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ˇEXPLORE! |
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It is my hope that this research will be implemented in the Durban Vision to contribute to the design of future protected areas and assist in conserving the Malagasy endemic carnivores. |
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Carnivore Ecology |
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Biodiversity Conservation |
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Predator-Prey Dynamics |
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9/1/07 to 5/15/08: Design phase of a comparative mensurative ecological study 5/23/08 to 12/17/08: Camera Trapping in Madagascar 1/15/09: to 5/15/09: Data Organization and Analyses 5/23/09 to 8/15/09: Camera Trapping in Madagascar
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Project Phase |
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Ranomafana National Park (RNP) is 43,500 ha of lowland rainforest, cloud forest, and high plateau forest in southeastern Madagascar, located at 47o 18' to 47o 37' E, 21o 02' to 21o 25' S. Ialatsara Private Nature Reserve is an isolated rainforest fragment, located approximately 25 km northwest from RNP. |
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Project Goals |
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To understand the spatio-temporal population parameters and diet of the endemic carnivores in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar. Focus carnivores species are Cryptoprocta ferox, Fossa fossana, Eupleres goudoti, Galidia elegans, and Galidictis fasciata. |
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Project Objectives |
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To estimate abundance, density, and occupancy of Malagasy carnivore species across time (years) and space (habitat characteristics). |
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General Methodology |
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This study will use camera-trapping, systematic searches for scat, and interviews with villagers to quantify population state variables, diet, and movement patterns of Malagasy carnivores in and around Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. |
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Management Application |
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Why Study Carnivores? |
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Why Madagascar? |
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Madagascar is one of the most biologically rich areas on the planet. It is home to 771 endemic vertebrates (2.8% of global total; (Myers et al. 2000), including 34 species of lemur (IUCN 2007) and eight species of carnivore (IUCN 2006). The unique Malagasy Carnivora clade is characterized by eight species recognized as belonging to the Family Eupleridae (Yoder et al. 2003, Gaubert et al. 2005). Considerable interest is being paid to these carnivores as Madagascar’s forests shrink, fragment, and degrade (Green and Sussman 1990, Achard et al. 2002). The outstanding rate of forest loss on this island, at least 2% yearly (Green and Sussman 1990), continues to dramatically change the landscape composition through fragmentation of Madagascar forests, leaving many species, such as carnivores and their lemur prey, threatened with extinction (IUCN 2007). Today, with 10% of the primary forests remaining, Madagascar has been recognized as one of the world’s top biodiversity conservation priorities (Myers et al. 2000).
Carnivores have been shown to exert significant influence on ecosystem structure and function, making them a crucial aspect of conservation (Noss et al. 1996). Not only do carnivores often have the largest area requirements (Noss et al. 1996, Miquelle et al. 2005), giving concern to population declines, they are known to exert regulatory effects on threatened and endangered prey, potentially causing extirpation in fragmented habitats (Buskirk 1999, Crooks and Soule 1999, Terborgh et al. 2001, Buskirk 2003). Carnivores affect predator-prey dynamics by direct mortality of prey (Paine 1969), as well as indirectly through behavioral effects, such as altering prey distribution and habitat selection (Lima and Dill 1990, Schmitz et al. 1997). Losing a carnivore species from an area may result in mesopredator release, trophic cascading, equilibrium simplification, and even further extinctions (Palomares et al. 1995, Rogers and Caro 1998, Terborgh et al. 1999, Terborgh et al. 2001). To best plan conservation strategies it is crucial to understand the population dynamics of these IUCN listed carnivores and their equally at risk lemur prey (IUCN 2007).
There is a paucity of information on the Malagasy carnivores of the eastern rainforests; especially in the discipline of population ecology, the foundation of conservation management. Some insight to the diet, activity and ranging behavior of carnivores in the rainforest can be derived from studies of conspecifics or similar species in different forest types (Ray 1997, Hawkins and Racey 2005, Dollar et al. 2007), but due to increased primary production and widely scattered and patchy prey, rainforest carnivores are expected to show significant variation in these factors (Hawkins 1998). Absolute population estimates and indices in the rainforest are almost completely unknown (Dunham 1998, Goodman and Pidgeon 1999, Goodman 2003).
Study Objectives:
1) Estimate the abundance and density of Fossa fossana, patch occupancy of Galidia elegans and Galidictis fasciata, and the probability of use of Cryptoprocta ferox in pristine rainforest, selectively logged rainforest and a neighboring rainforest habitat fragment.
2) Compare population state variables of carnivore species among three study sites to examine tolerance to forest disturbance, habitat use patterns, and possible niche partitioning that allows interspecies co-existence.
3) Examine the relationships among carnivore species’ density, camera-trap success, and occupancy/use across and between each study site, including climatic conditions, landscape characteristics, microhabitat features, lemur abundance, and human activity. |
