Data from: Living in the dark: Exploring the factors driving nocturnal activity in three lemur species
Data files
Jan 27, 2026 version files 86.20 KB
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Nocturnal_data_updated_Jan2026.xlsx
84.19 KB
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README.md
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Abstract
With a focus on three lemur species (Eulemur rubriventer, E. rufifrons, and Varecia variegata editorum) in a Malagasy tropical rainforest, we investigated how nocturnal luminosity (NLI), temperature, and rainfall influenced their active state and distance traveled at night compared to the day. We monitored them across 24‐h cycles from May 2023 to September 2024 using GPS collars.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.905qftv0m
Description of the data and file structure
Data file name: Nocturnal_data_updated_Jan2026.xlsx
DATASET LIST
dpl_data: this sheet contains daily records for a tagged lemur, indicating the species distance traveled (dpl) for each observation.
factors: contains nightly activity data for tagged lemurs, including movement (mean distance and total distance traveled at night), night length, nocturnal light index (NLI), temperature, and rainfall for each date.
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR dpl_data
1. Number of variables: 5
2. Number of cases/rows: 1438
3. Variable List:
Date: date of observation
Species: one of three lemur species (E. rubirventer, E. rufifrons, and V. variegata)
Tag: the unique identification number of the lemur’s tracking device.
time_type: the classification of the observation as “day” or “night,” based on whether the GPS fix occurred between sunset and sunrise or between sunrise and sunset.
dpl: the distance traveled by the individual during that time period (day or night).
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR factors
1. Number of variables: 9
2. Number of cases/rows: 718
3. Variable List:
Date: date of observation
Species: one of three lemur species (E. rubirventer, E. rufifrons, and V. variegata)
Tag: the unique identification number of the lemur’s tracking device.
Mean_night: the proportion of activity during the night
dpl_night: the distance traveled at night that date.
night_length: the duration of nighttime for that date, generally expressed in minutes.
NLI (Nocturnal Luminosity Index): a measure of night-time light conditions, often based on moonlight or ambient illumination.
Temperature: the average night temperature (°C) that date.
Rainfall: the amount of precipitation (mm) recorded for that date.