Leveraging the multidimensional nutritional niche to inform conservation practice

Adequate nutrition underpins animal survival and population persistence, yet conservation planning rarely considers the nutritional composition of foods or the mechanisms governing dietary niche partitioning. Here we quantified the multidimensional nutritional niche of a Critically Endangered primate ( Varecia variegata editorum ) to identify priority food resources for supporting its recolonization of disturbed and regenerating forests in Madagascar. Although individuals consumed a diverse array of foods, these foods were similar in macronutrient contents and lemurs occupied a narrow macronutrient niche, indicating food exploitation generalism but food composition and macronutrient specialism. Ruffed lemurs exhibited highly similar nutritional niches across two habitats with different disturbance histories; however, nutritional factors were the most important dietary axes distinguishing diets in these habitats. These findings suggest that Varecia adjust food selection to maintain specific macronutrient intake targets despite differences in food availability. Consequently, reforestation efforts should prioritize plant species that provide nutritionally complementary resources rather than focusing on species diversity or presumed preferred food types. Incorporating nutritional dimensions into niche characterization can therefore improve our understanding of habitat suitability and provide a practical conservation tool for designing restoration strategies that support endangered wildlife.