DISTRIBUTION OF RUFFED LEMURS (VARECIA-VARIEGATA) IN RANOMAFANA NATIONAL-PARK, MADAGASCAR

The distribution of Varecia variegata at 3 sites in Ranomafana Nationa l Park is consistent with the hypothesis that this specialized frugivo re is the most susceptible of 12 sympatric lemur species to habitat di sruption brought about by selective logging. Varecia is most abundant at the least disturbed site and absent from the most intensively logge d site. The logged area showed lower values for overall tree basal are a, crown diameters and tree height and an increase in the number of tr ees, presumably because of growing saplings. Varecia select large food trees of species that are preferentially logged. Although tree specie s diversity may be higher after logging, many Varec ia food trees were absent from disturbed forests.