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.

Phylogenetic history of the Sifakas ( Propithecus: Lemuriformes) derived from cytogenetic studies.

Abstract: The R-banded karyotypes of the different subspecies of Propithecus diadema and P. verreauxi are compared to each other and to that of P. tattersalli, as well as those previously reported of Indri indri and Avahi laniger. This comparison shows that the different subspecies of P. verreauxi possess the same karyotype and that, among P. diadema, P. d. diadema and P. d. perrieri share the same karyotype differing from that of P. d. edwardsi by one Robertsonian translocation. The karyotype of P. tattersalli differs at least through 17 and 9 rearrangements from those of P. diadema and P. verreauxi, respectively. This provides strong arguments in favor of its specific status. The phylogenetic diagram proposed confirms the early separation of Avahi and the relatively late divergence of the four other species. A populational evolution has occurred between these four species, P. tattersalli and P. verreauxi sharing the largest number of rearrangements (six), while the numbers of rearrangements shared by the other species are two for Indri and P. verreauxi, three for P. tattersalli and Indri, and three for P. tattersalli and P. diadema. No branch is common to two species of Propithecus.

Effects of machining parameters on raised grain occurring after the application of water-based finishes

Abstract: The application of water-based finishes to wood surfaces is known to increase surface roughness by raising the grain. This phenomenon is detrimental in the appearance of the finished wood surface. To eliminate it, light denibbing is needed prior to applying the second coat of finish. The objective of this study is to optimize wood machining to minimize raised grain caused by water-based coatings and to avoid, or at least, to minimize the sanding operation between each coat of finish. Experiments were done on beech samples. Complete experimental design was defined to generate several surface qualities from “smooth” to “rough” which are linked to the average thickness of the removed chips. The planing parameters were the cutting mode, cutting direction, feed speed, and rotation speed. To compare with existing practices in joinery industries, specimens were also sanded. Two layers of water based coating were applied. Half of the samples were sanded after the first coat and the other half were not. Following each coat, surface roughness was measured and raised grain was evaluated through tactile tests. Results show that sanding operation is responsible for more raised grain than planing. Whereas for planing, high chip removal thickness gives more raised grain after coating application. The effects of the other parameters on raised grain occurence are not found to be statistically significant. The average roughness (Sa), quadratic mean roughness (Sq), reduced peak height (Spk) and the material volume of the peak section (Vmp) are the roughness parameters best correlated with tactile evaluation of grain raising, but the correlations are weak.

Using Utilitarian Plants for Lemur Conservation

Abstract: Nature and species conservation often conflict with intensive natural resource or land use. Many protected areas are too small for long-term conservation of viable vertebrate populations, especially in Madagascar, and forests are subject to exploitation for a variety of natural resources. Trying to exclude people from the use of these resources has not been successful during economic, natural, or political crises or when human population growth outruns any development effort. People need economic and other benefits, and conservation measures have to account for these needs. We compiled native and introduced tree, shrub, and herbaceous species used by both people and native vertebrates for three regions, covering the domains of the dry, transitional, and humid forest of Madagascar. We carried out semistructured interviews and group discussions in 12 different villages in each study region in November 2017. People listed 139 utilitarian plant taxa. Our literature search revealed that 72 of these plant species and 13 genera used by people, were also used by 208 different terrestrial vertebrates including 58 lemur species. Application of the Forest Landscape Restoration approach with a combination of exotic and native plant species used by both people and animals could increase the economic value of restored forest habitats for people, thus providing incentives for forest conservation. Plantations of mixed utilitarian trees and shrubs could be integrated into agricultural landscapes. Among land-living vertebrates, lemurs seem to benefit most from this approach. These measures might contribute to a successful array of biodiversity conservation in anthropogenic landscapes.

Are buyers of forest ecosystem services willing to consider distributional impacts of payments to local suppliers? Results from a choice experiment in Antananarivo, Madagascar

Abstract: A controversial issue in the debate on payments for ecosystem services (PESs) is whether distributional goals should be considered in the design of such schemes. We contribute to this debate by analysing the preferences of citizens of Antananarivo (Madagascar) as potential buyers of forest ecosystem services from a developing country. We conducted a choice experiment to investigate citizens’ willingness to pay to conserve the endemic spiny forests in southwest Madagascar and their preferences for including distributional goals in the design of a PES scheme aimed at spiny forest conservation. We found that respondents were willing to pay for forest conservation and preferred a PES scheme in which the poorest households in a community would receive the largest share of payments over a scheme in which every household would receive the same share, which, in turn, they preferred over a PES scheme in which they would have no information about its distributional impact. In comparing these results with those of a similar survey in a developed country (in Cottbus, Germany), we find that the preference ranking regarding distributional impacts is identical. However, citizens in Cottbus attach greater importance to the consideration of distributive goals in PESs than citizens in Antananarivo.