A new species, Opisthacanthus lavasoa sp. n., is described from the Lavasoa Forest, in southeaste... more A new species, Opisthacanthus lavasoa sp. n., is described from the Lavasoa Forest, in southeastern Madagascar. The new species shows affinities with both Opisthacanthus madagascariensis Kraepelin, 1894, known from the western portion of the island , and Opisthacanthus ambanja Lourenço, 2014, only known from the extreme north of the island. The new species and O. madagascariensis have similar external morphologies, whereas with O. ambanja the new species shares a similar morphology of the hemispermatophores. Moreover, O. madagascariensis is exclusively found in spiny forest thickets and savannah-like formations , whereas the new species was found in a humid forest. The total number of species in Madagascar is now raised to eleven. Una especie nueva de Opisthacanthus Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Hormuridae) del bosque de Lavasoa, sudeste de Madagascar Resumen: Se describe una especie nueva, Opisthacanthus lavasoa sp. n., del bosque de Lavasoa, situado en el sureste de Ma-dagascar. La especie nueva muestra afinidades tanto con Opisthacanthus madagascariensis Kraepelin, 1894, conocido del oeste de la isla, como con Opisthacanthus ambanja Lourenço, 2014, conocido sólo del extremo norte de la isla. La especie nueva tiene una morfología externa similar a la de O. madagascariensis y unos hemispermatóforos semejantes a los de O. ambanja. Por otra parte, O. madagascariensis está presente exclusivamente en manchas de bosque espinoso y formaciones de tipo sabana, mien-tras que la especie nueva se ha encontrado en un bosque húmedo. El número total de especies de Madagascar se eleva así a once.
1.6, 2.5, 6, 7.2, 9, 11… These numbers represent the human population in billions during the cour... more 1.6, 2.5, 6, 7.2, 9, 11… These numbers represent the human population in billions during the course of the last century during the years 1900, 1950 and 2000. The latter three are the current estimate and projections for the years 2030 and 2100, respectively. Though estimates differ according to model assumptions and scenarios used (cf. Gerland et al. 2014, or Samir and Lutz 2015), these are remarkable, if not alarming numbers. Consider how much of the planet’s resources are been used currently (some 1.5 Earths, cf. Global Footprint Network 2013), and how these dwindling resources will need to serve ever more people in the future. Technological advancement and innovations may, with luck, increase the degree of efficiency, or slow down the resource consumption rate (cf. Randers’ (2012) book ‘2052: A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years’ in which social and environmental scenarios are outlined concerning how future resource consumption may take place). According to Davidson and And...
Natural resource management problems typically involve a multitude of stakeholders with diverse s... more Natural resource management problems typically involve a multitude of stakeholders with diverse sets of needs and interests, and often conflicting worldviews in an environment with growing uncertainty. Such problems are termed " wicked " problems, where there are no right or wrong solutions, only more or less acceptable ones. In the case of Lake Alaotra, growing agricultural pressures have a negative impact on the wetland biodiversity and especially on the Alaotra gentle lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis) restricted to these marshlands. The species survival is highly uncertain because of increased habitat loss caused mainly by marshland fires. The conservation work for this unique lemur is complex and complicated and requires the involvement and collaboration of decision-making institutions, NGOs, universities and riverine communities. From the inception of projects to their implementation phase, all parties need clearly defined responsibilities and transparency in communicatio...
The genus Pseudouroplectes Lourenço, 1995 (Buthidae) remains among the less speciose Malagasy gen... more The genus Pseudouroplectes Lourenço, 1995 (Buthidae) remains among the less speciose Malagasy genera and all the known species are extremely rare. A new species is described from the dry forests in the Tsingy formations of the National Park Bemaraha, extending the distribution of the genus further north. Once again, the single holotype specimen was obtained by extraction with the use of Berlese system. With the description of the new species, the distributional pattern of this genus is confirmed to dry forest formations from the south to the middle of the Island, however, for the first time the group’s distribution overlaps that of another micro-scorpion genus, Microcharmus Lourenço, 1995. The distribution patterns of the humicolous micro-scorpions endemic to Madagascar are considered to further explore the ‘Neogrosphus rule’ as a possible explanation of global species distribution patterns in changing environments. Résumé. Le genre Pseudouroplectes Lourenço, 1995 (Buthidae) est, parmi les genres malgaches, un des plus pauvres par le nombre d’espèces et toutes les espèces connues sont extrêmement rares. Une nouvelle espèce est décrite des forêts sèches rencontrées entre les formations de tsingy du Parc national du Bemaraha, étendant ainsi la distribution du groupe vers le nord. L’holotype a une fois de plus été récolté par la méthode Berlese. Avec la description de la nouvelle espèce, la distribution du genre Pseudouroplectes remonte jusqu’au centre ouest de l’île, mais surtout, et cela pour la première fois, elle se superpose avec celle de Microcharmus Lourenço, 1995, un autre genre de micro-scorpions. Les modèles de distribution des micro-scorpions humicoles endémiques de Madagascar sont considérés afin de mieux définir la ‘règle Neogrosphus’ qui explique globalement les modèles de distribution des espèces dans des milieux changeants.
Austronesians colonized the islands of Rapa Nui, Hawaii, the Marquesas and Madagascar. All of the... more Austronesians colonized the islands of Rapa Nui, Hawaii, the Marquesas and Madagascar. All of these islands have been found to harbor Austronesian artifacts and also, all of them are known nesting sites for marine turtles. Turtles are well known for their transoceanic migrations, sometimes totalling thousands of miles, between feeding and nesting grounds. All marine turtles require land for nesting. Ancient Austronesians are known to have had outstanding navigation skills, which they used to adjust course directions. But these skills will have been insufficient to locate tiny, remote islands in the vast Indo-Pacific oceans. We postulate that the Austronesians must have had an understanding of the marine turtles' migration patterns and used this knowledge to locate remote and unknown islands. The depth and speed at which marine turtles migrate makes following them by outrigger canoes feasible. Humans have long capitalized on knowledge of animal behavior. RÉSUMÉ : Les Austronésiens ont colonisé des îles éloignées, comme Rapa Nui, Hawaii ou les Marquises, ainsi que Madagascar. Des artéfacts austronésiens ont été découverts sur ces îles, qui sont aussi des sites de nidification pour les tortues de mer, qui sont connues pour effectuer de longues migrations transocéaniques, parfois de milliers de kilomètres, entre les sites de reproduction et les pâtures océaniques. Les anciens Austronésiens sont connus pour leur maîtrise de la navigation hauturière ; cependant, ces compétences sont insuffisantes pour localiser de petites îles dans les vastes océans Pacifique et Indien. Nous postulons que les Austronésiens ont dû comprendre la migration des tortues de mer et utiliser cette connaissance pour localiser des terres isolées et inconnues. Une pirogue peut suivre une tortue de mer compte tenu de la profondeur et de la vitesse auxquelles celles-ci migrent. Les Hommes ont ainsi utilisé les compétences des animaux à leur avantage depuis bien longtemps.
The phyto- or zoogeographical classification proposed during the 20th century describe the contem... more The phyto- or zoogeographical classification proposed during the 20th century describe the contemporary distribution of taxa or types of forests but they do not consider the conditions under which the ecosystems evolved, nor do they take into account the substantial shifts of ecosystems during recent paleoclimate oscillations. Within the last millennia, large lemurs, pigmy hippo, giant tortoises, Elephant birds, and large waterbirds have disappeared from Madagascar’s landscapes. During colder phases, when icecaps extended in the higher latitudes, lower latitudes became drier and colder, while the forests receded. During warmer phases, the lower latitudes experienced hot and humid climate with the forests expanding again. A single climate oscillation may not drive speciation in most groups, as in the case of lemurs and birds, but within a single oscillation, a population of a species can be driven to local or complete extinction. Since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) several wetlands and lakes in Madagascar have completely dried out and were not able to sustain animal populations as documented by recent subfossil records. The centers of endemism model identifies two main refugia types: (1) the dispersal refugia typically represented by riparian forests along perennial rivers with headwaters at high altitude, and (2) the refugia of endemism, typically located in lowland residual reliefs. Here, wetland systems such as lakes and marshlands are considered. Lake Alaotra, Madagascar’s current biggest wetland has unique and narrow-ranged endemic species. The hypothesis is that lakes can act as refugia as long as they are hydrologically connected, i.e., fed by rivers draining orographic precipitation and drained by downstream rivers. These lakes maintained their aquatic fauna and flora, as well as their riparian forests along their banks, and forest connectivity between upper tributaries feeding the lake and lower tributaries draining the lake. This article will present four sites, two modern lakes, and two paleolakes/wetlands.
Madagascar Conservation & Development, Dec 20, 2008
The attachment that we feel to Madagascar compels us to talk about it–its richness, its values, i... more The attachment that we feel to Madagascar compels us to talk about it–its richness, its values, its people and about life lessons learned and taught. As these experiences may differ in many aspects, a journal is the ideal place for sharing our common ideas, as well as expressing our divergent thoughts and theories. It is also a conduit for the exchange and transmission of our ideas and perspectives to the world. Thus, it is the ambition of this journal to talk about Madagascar–it's natural richness and its conservation, about ...
... Carpenter, SR, Mooney, HA, Agard, J., Capistrano, D., DeFries, RS, Diaz, S., Dietz, T., Durai... more ... Carpenter, SR, Mooney, HA, Agard, J., Capistrano, D., DeFries, RS, Diaz, S., Dietz, T., Duraiappah, AK, Oteng Yeboah, A., Pereira, H. M., Perrings, C., Reid, WV, Sarukhan, J., Scholes, RJ and Whyte, A. 2009. ... Durbin, J., Bernard, K. and Fenn, M. 2003. ...
Madagascar Conservation & Development, Jun 15, 2009
The political situation witnessed in Madagascar since the beginning of this year has resulted in ... more The political situation witnessed in Madagascar since the beginning of this year has resulted in major changes in the daily lives of the Malagasy. Besides instability and increased uncertainty, the population is facing more imminent challenges: increasing unemployment, exploding staple food prices, a shortage in basic food supplies, and a closure of schools, universities and financial institutions. How will Madagascar be affected in the near and long term? This remains unknown, however, it is highly probable that the ...
Madagascar Conservation & Development, Jun 15, 2010
This, the first issue in 2010 of the Journal of Madagascar Conservation & Development (MCD), deal... more This, the first issue in 2010 of the Journal of Madagascar Conservation & Development (MCD), deals with illegal and destructive selective logging activities within the supposedly protected National Parks of Madagascar. Accounts of these multifaceted crimes and their impacts began circulating in the Malagasy forests and have since come to the attention of the global community courtesy of the World Wide Web. In this issue, through the incredible efforts of numerous authors, reviewers, editors and translators, we are able to ...
Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into production landscapes requires careful consideration... more Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into production landscapes requires careful consideration of the drivers, needs and constraints of farmers. In many cases, deforestation and degradation are the rational choice, not the result of a lack of awareness or knowledge. Here we present a case study where we used an integrated approach to understand the management of coffee agroforestry system in the district of Kodagu (India). Previous research established that farmers in this biodiversity rich production landscape are slowly replacing the complex and diverse original canopy with Grevillea robusta, a fast growing species originating from Australia. This happens despite local knowledge highlighting the agronomical and multipurpose values of the original tree species and specific tenure systems and policies enforced by the Forest Department protecting them. We developed an integrated, participatory modeling approach to understand the drivers behind the described landscape transitions a...
Problems of natural resources management are often wicked problems. They involve multiple stakeho... more Problems of natural resources management are often wicked problems. They involve multiple stakeholders with different worldviews, different needs and agendas, in a world with pervasive uncertainties. The answers to such problems are not technical fixes but political process that engage the stakeholders in problem solving iterative loops. However, new technologies, particularly IT, can help navigate the complexities of designing efficient natural resources management schemes. We present here an initiative to develop online participatory tools to contribute to an on-going policy debate in the coffee agroforestry systems in the district of Kodagu (India). In this landscape, driven by market incentives and recently available technologies, farmers are intensifying the production system, replacing the complex and diverse canopy cover with the fast growing Grevillea robusta. In the background, farmers and foresters are fighting for the rights over the native tree species. The outcome of th...
The distributional patterns of Malagasy scorpions belonging to the endemic genus Neogrosphus Lour... more The distributional patterns of Malagasy scorpions belonging to the endemic genus Neogrosphus Lourenço, 1995 are revised. Up to now only two species were known for this genus: Neogrosphus griveaudi (Vachon, 1969), restricted to the dry forests formations in the southern and western portions of Madagascar, and Neogrosphus blanci Lourenço, 1996 only known from the Massifs of the Central region. Diagnoses are proposed for the genus and known species and a new vicariant species is described from the Ankarana Massif. The actual range of distribution of the members of this genus is currently patchy and fragmented over a large area extending from subarid to subhumid bioclimates. Based on the eco-biogeographical analyses of the genus Neogrosphus, we formulate a global rule to explain species diversity and vicariance.
A new species, Opisthacanthus lavasoa sp. n., is described from the Lavasoa Forest, in southeaste... more A new species, Opisthacanthus lavasoa sp. n., is described from the Lavasoa Forest, in southeastern Madagascar. The new species shows affinities with both Opisthacanthus madagascariensis Kraepelin, 1894, known from the western portion of the island , and Opisthacanthus ambanja Lourenço, 2014, only known from the extreme north of the island. The new species and O. madagascariensis have similar external morphologies, whereas with O. ambanja the new species shares a similar morphology of the hemispermatophores. Moreover, O. madagascariensis is exclusively found in spiny forest thickets and savannah-like formations , whereas the new species was found in a humid forest. The total number of species in Madagascar is now raised to eleven. Una especie nueva de Opisthacanthus Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Hormuridae) del bosque de Lavasoa, sudeste de Madagascar Resumen: Se describe una especie nueva, Opisthacanthus lavasoa sp. n., del bosque de Lavasoa, situado en el sureste de Ma-dagascar. La especie nueva muestra afinidades tanto con Opisthacanthus madagascariensis Kraepelin, 1894, conocido del oeste de la isla, como con Opisthacanthus ambanja Lourenço, 2014, conocido sólo del extremo norte de la isla. La especie nueva tiene una morfología externa similar a la de O. madagascariensis y unos hemispermatóforos semejantes a los de O. ambanja. Por otra parte, O. madagascariensis está presente exclusivamente en manchas de bosque espinoso y formaciones de tipo sabana, mien-tras que la especie nueva se ha encontrado en un bosque húmedo. El número total de especies de Madagascar se eleva así a once.
1.6, 2.5, 6, 7.2, 9, 11… These numbers represent the human population in billions during the cour... more 1.6, 2.5, 6, 7.2, 9, 11… These numbers represent the human population in billions during the course of the last century during the years 1900, 1950 and 2000. The latter three are the current estimate and projections for the years 2030 and 2100, respectively. Though estimates differ according to model assumptions and scenarios used (cf. Gerland et al. 2014, or Samir and Lutz 2015), these are remarkable, if not alarming numbers. Consider how much of the planet’s resources are been used currently (some 1.5 Earths, cf. Global Footprint Network 2013), and how these dwindling resources will need to serve ever more people in the future. Technological advancement and innovations may, with luck, increase the degree of efficiency, or slow down the resource consumption rate (cf. Randers’ (2012) book ‘2052: A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years’ in which social and environmental scenarios are outlined concerning how future resource consumption may take place). According to Davidson and And...
Natural resource management problems typically involve a multitude of stakeholders with diverse s... more Natural resource management problems typically involve a multitude of stakeholders with diverse sets of needs and interests, and often conflicting worldviews in an environment with growing uncertainty. Such problems are termed " wicked " problems, where there are no right or wrong solutions, only more or less acceptable ones. In the case of Lake Alaotra, growing agricultural pressures have a negative impact on the wetland biodiversity and especially on the Alaotra gentle lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis) restricted to these marshlands. The species survival is highly uncertain because of increased habitat loss caused mainly by marshland fires. The conservation work for this unique lemur is complex and complicated and requires the involvement and collaboration of decision-making institutions, NGOs, universities and riverine communities. From the inception of projects to their implementation phase, all parties need clearly defined responsibilities and transparency in communicatio...
The genus Pseudouroplectes Lourenço, 1995 (Buthidae) remains among the less speciose Malagasy gen... more The genus Pseudouroplectes Lourenço, 1995 (Buthidae) remains among the less speciose Malagasy genera and all the known species are extremely rare. A new species is described from the dry forests in the Tsingy formations of the National Park Bemaraha, extending the distribution of the genus further north. Once again, the single holotype specimen was obtained by extraction with the use of Berlese system. With the description of the new species, the distributional pattern of this genus is confirmed to dry forest formations from the south to the middle of the Island, however, for the first time the group’s distribution overlaps that of another micro-scorpion genus, Microcharmus Lourenço, 1995. The distribution patterns of the humicolous micro-scorpions endemic to Madagascar are considered to further explore the ‘Neogrosphus rule’ as a possible explanation of global species distribution patterns in changing environments. Résumé. Le genre Pseudouroplectes Lourenço, 1995 (Buthidae) est, parmi les genres malgaches, un des plus pauvres par le nombre d’espèces et toutes les espèces connues sont extrêmement rares. Une nouvelle espèce est décrite des forêts sèches rencontrées entre les formations de tsingy du Parc national du Bemaraha, étendant ainsi la distribution du groupe vers le nord. L’holotype a une fois de plus été récolté par la méthode Berlese. Avec la description de la nouvelle espèce, la distribution du genre Pseudouroplectes remonte jusqu’au centre ouest de l’île, mais surtout, et cela pour la première fois, elle se superpose avec celle de Microcharmus Lourenço, 1995, un autre genre de micro-scorpions. Les modèles de distribution des micro-scorpions humicoles endémiques de Madagascar sont considérés afin de mieux définir la ‘règle Neogrosphus’ qui explique globalement les modèles de distribution des espèces dans des milieux changeants.
Austronesians colonized the islands of Rapa Nui, Hawaii, the Marquesas and Madagascar. All of the... more Austronesians colonized the islands of Rapa Nui, Hawaii, the Marquesas and Madagascar. All of these islands have been found to harbor Austronesian artifacts and also, all of them are known nesting sites for marine turtles. Turtles are well known for their transoceanic migrations, sometimes totalling thousands of miles, between feeding and nesting grounds. All marine turtles require land for nesting. Ancient Austronesians are known to have had outstanding navigation skills, which they used to adjust course directions. But these skills will have been insufficient to locate tiny, remote islands in the vast Indo-Pacific oceans. We postulate that the Austronesians must have had an understanding of the marine turtles' migration patterns and used this knowledge to locate remote and unknown islands. The depth and speed at which marine turtles migrate makes following them by outrigger canoes feasible. Humans have long capitalized on knowledge of animal behavior. RÉSUMÉ : Les Austronésiens ont colonisé des îles éloignées, comme Rapa Nui, Hawaii ou les Marquises, ainsi que Madagascar. Des artéfacts austronésiens ont été découverts sur ces îles, qui sont aussi des sites de nidification pour les tortues de mer, qui sont connues pour effectuer de longues migrations transocéaniques, parfois de milliers de kilomètres, entre les sites de reproduction et les pâtures océaniques. Les anciens Austronésiens sont connus pour leur maîtrise de la navigation hauturière ; cependant, ces compétences sont insuffisantes pour localiser de petites îles dans les vastes océans Pacifique et Indien. Nous postulons que les Austronésiens ont dû comprendre la migration des tortues de mer et utiliser cette connaissance pour localiser des terres isolées et inconnues. Une pirogue peut suivre une tortue de mer compte tenu de la profondeur et de la vitesse auxquelles celles-ci migrent. Les Hommes ont ainsi utilisé les compétences des animaux à leur avantage depuis bien longtemps.
The phyto- or zoogeographical classification proposed during the 20th century describe the contem... more The phyto- or zoogeographical classification proposed during the 20th century describe the contemporary distribution of taxa or types of forests but they do not consider the conditions under which the ecosystems evolved, nor do they take into account the substantial shifts of ecosystems during recent paleoclimate oscillations. Within the last millennia, large lemurs, pigmy hippo, giant tortoises, Elephant birds, and large waterbirds have disappeared from Madagascar’s landscapes. During colder phases, when icecaps extended in the higher latitudes, lower latitudes became drier and colder, while the forests receded. During warmer phases, the lower latitudes experienced hot and humid climate with the forests expanding again. A single climate oscillation may not drive speciation in most groups, as in the case of lemurs and birds, but within a single oscillation, a population of a species can be driven to local or complete extinction. Since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) several wetlands and lakes in Madagascar have completely dried out and were not able to sustain animal populations as documented by recent subfossil records. The centers of endemism model identifies two main refugia types: (1) the dispersal refugia typically represented by riparian forests along perennial rivers with headwaters at high altitude, and (2) the refugia of endemism, typically located in lowland residual reliefs. Here, wetland systems such as lakes and marshlands are considered. Lake Alaotra, Madagascar’s current biggest wetland has unique and narrow-ranged endemic species. The hypothesis is that lakes can act as refugia as long as they are hydrologically connected, i.e., fed by rivers draining orographic precipitation and drained by downstream rivers. These lakes maintained their aquatic fauna and flora, as well as their riparian forests along their banks, and forest connectivity between upper tributaries feeding the lake and lower tributaries draining the lake. This article will present four sites, two modern lakes, and two paleolakes/wetlands.
Madagascar Conservation & Development, Dec 20, 2008
The attachment that we feel to Madagascar compels us to talk about it–its richness, its values, i... more The attachment that we feel to Madagascar compels us to talk about it–its richness, its values, its people and about life lessons learned and taught. As these experiences may differ in many aspects, a journal is the ideal place for sharing our common ideas, as well as expressing our divergent thoughts and theories. It is also a conduit for the exchange and transmission of our ideas and perspectives to the world. Thus, it is the ambition of this journal to talk about Madagascar–it's natural richness and its conservation, about ...
... Carpenter, SR, Mooney, HA, Agard, J., Capistrano, D., DeFries, RS, Diaz, S., Dietz, T., Durai... more ... Carpenter, SR, Mooney, HA, Agard, J., Capistrano, D., DeFries, RS, Diaz, S., Dietz, T., Duraiappah, AK, Oteng Yeboah, A., Pereira, H. M., Perrings, C., Reid, WV, Sarukhan, J., Scholes, RJ and Whyte, A. 2009. ... Durbin, J., Bernard, K. and Fenn, M. 2003. ...
Madagascar Conservation & Development, Jun 15, 2009
The political situation witnessed in Madagascar since the beginning of this year has resulted in ... more The political situation witnessed in Madagascar since the beginning of this year has resulted in major changes in the daily lives of the Malagasy. Besides instability and increased uncertainty, the population is facing more imminent challenges: increasing unemployment, exploding staple food prices, a shortage in basic food supplies, and a closure of schools, universities and financial institutions. How will Madagascar be affected in the near and long term? This remains unknown, however, it is highly probable that the ...
Madagascar Conservation & Development, Jun 15, 2010
This, the first issue in 2010 of the Journal of Madagascar Conservation & Development (MCD), deal... more This, the first issue in 2010 of the Journal of Madagascar Conservation & Development (MCD), deals with illegal and destructive selective logging activities within the supposedly protected National Parks of Madagascar. Accounts of these multifaceted crimes and their impacts began circulating in the Malagasy forests and have since come to the attention of the global community courtesy of the World Wide Web. In this issue, through the incredible efforts of numerous authors, reviewers, editors and translators, we are able to ...
Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into production landscapes requires careful consideration... more Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into production landscapes requires careful consideration of the drivers, needs and constraints of farmers. In many cases, deforestation and degradation are the rational choice, not the result of a lack of awareness or knowledge. Here we present a case study where we used an integrated approach to understand the management of coffee agroforestry system in the district of Kodagu (India). Previous research established that farmers in this biodiversity rich production landscape are slowly replacing the complex and diverse original canopy with Grevillea robusta, a fast growing species originating from Australia. This happens despite local knowledge highlighting the agronomical and multipurpose values of the original tree species and specific tenure systems and policies enforced by the Forest Department protecting them. We developed an integrated, participatory modeling approach to understand the drivers behind the described landscape transitions a...
Problems of natural resources management are often wicked problems. They involve multiple stakeho... more Problems of natural resources management are often wicked problems. They involve multiple stakeholders with different worldviews, different needs and agendas, in a world with pervasive uncertainties. The answers to such problems are not technical fixes but political process that engage the stakeholders in problem solving iterative loops. However, new technologies, particularly IT, can help navigate the complexities of designing efficient natural resources management schemes. We present here an initiative to develop online participatory tools to contribute to an on-going policy debate in the coffee agroforestry systems in the district of Kodagu (India). In this landscape, driven by market incentives and recently available technologies, farmers are intensifying the production system, replacing the complex and diverse canopy cover with the fast growing Grevillea robusta. In the background, farmers and foresters are fighting for the rights over the native tree species. The outcome of th...
The distributional patterns of Malagasy scorpions belonging to the endemic genus Neogrosphus Lour... more The distributional patterns of Malagasy scorpions belonging to the endemic genus Neogrosphus Lourenço, 1995 are revised. Up to now only two species were known for this genus: Neogrosphus griveaudi (Vachon, 1969), restricted to the dry forests formations in the southern and western portions of Madagascar, and Neogrosphus blanci Lourenço, 1996 only known from the Massifs of the Central region. Diagnoses are proposed for the genus and known species and a new vicariant species is described from the Ankarana Massif. The actual range of distribution of the members of this genus is currently patchy and fragmented over a large area extending from subarid to subhumid bioclimates. Based on the eco-biogeographical analyses of the genus Neogrosphus, we formulate a global rule to explain species diversity and vicariance.
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Résumé. Le genre Pseudouroplectes Lourenço, 1995 (Buthidae) est, parmi les genres malgaches, un des plus pauvres par le nombre d’espèces et toutes les espèces connues sont extrêmement rares. Une nouvelle espèce est décrite des forêts sèches rencontrées entre les formations de tsingy du Parc national du Bemaraha, étendant ainsi la distribution du groupe vers le nord. L’holotype a une fois de plus été récolté par la méthode Berlese. Avec la description de la nouvelle espèce, la distribution du genre Pseudouroplectes remonte jusqu’au centre ouest de l’île, mais surtout, et cela pour la première fois, elle se superpose avec celle de Microcharmus Lourenço, 1995, un autre genre de micro-scorpions. Les modèles de distribution des micro-scorpions humicoles endémiques de Madagascar sont considérés afin de mieux définir la ‘règle Neogrosphus’ qui explique globalement les modèles de distribution des espèces dans des milieux changeants.
RÉSUMÉ : Les Austronésiens ont colonisé des îles éloignées, comme Rapa Nui, Hawaii ou les Marquises, ainsi que Madagascar. Des artéfacts austronésiens ont été découverts sur ces îles, qui sont aussi des sites de nidification pour les tortues de mer, qui sont connues pour effectuer de longues migrations transocéaniques, parfois de milliers de kilomètres, entre les sites de reproduction et les pâtures océaniques. Les anciens Austronésiens sont connus pour leur maîtrise de la navigation hauturière ; cependant, ces compétences sont insuffisantes pour localiser de petites îles dans les vastes océans Pacifique et Indien. Nous postulons que les Austronésiens ont dû comprendre la migration des tortues de mer et utiliser cette connaissance pour localiser des terres isolées et inconnues. Une pirogue peut suivre une tortue de mer compte tenu de la profondeur et de la vitesse auxquelles celles-ci migrent. Les Hommes ont ainsi utilisé les compétences des animaux à leur avantage depuis bien longtemps.
Résumé. Le genre Pseudouroplectes Lourenço, 1995 (Buthidae) est, parmi les genres malgaches, un des plus pauvres par le nombre d’espèces et toutes les espèces connues sont extrêmement rares. Une nouvelle espèce est décrite des forêts sèches rencontrées entre les formations de tsingy du Parc national du Bemaraha, étendant ainsi la distribution du groupe vers le nord. L’holotype a une fois de plus été récolté par la méthode Berlese. Avec la description de la nouvelle espèce, la distribution du genre Pseudouroplectes remonte jusqu’au centre ouest de l’île, mais surtout, et cela pour la première fois, elle se superpose avec celle de Microcharmus Lourenço, 1995, un autre genre de micro-scorpions. Les modèles de distribution des micro-scorpions humicoles endémiques de Madagascar sont considérés afin de mieux définir la ‘règle Neogrosphus’ qui explique globalement les modèles de distribution des espèces dans des milieux changeants.
RÉSUMÉ : Les Austronésiens ont colonisé des îles éloignées, comme Rapa Nui, Hawaii ou les Marquises, ainsi que Madagascar. Des artéfacts austronésiens ont été découverts sur ces îles, qui sont aussi des sites de nidification pour les tortues de mer, qui sont connues pour effectuer de longues migrations transocéaniques, parfois de milliers de kilomètres, entre les sites de reproduction et les pâtures océaniques. Les anciens Austronésiens sont connus pour leur maîtrise de la navigation hauturière ; cependant, ces compétences sont insuffisantes pour localiser de petites îles dans les vastes océans Pacifique et Indien. Nous postulons que les Austronésiens ont dû comprendre la migration des tortues de mer et utiliser cette connaissance pour localiser des terres isolées et inconnues. Une pirogue peut suivre une tortue de mer compte tenu de la profondeur et de la vitesse auxquelles celles-ci migrent. Les Hommes ont ainsi utilisé les compétences des animaux à leur avantage depuis bien longtemps.