Conservation of Endemic Species of Madagascar

1. Conservation of Endemic Species of Madagascar A presentation by: Kaitlin Zwicker Jessica Fredericks and Karen Ssebazza

2. Where is Madagascar? • Located in the Indian Ocean • Approx. 430 km Southeast off the coast of Mozambique • World’s 4th largest Island • Approx: 592,800 km sq • Population: 20,653,556 (2009 census) • Consists of a variety of Ecosystems

3. Ecosystems of Madagascar Montane Rainforest Lowland Rainforest • Tropical Moist Forests • Coastal Rainforests • Lowland Rainforests • Montane Rainforests • High Elevation Scrub • Southern and Eastern Dry Forests • Dry Deciduous Forests • Spiny Forests • Wetlands • Lakes, Marshes and Swamps • Mangrove Forests • Secondary Man-Made Communities Spiny Forest Spiny Forest (http://photos.wildmadagascar.org)

4. Biogeography “Evolution In The News”, Berkley University

5. “Biodiversity Hotspots” • Norman Meyers (1988) proposed 10 tropical forests as “Hotspots” • “Hotspot” characterized as: • Having exceptional levels of plant endemism • Having serious levels of habitat destruction • “Endemic Species”: • Species found no where else in the world.

6. “Biodiversity Hotspots” • In 1989 Conservation International adopted Meyers’ list as an institutional blueprint • In 1996 a quantitative threshold was introduced to designate “Biodiversity Hotspots” • To qualify as a hotspot a region must meet two criteria • Must contain at least 1,500 species of endemic vascular plants • Has to have lost at least 70 percent of its original habitat

7. Madagascar as a Biodiversity Hotspot • A good example of species evolution in isolation. • Is in close proximity with Africa but does not share any of the typical animal groups. • Has high levels of genus- and family-level endemism

8. Biodiversity

9. Biodiversity

11. Facts of Madagascar diversity • Endemic species, what they are, importance to Madagascar? • Will be giving examples of these species from few animal classes

12. Daubentoniamadagascariensis • Common Name: Aye- Aye • Classification: • Order Primates • Suborder : Strepsirrhini • Infraorder: Lemuriformes • Family: Daubentoniidae • Genus: Daubentonia • Aye-aye (Daubentoniamadagascariensis) • Giant Aye-aye (Daubentoniarobusta) • Only 1 other species known in Family: • Daubentoniiaderobusta • Giant Aye-aye • Only fossils found http://www.tc.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/madagascar/surviving/images/

13. Daubentoniamadagascariensis • Nocturnal Primate • Are distinguishable by: • a bushy tail that is larger than their body • big eyes • rat-like teeth • a long twig-like middle finger • Long thin twig-like finger • Adaptation that is used as a tool for find insects

14. Ecology: Habitat • Occur in low densities throughout the eastern rainforest belt as well in the dry forests of the northwest and west regions of the island. • Highly adaptable to variety of habitats • Only habitat type not found in is Southern Spiny Forests (desert) • Presence in an area can be correlated with presence of primary food source. Map taken from Evolutionary Distinct & Globally Endangered (2010)

15. Ecology • Nesting: • Durning the day sleep in nests, tree forks or vine tangles • Sereval individuals may used same nest at different tumes • Males occupy larger home ranges (125-215 ha) than females (30-40 ha) • Diet • Omnivore • Specialized as a night-time primate “woodpecker” • Taps trees with its long middle finger, uses huge sensitive ears for wood-boring grubs then exposes them by gnawing with its ever growing rodent like teeth. • Also forages for fruits, nuts, nectar, seeds and fungi.

16. Evolutionary History • Phylogeny of Madagascar primates has been a long-standing controversy. • Study by Yoder et al 1995 • “Ancient single origin of Malagasy primates” • Used DNA sequence data for the complete cytochrome b gene combined with expanded morphological data

17. Evolutionary History • 1140-bp mitochondrial cytochromeb gene was amplified with PCR and directly sequenced • Morphological and molecular data sets were analyzed separately and together with maximum parsimony Yoder et al (1996)

18. Evolutionary History: Conclusion • Study supported the placement of Aye-aye as the most basal taxon • Currently there is no census as to the timing of primate divergence to Madagascar • Proposed times of origin range from 80 mya to 70 mya to 63 mya (most recent proposal) • Used most recent estimate and branch lengths derived from a maximum likelihood graph it was estimated that Lemuriforms (lemurs) diverged from Lorisiforms (loris’) 62 mya • Through possible migration (rafting) primates reached Madagascar and started radiating by 54 mya.

19. Issues/ Habitat Concerns • Aye-aye are considered to be a widespread pest because: • It may forage and eat agriculture crops (ie. Coconuts) • Within Madagascar, there is a widespread cultural belief that aye-ayes are harbingers of bad luck and evil and must be killed on sight (Simons & Meyers 2001). • Habitat destruction remains a localized threat through the Aye-aye’s range. • Tree’s such as Intsiabijugnaand CanariumMadagascariense, which provide dietary and nesting staples are cut down for industrialization (Iwana and Iwakawa, 1988)

20. Conservation Efforts and Status • Conservation Efforts: • Reported to occur in numerous protected areas including 12 national parks and 13 special reserves. • A law was implicated against killing Aye-aye • In 1966 9 Aye-ayes were introduced to Nosy Mangabe (an Island off the north-eastern coast of Madagascar) in hopes of establishing a breeding colony and safe-guard against extinction. • Further surveys are needed to assess the status distribution of Aye-aye within and outside the protected areas. • Law against killing Aye-aye needs to be better enforced and coupled with public awareness campaigns to discourage the killings. • Status: • From 1960’s-2004 Endangered • Recently upgraded to Near-threatened • Current population and Population trends are unknown

21. Class Reptilia

22. Anasmelleri • Meller’s Duck • Named in 1864 after founder Christopher Meller. • Belongs to mallard group • One in several to be non-migratory, monochromatic, similar drab plumage to female mallard Photo taken from Mangroverde World Bird Guide Species Page Photo taken by Alan D Wilson, NaturesPicsOnline.com

23. Anasmelleri • Has green speculum feathers. • Similar to other non-dimorphic mallard species • Bordered by white • Like in the common mallard. • Does not have supercilium • Characteristic of majority of mallard species in the group. Photos taken from Cologne Zoo, Germany

24. Ecology: Habitat • Eastern slope of the central plateau. • Sea level to 2000m • Inhabit freshwater wetlands. • Majority of birds recorded are centered around Lac Alaotra. Photo taken from BirdLife International (2010)

25. Ecology Nest: • Made of vegetation (ie: dry grass leaves, etc) • Built near waters edge or among herbaceous vegetation. Diet: • Forage on land or by dabbling • Aquatic plants, seeds, molluscs, rice

26. Ecology: Behaviour • Non- migratory • Nesting period from Sept- April • Dependent upon levels of rainfall. • Highly territorial and aggressive • Pairs can defend area up to 2km in length. Photo taken from BirdLife International (2010)

27. Compared molecular genetic relationships; used mitochondrial control region sequences. DNA isolated from each sample; 2 variable domains were amplified, sequenced and aligned. Evolutionary History (Common mallard: Holoarctic) (Common mallard: N.A) (Meller’s Duck) (African yellow-billed duck) (African black duck) (Common Teal) Young and Rhymer, 1998

28. Evolutionary History Young and Rhymer, 1998

29. Conclusion • Meller’s duck and African yellow-billed • Diverged approx. 0.9Mya from common mallards. • Diverged from each other 1.0Mya. • Both diverged from African black duck 1.8-2.0Mya • Along with the common mallard evolved from the nondimorphic African black duck (Young and Rhymer, 1998)

30. Conclusion Young and Rhymer, 1998

31. Issues/Habitat concerns • Wetlands are being threatened • Habitat modification, deforestation, drainage, pollution (human impacts) • Introduction of exotic plants and animals. • Hunting • For food and for sport. • About 18% of global population hunted each year

32. Conservation Efforts • Change its national status to protected species. • Protect the area around Lac Alaotra which is its primary habitat. • Study more in depth ecology • Preventative measures of their decline

33. Status • “IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species” as Endangered. • Currently 2,000-5,000 remain • Population trend shows they are decreasing. • Range estimate (breeding/resident): 211,000 km2

34. Systematics & Biodiversity • Using phylogenetic relationship data to identify separately evolving lineages. • Important for identifying which species are in need of protection.

35. References • Yoder A. D, CartmillM, Ruvolo M, Smith K, Vilgalys R. “Anceint single origin for Malagasy primates” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 93:5122-5126 1996 • Purvis A. “A composite of primate phylogeny” Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 348:405-421 1995 • Perl M. D, Crovella S, Cervella P. Ardito G, Rumpler Y. “Phylogenetic Relationships Among Malagasy Lemurs as Revealed by Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Analysis” Primates 36(3):431-440 1995 • U.S Department of State: African Affairs for Madagascar November 2009 • Pictures taken from Wild Magascar (wildmadagascar.com) 2009 access 23/03/2010 • Simon E.L. “The giant aye-aye Daubentoniarobusta” Folia Primatol (Basel). 1994;62(1-3):14-21. • International Conservation :Biodiveristy hotspots (biodiveristyhotspots.org) accessed 13/03/2010

36. References (Karens) • Young, H. Glyn, and Judith M. Rhymer. "Meller's duck: A threatened species receives recognition at last." Chapman and Hall. 7. (1998): 1313-1323. • BirdLife International 2008. Anasmelleri. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 March 2010 • BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Anasmelleri. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/3/2010

37. Questions?