray amin'ireo karazana, ny Matavirambo (furry‐eared dwarf lemurs), dia hita manokana amin'ny tsitokotokon’ala kely manodidina ny afovoan‐tany. Na dia nisy fetrany aza ny fikarohana natao, dia manentana ny hanaovana fitsirihana ifotony fanampiny izahay mba hahafahana mamantatra mazava kokoa ny fizaran‐toeran’ireo karazana. Ity fikarohana ity dia afaka manampy amin'ny famaliana ny fanontaniana ny amin’ny fomba nahatongavan'ireo Matavirambo ireo tany amin'ireny faritra ireny, sy ny fanombanana ny fahazakan’izy ireo izay mety fiovaovan'ny toetrandro sy ny fiantraikan’ny tsindry ataon’ny olombelona. 物种是我们统计生物多样性和评估灭绝风险的单位。因此, 我们需要了解哪些物种生活在哪里。当个体外貌相似, 且体型小、夜间活动时, 在野外确定物种具有挑战性。马达加斯加的鼠狐猴就是这种情况。目前已知有9种鼠狐猴和几个候选物种栖息在马达加斯加的不同森林中。这些狐猴只能通过DNA测序来识别, 马达加斯加的许多地点正等待这种遗传物种确认。我们使用一种诊断性标记基因来确认10个地点的鼠狐猴物种, 这些地点之前的数据稀缺或不确凿。我们发现多种鼠狐猴栖息在马达加斯加东北部的同一片森林中。我们还表明, 有一个物种, 即毛耳鼠狐猴 (furry‐eared dwarf lemur), 仅发现于中部高地非常小且破碎化的森林中。在承认我们的局限性的同时, 我们提倡进行更多的野外调查, 以更好地划定真实的物种地理分布。这些信息有助于回答这些狐猴最初是如何到达那里的, 以及它们是否能够抵御或耐受即将到来的气候和人为变化。实践者要点

Project(s)

Priority 1: Ecosystem Stewardship

Funder

Funder name	Awards
Duke University< United States	Duke Tropical Conservation Initiative, Primate Action Fund (PAF 15-16, CI Contract 6001453)
Global Wildlife Conservation, United States
Re:Wild, United States	SMA-CCO-G0000000336