Fig 3 - uploaded by Ben Evans
Content may be subject to copyright.
Source publication
Mariarano forest. Mariarano forest comprises 65 km² of west-ern dry deciduous forest, wooded grass and bush land, a wetland complex and agricultural land (Moat & Smith 2007, Washington et al. 2009) and has been noted for its rich lemur populations (Andriantompohavana et al. 2006, Olivieri et al. 2006). Mariar-ano forest is one of the few remaining...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... station, unbaited (sta- tion 2), it was recorded singly on 9 July at 05h56 and 11 July at 05h58. At the second station, baited with chicken offal and bones and approximately 50 m from the first, photographs were taken on 11 July at 04h32, 12 July at 03h21 and 14 July at 04h25. The individual appeared to investigate the bait without taking any (Fig. 3). Both stations were on zebu trails just off the survey sample route. Eupleres was photographed at station 6, 2.7 km to the north, unbaited, in an open, scrubby area of the forest on 12 July at 00h51. The identification as E. major reflects the robustness of appearance (K. M. Helgen in litt. 2013) and is more consistent with this newly ...
Citations
... Eupleres major Lavauden, 1929 Western falanouc Madagascar Y Only known from a few museum specimens and recent camera-trapping records (Evans et al., 2013;Merson et al., 2018). Goodman & Helgen (2010) suggested to elevate E. goudotii major to species level, but molecular studies of Veron & Goodman (2018) have shown that the studied samples do not differ from that of E. goudotii (Eastern falanouc). ...
This Appendix provides a detailed (but non-exhaustive) list of the main small carnivoran taxa (n = 72) that have been – to date – the subject of discussions as to whether they should be attributed species or subspecies level.
... They were also described as particularly inactive during the period comprised between 12 am and 2 pm (Curtis and Zaramody 1999). Potential predators are the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox), dogs, and raptors (Curtis and Zaramody 1998;Evans et al. 2013). The presence of mongoose lemurs in Ankatsabe forest was reported, but no regular study was carried out to date (Long et al. 2010(Long et al. , 2012. ...
Animals exhibit an astonishing diversity of communicative systems, with substantial variation in both the nature and the number of signals they produce. Variation in communicative complexity has been conceptually and empirically attributed to social complexity and formalized as the “social-complexity hypothesis for communicative complexity” (SCHCC). Indeed, group-living animals face complex social environments where they engage in a wide range of interactions with different social partners triggering the need for transmission of a broader diversity of messages. In chapter I (Peckre et al. 2019), I review the literature on the current tests of the SCHCC, pointing out and discussing what I identified as the main gaps in the current state of the art. Specifically, three key issues emerged from my analysis. The first issue concerns the operational definition of the main variables, social and communicative complexity. Notably, when defining communicative complexity, most empirical tests of the SCHCC focus on a single modality (e.g., acoustic, visual, olfactory) whereas several good reasons exist for acknowledging the multimodal nature of both, signals and communicative systems in this framework. At the system level, focusing on only one modality may lead to over- or underestimation of the relationship between social and communicative complexity. The second issue relates to the fact that while numerous studies have highlighted a link between social and communicative complexity, their correlative nature does not permit conclusions about the direction of causality. Indeed, alternative hypotheses involving anatomical, phylogenetical, or ecological factors have also been proposed to explain the evolution of more complex forms of communication. Finally, I note that researchers rarely address the actual ways in which social factors directly affect variation in signaling. Indeed, the underlying mechanisms of this link are usually left unexplored, failing to uncover the specific attribute of communication that would be co-evolving with specific aspects of sociality. I, therefore, make a plea for expanding tests of the SCHCC in 1) scope (systematic approach across modalities) and 2) depth (characterization of the observed relationships) as I believe it may significantly advance our understanding of the intricate links between animal sociality and communication. To address point 1), I offer in chapter II a comprehensive approach of the cross-modal communicative systems of two closely related true lemur species having similar morphology, living in similar habitats, but differing in their social systems. I studied wild Eulemur rufifrons and E. mongoz in Madagascar, respectively in Kirindy and Ankatsabe forests for 12 months. I describe a new analytical framework to assess the complexity of signaling systems across modalities. Applying a multimodal approach may help to uncover the different selective pressures acting on the communicative system and to understand better adaptive functions that might be unclear from the study of its separate components independently. E. rufifrons, the species having the more complex social system, also had overall a more complex communicative system than the one of the E. mongoz. Both careful choices of the species to compare to limit the effect of possible additional selective pressures and exploration of the social function of the non-homologous signals allow concluding that this increased complexity of the communicative system in E. rufifrons is most likely associated with social selective pressures. I developed this new analytical framework, partly based on using a cross-modal network approach, with the perspective of facilitating cross-taxonomic comparisons. Moreover, this approach may be combined with new multi-dimensional approaches of social complexity and contribute to a more holistic approach to the tests of the SCHCC. By this, we should be able to derive new testable hypotheses that would contribute to better understand the course of events that have led to the evolution of communication diversity in its distinct dimensions. In chapter III, I address point 2) by investigating the impacts of sociality on the expression of a multimodal signal, the anogenital scent-marking behavior in wild red-fronted lemurs. I specifically investigated intragroup audience effects on anogenital scent-marking behaviors in a wild population of red-fronted lemurs and particularly whether males and females differed in this aspect and if these differences may reveal functional differences associated with anogenital scent-marking across sexes. I found an intragroup audience effect in males but not in females. Males deposited less often anogenital marks when more males were present within a three meters range compared to five- or ten-meters ranges. Males may prefer to reduce the risk of physical contact by avoiding to scent-mark near other males, and/or give priority to other males to scent-mark. With these results, I provide important insights into the functional significance of anogenital scent-marking in red-fronted lemurs and support the idea of greater intragroup social pressures associated with anogenital scent-marking in males than in females in egalitarian species. Studying the flexibility of complex signal usage (e.g., occurrence or structural modifications) across social contexts (audiences) should permit the identification of different individual social characteristics that may elicit or constrain complex signal expression. These social characteristics may later constitute social pressures acting for or against the evolution of these complex signaling behaviors. In chapters IV and V, I also address ethical questions related to this project and the way I tried to adapt and best address my responsibilities for animal welfare. In chapter IV, I expose some technical details and ethical concerns experienced during the choice of my field sites. While in chapter V (Buil and Peckre et al. 2019) I present a remote releasable collar system developed in collaboration with the Neurobiology Laboratory (German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany) intending to provide a tool to significantly reduce the number of captures in studies using bio-logging for medium-sized mammal species. Overall, by emphasizing the importance of the multimodal nature of communicative systems and the social context in which signals are exchanged, I hope to stimulate the development of new tests of the SCHCC based on this expanded framework. I additionally argue for the importance of looking across research fields since striking parallels may be observed between animal behavior and linguistic research when addressing the origins of communication complexity, be it in the form of human language or animal signaling.
... It is also one of the last landmasses to be inhabited by humans (Dewar and Wright 1993). Home to a mammalian fauna that is highly diverse and threatened, Madagascar is considered to be one of the world's top conservation priorities (Evans et al. 2013). ...
Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) are estimated to be one of the most globally abundant invasive carnivores that threaten wildlife. Madagascar is home to large populations of free-roaming dogs and is a highly diverse and anthropogenically threatened environment, making it one of the world's top conservation priorities. Comparatively little is known about human-dog relationships in developing countries such as Madagascar. We surveyed non-dog owners and dog owners visiting free mobile veterinary clinics in their communities around Ranomafana National Park (RNP) and Andasibe-Mantadia National Park (AMNP) to understand human-dog relationships, gain insight on free-roaming dog behavior, and to assess the feasibility of humane population control measures. Amongst dog owners, the vast majority of respondents reported owning their dog for protection and a significant number had dogs for companionship. Our results indicate that free-roaming (owned, unconfined) dogs may be an underappreciated threat to endemic wildlife in the National Parks of Madagascar, as nearly half of dog owners reported that their dog killed at least one wild animal a month. Most dog owners in surveyed communities approve of spay/neuter/vaccine programs and state that they would use them if freely available, indicating that veterinary intervention can be an important tool in humanely controlling free-roaming dog populations in these regions.
... The study site is within the Matsedroy forest fragment (15°29′ 23″S, 46°38′25″E), a community managed area without official protected status (Fig. 1). The area is subject to illegal burning and logging for a variety of purposes (Evans et al. 2013). Our study area is within a previously defined zone of microendemism (Wilmé et al. 2006). ...
Microendemic species are of great conservation concern due to their vulnerability to stochastic events and environmental change. Therefore, understanding the basic ecology of such organisms is integral to future efforts to conserve them. Here, we present the first ecological study of the only known population of Ocyale ghost Jocque & Jocqué 2017-the single species within this genus in Madagascar-located at a small lake shore in the northwest of the island. We aimed to reveal spatial patterns of microhabitat selection and patch occupancy in relation to environmental covariates, including distance to lake edge, topography and sand coverage. We found microhabitat selection to be strong in our occupancy models, with plots closer to the lake edge and with a higher proportion of sand showing the highest estimated occupancy. We suggest decreases in prey availability and changes in the physical characteristics of the substrate in relation to the distance from lake shore and sand availability (important for burrowing and temperature regulation), respectively, as potential factors behind occupancy. We discuss our findings in the context of the proportional underrepresentation of invertebrates in conservation research, which threatens the persistence of endemic and microendemic invertebrates in the face of significant global and local environmental change.
... These have encompassed not only the closed-canopy forests of Mariarano, but also other important habitats that occur adjacent to, and are often entwined within, these forest ecosystems. As with many other West Malagasy dry forests (World Wildlife Fund 2019), Mariarano represents a heterogeneous mosaic landscape where stands of forest are integrated with patches of non-forest habitats (Evans et al. 2013). As forests may support different species to the non-forest habitats that occur in close proximity, survey effort was completed in all major habitats in the study area to determine a more comprehensive overview of diversity within the Mariarano landscape as a whole. ...
... Mariarano classified forest (15°29′S, 46°41'E) and the immediately adjacent Matsedroy forest fragment (15°29′S, 46°38′E) (collectively referred to henceforth as Mariarano forest) are located in Mahajanga II district, Boeny region, north-western Madagascar, approximately 80 km northeast of Mahajanga city (Figure 1). The study site encompasses approximately 65 km 2 and comprises a matrix of low-lying dry deciduous forest interspersed with areas of wetlands (small-to medium-sized lakes), lightly wooded grassland, scrub habitats and agricultural land, reaching a maximum elevation of 80 metres above sea level (Evans et al. 2013;Moat & Smith 2007). Approximately 38 km 2 (58.5%) of this area consists of forest, with the remaining area being encompassed by non-forest habitats. ...
... In summary, while further work in the area is desirable, our results highlight Mariarano Forest as an area of high conservation importance, which supports at least 57% of the 168 non-vagrant species known to occur in western Madagascar (Safford & Hawkins 2013), including numerous threatened and endemic species. Other recent survey work demonstrates that this high conservation value is also reflected in other taxa, especially mammals and herpetofauna (Evans et al. 2013;Long et al. 2012;Mann et al. 2015). The consistency of richness in forest bird communities over time indicated by our point count surveys also suggests that population of most species probably remains stable at present, and still represents a relatively intact ecosystem. ...
Background: The West Malagasy dry forests support numerous endemic species and experience heavy anthropogenic pressures, yet remain very poorly studied. Further research is required to understand species distributions and overall diversity in these threatened forest ecosystems.
Objectives: We aimed to provide a description of the avifaunal community of a particular dry forest, Mariarano forest, north-western Madagascar, as well as other habitats that are heavily integrated with these Forests. The study site possesses a highly endemic bird community and is under severe environmental pressure, but remains poorly explored.
Method: We compiled all records from a 9-year (2010–2018) bird survey data set (the most extensive compiled from a Madagascan dry forest to date), which yielded data from a combination of point count and mist-netting protocols. This was further supplemented by approximately 4384 h of opportunistic observation effort.
Results: In total, 95 species were detected, including 63 regional endemics (66.3% of all
species), 2 local endemics and 7 Threatened or Near-Threatened species.
Conclusion: We highlight the forest mosaic habitats of Mariarano as a potential new Important Bird Area, given the regional importance of its endemic avifauna.
Keywords: birds; endemic; Madagascar; inventory; dry forest.
... The Mariarano ecosystem encompasses c.65 km 2 and comprises dry deciduous forest and smaller areas of wetlands, lightly wooded grassland, scrub and agricultural land, reaching a max. elevation of 80 m (Moat & Smith 2007, Evans et al. 2013. The region experiences a tropical savannah climate; monthly temperatures are relatively constant (mean 27.3 o C) but rainfall is highly variable (1-360 mm) with a wet season peaking in December-February followed by a pronounced dry season in July-September (Operation Wallacea unpubl. ...
... The discovery of this new population of Van Dam's Vanga adds significantly to knowledge of the status of this poorly studied species, and also highlights Mariarano's conservation importance, especially as it also supports populations of other globally threatened birds, such as Malagasy Pond Heron Ardeola idae and Coquerel's Coua Coua coquereli (Palfrey et al. in prep.) as well as other endangered biota (Evans et al. 2013). Although Mariarano is one of the last patches of unprotected dry deciduous forest larger than 800 ha in western Madagascar (deduced from Nicoll 2003, Moat & Smith 2007), it is, like most remnant forests in the region, highly threatened by clearance due to expanding agriculture, charcoal production and timber extraction (Long et al. 2012). ...
... This study was followed by Farris et al. (2014)'s documentation of the Eastern Falanouc during their extensive carnivore cameratrapping studies in the Masoala-Makira protected complex in north-eastern Madagascar. Conversely, Madagascar's western dry deciduous forests have received considerably less attention with only one recent camera-trapping study of the Mariarano forest, located approximately 80 km northwest of Ankarafantsika National Park (Evans et al. 2013). During this survey, the first camera-trap image of E. major was recorded from Madagascar's west coast. ...
... This large number of photographs was in part due to an increased sampling effort of 15,253 nights across seven sites from August 2008-2013. Within the western forests of Madagascar, the sole camera-trapping study of Malagasy carnivores captured six E. major across 24 sites during 227 nights in June-August 2012 (Evans et al. 2013). In contrast, our total camera-trapping grid was in collective operation for a total of 6,269 nights, capturing a single image of E. major from April-July. ...
Long-term research on Fosa Cryptoprocta ferox has been conducted in Ankarafantsika National Park since 1999, with rare sightings of the forest’s second elusive carnivore, the Western Falanouc Eupleres major. During annual carnivore live-trapping from 1999- Present, a single Falanouc was captured on the 30th of March 2002. Since this capture, two photographs have been taken of the Falanouc. In June 2011, a project volunteer photographed a Falanouc during the day whilst conducting trap-checks. Recently, a second photograph was recorded during the largest systematic camera-trapping study of Madagascar’s western carnivores. From April – July 2014 eighty paired camera-traps operated on average for 79 days, recording a sole image of the Western Falanouc at 01h18 on the 19 April 2014. Herein we discuss the morphometrics and photographic records of the Western Falanouc from Ankarafantsika National Park.
... Our study presents results of a camera trapping survey conducted in remnant patches of western dry deciduous forest around Mariarano village located approximately 50 km north-west of Mahajanga in western Madagascar and builds on an existing dataset (see Evans et al. 2013). These forest patches are not formally protected, and are threatened by illegal timber extraction, charcoal production and clearing for agriculture (Washington et al. 2009, Long et al. 2012. ...
... While most species are readily observed by the multidisciplinary teams who undertake the monitoring, indigenous carnivores are cryptic and seldom directly observed. Camera traps have been found to be the most effective means of gathering information on carnivore species at Mariarano (Evans et al. 2013). Our study aimed to gather data on carnivores in the Mariarano forest as part of the ongoing monitoring programme. ...
... Species accumulation curves reached asymptote for Matsedroy forest (ACE = 3.00), but not for Mariarano forest (ACE = 5.41) or the area as a whole (ACE = 6.11), suggesting that overall camera trapping effort was insufficient to record all carnivore species in the area. Evans et al. (2013) reported local familiarity with Ring-tailed Mongoose Galidia elegans, and it is possible that this species is present in the area but was not recorded. Detailed records for wild carnivores are provided below: ...
... Mariarano forest is part of an unprotected forest block in the North-West of Madagascar, about 50 km north-east of Mahajanga. The few remaining patches of deciduous forest are no larger than 800 ha and under intense anthropogenic pressure(Evans et al., 2013). ...
... Mariarano forest is part of an unprotected forest block in the North-West of Madagascar, about 50 km north-east of Mahajanga. The few remaining patches of deciduous forest are no larger than 800 ha and under intense anthropogenic pressure(Evans et al., 2013). ...
This study summarises amphibian and reptile records from ad hoc surveys in a series of localities in the North-West of Madagascar, largely centred on the delta of the Betsiboka River. Eleven amphibian and approximately 32 reptile species were found, with taxonomic uncertainties remaining for some of them. Among the most relevant findings, we report on range extensions northwards of Aglyptodactylus laticeps (verified by DNA sequencing), and of an enigmatic skink of the Trachylepis aureopunctata group, possibly close to T. dumasi, T. tandrefana, or T. volamenaloha. We furthermore provide anecdotal information on habitat and natural history of several rare and regionally endemic burrowing skinks, i.e., Voeltzkowia mira, V. yamagishii, and Pygomeles petteri.
