Infant survival is significantly impacted by dam- and management-related factors in zoo-managed Eulemur populations.

Abstract

Due to their potential impact on population growth, many studies have investigated factors affecting infant survival in mammal populations under human care. Here we used more than 30 years of Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) studbook data and contraception data from the AZA Reproductive Management Center, along with logistic regression models, to investigate which factors affect infant survival in four Eulemur species managed as Species Survival Plans® in AZA. Across species, infant survival to 1 month ranged from 65% to 78%. Previous experience producing surviving offspring was positively correlated to infant survival in collared (Eulemur collaris), crowned (Eulemur coronatus), and mongoose (Eulemur mongoz) lemurs. Both dam age and previous use of contraception were negatively correlated to infant survival for collared lemurs, though our results suggest the latter may be confounded with other factors. Blue-eyed black lemurs (Eulemur flavifrons) were affected by birth location, suggesting differences in husbandry that may affect infant survival. These results can be used to assist in reproductive planning or to anticipate the likelihood of breeding success. Population managers may also be able to focus their reproductive planning on younger dams or those with previous experience to predict successful births. Future studies should seek to determine what aspects of previous dam success are most important to infant survival, investigate sire-related factors, and examine factors related to cause of death in infants that may lead to differential survival. Our hope is to present a framework that may be useful for investigating infant survival in other mammal species' breeding programs.