University of Antananarivo

About: University of Antananarivo is a education organization based out in Antananarivo, Madagascar. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Lemur. The organization has 1561 authors who have published 1703 publications receiving 30922 citations. The organization is also known as: Tananarive University & Antananarivo University.

The topography of the lymph vessels of mammary glands in female cats.

Abstract: Malignant tumours of the mammary gland in the female cat metastasize, especially through the lymphatic system. However, the anatomical knowledge of this system in cats is not sufficient to develop a reasoned model for the extirpation of these glands in the case of malignant tumours. A study of the topography of the collector vessels in 50 female cats was conducted by indirect injection in vivo of India ink inside the mammary parenchyma. All the lymph nodes were controlled by microscopic examination and lymph vessels were examined after clearing. The success rate of the colouration of the lymph vessels was 76.4%. Clearing showed several principal routes of drainage, different for each gland. Contrary to the presentation observed in the bitch, no evidence existed in any of the 65 cases of lymphatic plexuses connecting the two mammary glands of each row in the female cat. The result of this study is in favour of the development of a new model for the surgical extirpation of mammary tumours in cats.

Genetic architecture of two red ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra) populations of Masoala National Park

Abstract: The current range of the red ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra) population is primarily restricted to forests of the Masoala Peninsula on the northeastern coast of Madagascar. Whereas much of the peninsula is protected as Masoala National Park, parts of the forest are at risk from anthropogenic pressures and habitat fragmentation. We sampled 32 individual red ruffed lemur from two sites: Ambatoledama (DAMA), a narrow forest corridor across an area of degraded habitat connecting larger blocks of forest in the northwestern reaches of the park, and Masiaposa (MAS) forest, a largely pristine forest on the lower western side of the peninsula. Population genetic parameters were estimated for these two populations employing 15 microsatellite loci derived from the V. variegata genome. We found that by exceeding the expected heterozygosity at mutation-drift equilibrium, the DAMA population has undergone a recent population bottleneck. Population structure analysis detected individuals harboring genotypic admixture of the DAMA genetic cluster in the MAS population, suggesting a possibility of unilateral gene flow or movement between these populations.

DNA barcodes reveal deeply neglected diversity and numerous invasions of micromoths in Madagascar

Abstract: Madagascar is a prime evolutionary hotspot globally, but its unique biodiversity is under threat, essentially from anthropogenic disturbance There is a race against time to describe and protect the Madagascan endangered biota Here we present a first molecular characterization of the micromoth fauna of Madagascar We collected 1572 micromoths mainly using light traps in both natural and anthropogenically disturbed habitats in 24 localities across eastern and northwest Madagascar We also collected 1384 specimens using a Malaise trap in a primary rain forest at Andasibe, eastern Madagascar In total, we DNA barcoded 2956 specimens belonging to 1537 Barcode Index Numbers (BINs), 884% of which are new to BOLD Only 17% of new BINs were assigned to species Of 47 different families found, Dryadaulidae, Bucculatricidae, Bedelliidae, Batrachedridae, and Blastobasidae are newly reported for Madagascar and the recently recognized Tonzidae is confirmed For test faunas of Canada and Australia, 989%-994% of Macroheterocera BINs exhibited the molecular synapomorphy of a phenylalanine in the 177th complete DNA barcode codon Non-macroheteroceran BINs could thus be sifted out efficiently in the Malaise sample The Madagascar micromoth fauna shows highest affinity with the Afrotropics (146 BINs also occur in the African continent) We found 22 recognised pests or invasive species, mostly occurring in disturbed habitats Malaise trap samples show high temporal turnover and alpha diversity with as many as 507 BINs collected; of these, astonishingly, 499 (984%) were novel to BOLD and 292 (576%) were singletons Our results provide a baseline for future surveys across the island

Protected area safeguard tree and shrub communities from degradation and invasion: a case study in eastern Madagascar.

Abstract: Despite their prevalence in both developed and developing countries, there have been surprisingly few field assessments of the ecological effectiveness of protected areas. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a key protected area in eastern Madagascar, Ranomafana National Park (RNP). We established paired 100 × 4-m vegetation transects (400 m2) within RNP and in remnant forests in the park’s peripheral zone. In each 400-m2 plot, all woody stems >1.5 cm in diameter at breast height were measured and identified to species. All species were also identified as native or non-native. We identified utilitarian species within all transects and they were sorted into use category. We calculated plot-level taxonomic biodiversity and functional diversity of utilitarian species; the latter was calculated by clustering the multivariate distances between species based on their utilitarian traits, and all metrics were tested using paired t-tests. Our results showed that there was significantly higher biodiversity inside RNP than in remnant forests and this pattern was consistent across all diversity metrics examined. Forests not located within the park’s boundary had significantly higher non-native species than within RNP. There was no statistically significant difference in functional diversity of utilitarian species inside RNP vs. remnant forests; however, the overall trend was toward higher diversity inside park boundaries. These findings suggested that RNP has been effective at maintaining taxonomic diversity relative to surrounding unprotected areas and restricting the spread of non-native plants. The results also suggested that low functional redundancy of forests outside of RNP might be of concern, because residents in surrounding villages may have few other substitutes for the services provided by species that are of critical importance to their livelihoods. This study highlights the challenges of trying to reconcile biodiversity conservation with human use of natural resources in economically poor, remote areas.