Research at the Reserve

Current Research Projects and Publications

Research Projects and Publications List To Date

Planning Your Research

Scientific research is an essential element of the mission of the Lemur Conservation Foundation. The unique facilities of the Myakka City Lemur Reserve (MCLR) provide a valuable setting for understanding critical issues for lemur in situ and ex situ conservation. The MCLR is an excellent field site for studying lemur behavior, primate cognition, captive management, conservation biology, and many other areas of interest.  Scientists as well as undergraduate and graduate students are all welcome to conduct research at the Reserve. 

This web page provides in-depth information about LCF’s research policies and requirements for doing research at the Reserve.  Because every project is unique, we strongly recommend that interested researchers arrange to visit the Reserve early in the planning process for their research projects.   Please contact the Director, Research & Operations to arrange a visit or for information about research guidelines and proposal submission guidelines.
 
LCF staff are able to collect some biosample materials for research that does not require a visit to the Reserve.  Researchers interested in using biomaterial samples under these conditions should contact the Director, Research & Operations, to discuss material availability, sample handling requirements, proposal requirements, and collection scheduling.
 
Professors interested in bringing students to the Reserve for “in-the-field” training should contact the Director, Research & Operations to learn more about field training opportunities.  You can find out more about current field training programs on ourField Training page. 

LCF Research Policies

Research guidelines and priorities are determined by the LCF Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) and by the LCF Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). 
 

The following guidelines are applicable to all research projects conducted at the Myakka City Lemur Reserve:

All research proposals will be reviewed by both the LCF IACUC and the LCF Scientific Advisory Council. Both committees must approve the project before any research begins.
 
All researchers must demonstrate in their proposal that the project involves no physical or psychological harm to the lemurs.
 
Research requiring surgery is prohibited.
 
LCF discourages the submission of project proposals requiring exclusive access to research subjects.
 
Research projects that include sample collection requiring anesthesia (i.e blood samples, parasite collection, or similar) will be considered carefully on a case by case basis. In such cases, the researcher should attempt to coordinate sampling with regular annual physicals. However, physicals can be scheduled flexibly to accommodate a particular research project if both review committees approve. It is recommended that these proposals be submitted well in advance to increase the likelihood of coordinating sampling and physicals and consequently increasing the chance of project approval when anesthesia is involved.
 
Prior to submitting proposals to the LCF, the researcher should obtain approval from his/her home institution’s IACUC.  A copy of that approval letter or the approval number should be submitted with the initial research proposal.  In some cases a researcher’s institution may not have an IACUC, in which case a letter stating this must be submitted with the initial research proposal.  Similarly, a researcher’s IACUC may waive the review of said proposal in deference to the LCF IACUC.
 
To be considered, all research proposals must be submitted using the MCLR Research Form.  A signed copy of MCLR Researcher Compliance Form, proof of negative Tb test, and a completed Biomaterials Transfer Agreement (if applicable) must be accompany the MCLR Research Form. 
 
All proposals must be submitted 60 days prior to the intended start of the study and all comments, edits, concerns and conditions must be addressed, and, when requested, changes or corrections completed 30 days prior to the intended start of the study.
 
It is expected that LCF will receive a copy of any final work arising from research conducted at the Reserve within 60 days of the completion or publication of that work.  LCF must be acknowledged in any publications stemming from research done at the Reserve.  Researchers must contact the LCF Director of Research and Operations for an accession number to be included in the publication with the acknowledgement.  In the event that no formal presentation or publication results from the research, the researcher agrees to provide a summary report of the project, data, and results within 60 days of the termination of the research project or receipt of biomaterials.

Projects meeting the following criteria will be given priority, with criteria listed in order of importance:

Project does not interfere with the natural patterns of behavior or troop composition of the lemurs at the Reserve.
 
Project cannot be conducted in a traditional captive environment due to the nature of the methods and/or research question.
 
Project contributes to the colony management or animal husbandry of captive lemurs, particularly in semi-free ranging habitats.
 
Project focuses on a new and unique aspect of prosimian ecology, behavior, and/or physiology, adding rather than duplicating published information.
 
Project does not exclude concurrent research on the subjects of the study.
 
Project includes a means of disseminating results to the larger scientific community.

A complete research proposal will include the following:

Introduction letter, summarizing the research project, its significance, the qualifications of the primary investigator, and the date and duration of the proposed project.
 
Current curriculum vitae or resume
 
Proof of negative Tb test within past 9 months
 
MCLR Research Proposal Form
 
MCLR Researcher Compliance Form
 
Biomaterials Transfer Agreement (if applicable)
 
Documentation of the proposal’s review status at the researcher’s institution
 
Undergraduate and graduate students should submit a letter of support from the project sponsor or academic advisor and one letter of recommendation from a person familiar with the student’s academic work and research experience.

Required Forms:

The MCLR Research Proposal Form can be downloaded to your computer, filled out electronically, saved with your last name and submitted to LCF electronically.  The text fields will expand to accommodate your text. Use the Tab key to navigate between fields.

The Researcher Compliance Agreement and Biomaterials Transfer Agreement require a signature and should be submitted by mail.   

1) Download the Research Proposal Form
 
                        **Instructions for completing the MCLR Research Proposal Form

2) Download the Researcher Compliance Agreement
 
3) Download the Biomaterials Transfer Agreement

All materials should be directed to:

Pattie Walsh -  Director, Research and Operations

Email: pwalsh@lemurreserve.org

or

Director, Research and Operations
Lemur Conservation Foundation
PO Box 249
Myakka City, FL 34251

Scientific Advisory Council

The scientists on LCF’s advisory council are responsible for establishing the Myakka City Lemur Reserve’s animal collection plan and the formal research policy. All research proposals are reviewed by one or more of the advisory council members and must be approved by these reviewers before the research can commence. It is also the responsibility of the advisory council to monitor the progress and results of research projects. This is done annually and usually focuses on the completion of previously approved projects, the dissemination of results to the larger scientific community, and the project's overall effect on the management of the colony. A general review of the past year’s projects may result in changes to the research policy, if the advisory council deems this necessary. Individual members of the council determine their own level of involvement for both policy setting and project review. The level of involvement in any given project generally reflects each individual’s area of expertise.

For SAC members and their affiliations Click Here

Reserve - Logistics

Research Subjects:

The Myakka City Lemur Reserve houses a dynamic lemur colony.  As an AZA certified related facility, we participate in a number of breeding programs, sometimes exchanging lemurs with other AZA member institutions to meet population needs.  These exchanges along with natural life cycles mean that the lemur colony composition is always changing.  Please contact the Director, Research & Operations to get the current status of each species housed at the Reserve. 

Scheduling Research:

Research is conducted at the Reserve year round.  Deciding when to conduct your research depends on several factors including: your availability, the research question, and space availability at the Reserve.  The lemur breeding season at the Reserve is from October through February and births generally occur in April, May and June.  Due to the academic calendar, March, early April, June, July, and August are our busiest months for research.  Please discuss your proposed research dates with the Director, Research & Operations early during project planning.

Transportation:

The Myakka City Lemur Reserve is located in a remote area of rural Central Florida.  Though located outside of Myakka City, the closest towns with commercial districts are Sarasota, Bradenton, Arcadia, and Wauchula.  Myakka City has one gas station and a convenience store and is a fifteen minute drive from the Reserve. The nearest grocery and drug stores are a forty minute drive. It is strongly recommended that researchers planning on staying at the Reserve for more than one week provide their own vehicle and that it be in good repair. The surrounding areas offer parks, beaches, malls, museums and movie theaters but these destinations all require a vehicle.
 
If staying for a brief period, researchers can choose to fly into the Tampa International Airport (TPA) or the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ).  Commercial shuttles to/from the Reserve are not available, but LCF is willing to provide this shuttle service for a modest fee (see Budgeting Considerations below).  If you will require shuttle service from the airport, please do not purchase airfare without first checking with the Director, Research & Operations on scheduling.

Accommodations:

The Lemur Conservation Foundation is proud to offer on-site accommodations for visiting interns and researchers. The LCF Researchers' House is fully equipped with two bathrooms (one handicap accessible), four bedrooms, full kitchen, dining area, washer/dryer, and shared living space. Maximum capacity is nine people.   Guests may have to share a room during their stay at the Reserve.  Towels, linens, and kitchen supplies are provided.
 

Fees and Budget Considerations

Housing Fees:

When staying at the Researchers’ house, guests are required to pay a $100/week fee (pro-rated) to help LCF cover the housing expenses. This fee does not cover food or other personal items.

Tent camping is also available in a developed site adjacent to the Researchers' House for $30/week.

Research Fees

Research              $5.00/day

Exclusive Use       $30.00/week

Biosample            $ costs vary - please contact Director, Research and Operations

Airport Shuttle:

Sarasota Airport -     $15 each way
Tampa Airport -        $30 each way