Melody Petersen

My Master's research is focused on the impacts of habitat disturbance on the nutritional ecology of black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata). Specifically, I am interested in how the degree of disturbance within forest fragments influences both the availability and nutrient content of food species, and consequently, lemur nutrient intakes and balancing; furthermore, I am interested in how nutritional status can be linked to behavioural adaptations such as dietary plasticity and alterations to activity budgets.