When humans first set foot on Madagascar 2,300 years ago, there were 70 species of lemurs living in the island’s verdant forests. Over time, logging and agriculture cleared the forests, leaving the island with a bare interior and just two strips of forest on the coasts. As their habitats dwindled, many species of lemurs became extinct; others became endangered.  Explore the feature story, “Lemurs of Madagascar: Surviving on an Island of Change”, and learn more about these unique animals and the challenges facing them.   

• Why is Madagascar such a good place to study evolution and habitat change?
• Read the essay, “Lemurs in Madagascar: Then”.  Describe the changing conditions that led to some species of lemurs becoming extinct.
• Why are lemurs with more specialized diets more vulnerable to habitat change?  How is having a more general diet helpful for survival?
• What is adaptive radiation and how has it led to the survival of some lemur species?
• What is habitat fragmentation and what are researchers trying to do to prevent it?
• What are some other areas of the world that are experiencing rapid habitat change?  What species in those areas are threatened?