Lemur Extinctions Are Harmful to Madagascar’s Plant Life, Too

Plants and trees that once relied on a particular species of lemur to spread their seeds may also be headed for extinction.

(Public domain photo via Mathias Appel/Flickr)

 By Ker Than

smithsonian.com April 11, 2016

The human-driven extinction of fruit-eating lemurs on Madagascar has created multiple “orphan” plant species with precarious futures because their primary seed dispersers are gone, scientists say.

The findings, detailed in this week’s issue of the journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could have implications for conservation efforts not only in Madagascar, but around the world. Read more.