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.

Genetically and geographically isolated lineages of a tropical bat (Chiroptera: Molossidae) show demographic stability over the late Pleistocene

Abstract: The newly described molossid bat, Chaerephon atsinanana Goodman et al., 2010, endemic to eastern Madagascar, shows notably high levels of phylogeographic and genetic structure compared with allopatric Chaerephon leucogaster Grandidier, 1869 from western Madagascar. Such highly significant structuring of haplotypes among altitudinally and latitudinally stratified population groups is contrary to the expected panmixia in strong flying bats. The null model of concordance in historical demographic patterns across these two Chaerephon species was not supported. Mismatch and Bayesian skyline analyses indicated ancient stable C. atsinanana populations of constant size during the last two major Pleistocene glacial periods, making retreat into and expansion from glacial refugia an unlikely explanation for such high levels of structure, in accordance with expectations for tropical bats. Analyses were consistent with post-refugial population expansion in the less diverse and structured C. leucogaster during the end of the last Pleistocene glacial period. We hypothesise that the pronounced genetic structuring in C. atsinanana may result from female philopatry. Furthermore, differing demographic histories of the two species may have been shaped by differing climate or habitat preferences, consistent with evidence from MaxEnt ecological niche modelling, which shows differences in variables influencing the current predicted distributions. Fossil Quaternary pollen deposits further indicate greater stability in past climatic patterns in eastern versus western Madagascar. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 106, 18–40.

Dioscorea orangeana (Dioscoreaceae), a new and threatened species of edible yam from northern Madagascar

Abstract: A new species of yam (Dioscorea orangeana Wilkin) is described and illustrated. It differs from D. comorensis R.Knuth by having undulate leaf margins and a broader torus and tepals in both the male and female flowers. In female flowers of D. orangeana the floral stipe between the ovary and the torus is shorter than in D. comorensis. The tuber morphology of the species is atypical among Malagasy species in that there are several digitate lobes rather than a single tuber per growing season, although more research is needed on tuber morphology. D. orangeana is reported to be edible. It is endemic to the Foret d’Orangea near Diego Suarez (Antsiranana) in Antsiranana Prefecture. Its conservation and sustainable use are thus matters of concern.

Risk Factors for Malaria Infection in Central Madagascar: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Population Survey.

Abstract: Community prevalence of infection is a widely used, standardized metric for evaluating malaria endemicity Conventional methods for measuring prevalence include light microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), but their detection thresholds are inadequate for diagnosing low-density infections The significance of submicroscopic malaria infections is poorly understood in Madagascar, a country of heterogeneous malaria epidemiology A cross-sectional community survey in the western foothills of Madagascar during the March 2014 transmission season found malaria infection to be predominantly submicroscopic and asymptomatic Prevalence of Plasmodium infection diagnosed by microscopy, RDT, and molecular diagnosis was 24%, 41%, and 138%, respectively This diagnostic discordance was greatest for Plasmodium vivax infection, which was 985% submicroscopic Village location, insecticide-treated bednet ownership, and fever were significantly associated with infection outcomes, as was presence of another infected individual in the household Duffy-negative individuals were diagnosed with P vivax, but with reduced odds relative to Duffy-positive hosts The observation of high proportions of submicroscopic infections calls for a wider assessment of the parasite reservoir in other regions of the island, particularly given the country's current focus on malaria elimination and the poorly documented distribution of the non-P falciparum parasite species

Rights to trade for species conservation: exploring the issue of the radiated tortoise in Madagascar

Abstract: In many developing countries, people rely on natural resources for subsistence and cash income. The trade ban on species listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List may be counter-productive, as increasing the rarity and thus price of these species acts as a stimulus to illegal markets rather than a deterrent. Since illegal markets cannot have legal property rights, there is no basis for any form of sustainable harvesting based on property rights. The Malagsy radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) is an example of a species that is threatened by domestic and international trade; legalizing international trade could, under certain circumstances, provide financial incentives that might effectively reduce the domestic trade and subsistence harvest of this animal. This paper argues this critically-endangered species may be more effectively conserved by assigning trading rights to local communities, rather than demanding a trade ban that cannot be enforced successfully.

Astacoides hobbsi, a new crayfish (Crustacea: Decapoda: Parastacidae) from Madagascar

Abstract: A new species of crayfish, Astacoides hobbsi , is the seventh recognized in the endemic Madagascan genus Astacoides Guerin-Meneville, 1839 and is described from four male specimens collected in the Andranofotsiorana effluent of the river Ranomadio (Fianarantsoa province). The new species can be distinguished from all congeners by a combination of limited carapace spination, pale white color, gill formula of 13 + epr + 5r, lack of bullar lobes on sternite XIII, laterally curved lateral processes on sternite XIII, and spination of third maxilliped merus and ischium. The new species co-occurs with three other Astacoides species ( A . granulimanus Monod & Petit, 1929, A . caldwelli (Bate, 1865), and A . betsileoensis Petit, 1923) in the same stream system. Special consideration should be given to conservation of this new species, as it is the Astacoides species known from the fewest specimens and may have a very restricted distribution.