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.

Chemical Compositions of Aerial Part Essential Oils of Lantana camara L. Chemotypes from Madagascar

Abstract: The chemical composition of 12 essential oil samples of the aerial parts of two flower color types of Lantana camara from Madagascar collected each month of the year, have been characterized by GC and GC/MS. The main components changed within the two flower color types. The pink-violet flower type contained mainly davanone (23.5%), β-caryophyllene (11.7%), sabinene (10.4%), linalool (5.9%) and α-humulene (4.7%), while the main components of the yellow-orange type were β-caryophyllene (29.8%), β-bisabolene (15.3%), sabinene (13.3%), γ-cadinene (3.7%) and α-humulene (3.1%).

Morphological and Echolocation Call Variation in Malagasy Trident Bats, Triaenops Dobson, 1871 (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae)

Abstract: Patterns of interspecific and intraspecific variation in the three endemic species of Malagasy Triaenops bats were investigated using morphology and bioacoustics. Adult bats were captured at different localities across the island, measured, and their echolocation calls recorded. On average, male T. auritus and T. furculus have shorter forearms (47.0 and 44.0 mm, respectively) and emit higher frequency calls (107.8 and 113.1 kHz, respectively) than females (47.5 and 45.7 mm and 95.6 and 98.2 kHz, respectively), representing a form of reversed sexual dimorphism (females larger than males). However, T. menamena shows typical patterns of sexual size dimorphism with males having a longer forearm (51.7 mm) and lower frequency echolocation calls (82.3 kHz) than females (49.0 mm and 93.5 kHz, respectively). When segregated by sex, there was a strong allometric relationship between forearm length, used as a measure of body size, and the resting frequency in these three species, as well as two African hipposiderids (T. afer and Cloeotis percivali). Triaenops auritus males and both sexes of T. furculus deviated from the relationship between these two variables. Hypotheses are explored to explain the drivers of these sexual dimorphism patterns. On the basis of the allometric relationship, the strong correlation is in parallel to other groups of bats and is probably associated with ecological constraints. Recent phylogenetic analyses showed a separation of Afro-Malagasy Triaenops into two sister clades: T. auritus/T. furculus (suggested to be placed in a new genus, Paratriaenops) and T. menamena/T. afer. The patterns of sexual dimorphism in these taxa are congruent with clade membership. Further studies are needed to understand strategies used by these taxa when in sympatry to share habitat and ecological niches.

Testing for adaptive radiation: A new approach applied to Madagascar frogs.

Abstract: Adaptive radiation is a key topic at the intersection of ecology and evolutionary biology. Yet the definition and identification of adaptive radiation both remain contentious. Here, we introduce a new approach for identifying adaptive radiations that combines key aspects of two widely used definitions. Our approach compares evolutionary rates in morphology, performance, and diversification between the candidate radiation and other clades. We then apply this approach to a putative adaptive radiation of frogs from Madagascar (Mantellidae). We present new data on morphology and performance from mantellid frogs, then compare rates of diversification and multivariate evolution of size, shape, and performance between mantellids and other frogs. We find that mantellids potentially pass our test for accelerated rates of evolution for shape, but not for size, performance, or diversification. Our results demonstrate that clades can have accelerated phenotypic evolution without rapid diversification (dubbed "adaptive non-radiation"). We also highlight general issues in testing for adaptive radiation, including taxon sampling and the problem of including another adaptive radiation among the comparison clades. Finally, we suggest that similar tests should be conducted on other putative adaptive radiations on Madagascar, comparing their evolutionary rates to those of related clades outside Madagascar. Based on our results, we speculate that older Madagascar clades may show evolutionary patterns more similar to those on a continent than an island.

A new large and colorful skink of the genus Amphiglossus from Madagascar revealed by morphology and multilocus molecular study

Abstract: We describe a new species of Amphiglossus skink from the western edge of the Central Highlands of Madagascar in the Reserve of Makira, and also found in the Reserve Speciale of Ambohijanahary and in the Reserve Speciale of Marotandrano. Amphiglossus meva n. sp. is characterized and differentiated from other species of the genus by a combination of morphological, chromatic and molecular characters: 1) a relatively large size (SVL of adults from 126 to 150 mm); 2) a characteristic pattern of coloration, Amphiglossus meva being the only skink in Madagascar together with Amphiglossus crenni with dark grey dorsum contrasting with orange flanks and ventrum; 3) the absence of a postnasal scale; 4) the presubocular frequently absent, 5) the presence of single elongated tertiary temporal bordering lower secondary temporal and 6) pentadactyl limbs. In addition to the morphological approach, a multi-locus genetic analysis based on eight mitochondrial and nuclear genes clearly supports the distinctiveness of A. meva. This new species was found in areas of rainforest, sometimes containing transitional deciduous forest elements. It was typically observed under large rotten logs associated with dense layers of decomposed wood retaining certain humidity and providing habitat for invertebrate larvae and termites.

Review of the status and conservation of tenrecs (Mammalia: Afrotheria: Tenrecidae)

Abstract: The mammal family Tenrecidae (Afrotheria: Afrosoricida) is endemic to Madagascar. Here we present the conservation priorities for the 31 species of tenrec that were assessed or reassessed in 2015–2016 for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Six species (19.4%) were found to be threatened (4 Vulnerable, 2 Endangered) and one species was categorized as Data Deficient. The primary threat to tenrecs is habitat loss, mostly as a result of slash-and-burn agriculture, but some species are also threatened by hunting and incidental capture in fishing traps. In the longer term, climate change is expected to alter tenrec habitats and ranges. However, the lack of data for most tenrecs on population size, ecology and distribution, together with frequent changes in taxonomy (with many cryptic species being discovered based on genetic analyses) and the poorly understood impact of bushmeat hunting on spiny species (Tenrecinae), hinders conservation planning. Priority conservation actions are presented for Madagascar's tenrecs for the first time since 1990 and focus on conserving forest habitat (especially through improved management of protected areas) and filling essential knowledge gaps. Tenrec research, monitoring and conservation should be integrated into broader sustainable development objectives and programmes targeting higher profile species, such as lemurs, if we are to see an improvement in the conservation status of tenrecs in the near future.