Scent marking preferences of ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) in spiny forest at Berenty Reserve

Ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) scent mark plants for territorial defense and intrasexual competition. We hypothesized that choosing an appropriate plant substrate for marking could be a factor in olfactory communication, as some plants may be easier to scent mark and/or investigate for scent signals than others. We addressed two questions in the spiny forest botanical garden at Berenty Reserve: (1) Which plant genera are scent marked? (2) Which plant morphologies are associated with scent marking? Unlike studies in gallery forest, we found marking occurred disproportionately on the genus Uncarina, as well as other plant taxa that are known lemur foods. Marked stems were also more likely to have a smaller stem and forked shape, compared to nearest unmarked neighbors. The genus Euphorbia, a plant with sap that is a known irritant to humans, was avoided, even though its morphology appeared suitable for marking. Uncarina sap has also been noted for its odor and unique chemistry. Our data suggest that ring-tailed lemur scent marking is strongly associated with certain plant substrates over others, including some with unusual chemical properties. Mechanisms underlying how plant choices facilitate scent communication, or interact chemically with lemur marks, represents a promising area of research. Preferences we describe are also germane to providing captive lemurs with enrichment to promote natural marking behavior.