Centre ValBio Annual Report 2019 Contents Page History of CVB

History of CVB 3 In 1986, primatologist Patricia Chapple Wright was given a seeming- Letter from the Executive Director 4 ly impossible task: to travel to the rainforests of and find the greater , a species that hadn’t been seen in the wild 2019 Highlights 6 for thirty years. Not only did Dr. Wright discover that the Map of CVB Program Villages 10 still existed but that it lived alongside a completely new species, the golden . What followed was a love affair with an Research 11 and a country that continues to this day. Dr. Wright is best known for Long-term Surveys, Long-term Monitoring, Centre ValBio her study of in (‘RNP’), which she Biodiversity Surveys and Monitoring helped establish in 1991. Conservation 14 Lemur Translocation Project Ivato Karianga, Reforestation, Centre ValBio (‘CVB’) was created by Dr. in 2003 under Spices Project the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments’ agreement Community Outreach 18 with the Government of Madagascar. The richness of the critically en- Environmental Education, Environmental Arts, Conservation dangered plants and , contrasted with the poverty of the peo- Clubs, Kianja Maitso, Community Healthcare ple, inspired her to help both survive in harmony. CVB Technology Development Initiative 26 BeLocal Group 28 CVB’s mission is: Restoring the Lost Forest of Ivohiboro 29 • To promote world-class research and biodiversity training oppor- Research Station Use 30 tunities in one of the world’s most biologically diverse and unique Researchers, Workshops & Events 34 ecosystems;

Academic Training & Capacity Building 52 • To promote environmental stewardship by providing conservation SOS Biodiversity Research Center 56 education and developing ecologically sustainable economic devel- Honours & Awards 58 opment opportunities within local communities; and

Publications 60 • To provide the local villagers with the knowledge and tools to im- Acknowledgments 64 prove their quality of life through projects focused on health and Our Partners 68 well-being.

2 3 CVB National Director, Pascal Rabeson, Environment, Ecology and Forests, we are Our paper describing the rare fungus attack- Letter from the Executive Director represented CVB at the Society of Conserva- continuing our collaboration with MICET ing Chrysophyllum is in revision in Frontiers tion Biology International Congress in Kuch- and Rainforest Trust in making a protected in Forests and Global Change: Pests, Patho- auguration on January 17 began with a rainy session attended by Board members Mark ing, Malaysia. He gave a presentation about area in the unexpected rainforest in south- gens and Invasions. Calophyllum, an endem- blessing from the ancestors and speeches by Krasnow, Steig Johnson, Jim and Robin Her- CVB’s community monitoring of biodiversity central Madagascar. This special relict forest ic tree in the avocado family, is an important the local officials as well as Serge Bednarczyk, rnstein, as well as Benjamin Andriamihaja, in forest fragments. is well on the way to being legally recognized feeding tree for six species of lemurs. The representing the donor of the project. Ed Norton, Sr. (PIVOT board member), Ni- as a protected area, with ten official trained fungus, carried by a bark beetle, has caused cole Sampson, Dean of SBU Arts and Scienc- In late July, CVB accomplished the first step rangers. Phoenix Conservancy, a US NGO, mortality of over 65% in this tree species. In January, Michael Docherty was chosen es, Hodan Hassan, CVB Development Strate- in our translocation of Prolemur simus, the completed over 4 kilometers of firebreaks as our Administrative Director for Centre gist, and Dexter Bailey, VP for Advancement. , from Ivato Commune around the Ivohiboro forests. This year’s special guests included the new ValBio. Michael, who has a background in The Planning Session, led by the organiza- near Vondrozo to Ranomafana National US Ambassador, Michael Pelletier, and his finance, had been an AFID finance volunteer tion JUMP, was very useful and a document Park. The twelve bamboo lemurs were cap- Two biodiversity surveys were conducted wife. Steven Quake, Co-president of the for CVB since April 2018 and we are proud to outlining five main points was developed. tured, collared, and released and will be in 2019 by CVB in the “Lost Rainforest of Chan Zuckerberg BioHub, San Francisco, choose him to lead the CVB and be the link Highlighted were new directions in database translocated to Ranomafana National Park in Crystal Mountain”. In November, the CVB/ Andrea and Lubert Stryer, from the Board to . We had major technology and molecular genetics. early 2020. AMNH biodiversity inventory teams discov- of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), Dr. promotions within our staff: Lovasoa Razaf- ered three possible new species: a giant land Cristina Tato and Rebecca Egger from CZI, indravony to be head of the Education De- In July, the Association of Tropical Biology Nathan Montague, our ICTE Finance Coordi- snail (leopard snail), an aquatic leech, and and Farhad Imam from the Bill and Melin- partment, Dr. Ando Rakotoniaina to be head and Conservation (ATBC) held their inter- nator hired in July, visited CVB in September a Brookesia (tiny chameleon). Genetic work da Gates Foundation. Chien Lee, renowned Dear CVB friends and supporters, of the Health and Hygiene Department, and national meetings in Antananarivo and CVB to brainstorm with the CVB finance staff to is now needed to verify these new species. wildlife photographer, returned to shoot ma- 2019 has been a landmark year and CVB is Nicolas Rasolojatovo, head of reforestation. was a sponsor. This was the second largest make financial transactions more efficient. Beatriz Ortiz Jimenez, my new Stony Brook terial for the “Visions of Ranomafana” book. proud of its accomplishments. international meeting ever held in Madagas- post doctoral fellow, and I trapped small In February, Centre ValBio Research Station car. The first was the International Primato- In October at Stony Brook University I re- . Beatriz is a landscape ecologist, Finally, my best wishes for a productive and In January, we began with the roof raising was a finalist for the St Andrews Prize for logical Society meetings held in 1998. Ten of ceived the Herrnstein Family Endowed Chair who after receiving her Ph.D. from the Uni- successful 2020. ceremony of the Biodiversity Research Cen- the Environment. Michael Docherty and I our CVB staff, 12 of our Malagasy graduate in Conservation Biology, with over 140 at- versity of Michigan, is my NIH IRACDA post ter, financed by the International Union journeyed to St Andrews, Scotland, to give a students, and eight of our research scientists tendees at the investiture ceremony; Michael doctoral fellow at SBU for three years, and for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and presentation and receive the prize of $25,000 attended and gave presentations. Our CVB Bernstein, Provost of SBU; Dr. Zang, the will study the landscape genetics of small Sincerely, their Save our Species (SOS) Fund. The first to be applied to our SPICE for Life project , researcher, Onja Razafindratsima, was Mas- head of the Research Foundation; and Nicole mammals in the Lost Rainforest. The US floor of this building will house collections of which involves reforestation of endemic trees ter of Ceremony. CVB researcher and SBU Sampson, Dean of Arts and Sciences, award- ambassador’s wife, Suja Pelletier, and teen- plants, insects, herps, and lemur fossils. The and high value crops including vanilla, wild Ph.D., Dr. Jonah Ratsimbazafy, was the main ed me the honor, with Drs. Robin and James aged son, Ketan, assisted us in the biodiver- second floor will be offices for our long-term pepper, and cinnamon. organizer, and I was on the organizing com- Herrnstein, the donors, on the stage with me. sity surveys. The camera traps revealed ring tailed mongoose for the first time, as well as research projects, as well as for the CVB Re- mittee. The meeting ran seamlessly, and was Dr. Patricia C. Wright search Director and staff, and the third floor In February, Stony Brook University spon- a great success. Many biologists visited CVB As part of the CVB expansion that was en- the 2kg common tenrec. Founder and Executive Director houses a research conference room. The in- sored a Centre ValBio strategic planning before and after the conference. couraged by the Madagascar Ministry of the Centre ValBio

4 5 2019 Jan. 10 - Dec. 1 Apr. 30 July. 1 - 15 Aug. 12 - 23 Oct. 25 May 13 - 17 Hunter College CUNY, Mark Krasnow, long National Geo- Stephen Quake of Stanford Centre ValBio lead World Mar. 17 - 20 Oct. Highlights research on Varecia time CVB researcher, Conservation graphic expedition, University and the CZI Lemur Day Festival in SBU Projects reproduction and The Colorado Springs elected to the US Nation- International community service Biohub visits with his Eliette Noromalala Ranomafana, with the US External Visitors physiology School Study Abroad al Academy of Sciences Workshop focus (17 people) daughter Zoe is awarded Fulbright ambassador Michael Pelletier CVB Activities (22 people) (10 people) Scholarships as honoured guest

Jun. 15 - 29 Jul. 30 - Aug 3 Jan. 6 - 12 Mar. 15 - 17 Apr. 1 Jun. 3 - 8 Oct. 9 - Nov 7 Buena Vista 56th Annual Association Sep. 18 - Nov 22 Ecological and Patricia Wright visits Man- Mariah Donohue is University of University fac- for Tropical Biology and Dr Mark Krasnow and Epidemiological chester University for the awarded Fulbright Florida Study ulty visit to plan Conservation (ATBC) SBU Study Abroad, his team visit to continue Modelling Mada British Society for Parasi- U.S. student program Abroad future Study meeting in Antananarivo, biodiversity courses their study of mouse (E2M2) workshop tology 2019 Spring Meeting (15 people) Abroad seven CVB staff attending (14 people) lemur genetics

Jan. 4 - 23 Jan. 11 - Feb. 15 May 29 - Jun. 30 Jul. 3 - 19 Jul. 11 - Dec. 1 Jul. 27 - Aug. 5 Oct. 17 Nov. 12 - 25 Nov. 30 SBU Winter Naina Nicolas SBU Study SBU Dental Brett Scheffers’ Expedition to Ivato Dr Patricia Wright is Expedition to the Analamary/ Dr Patricia Wright Intern Program, Rasolonjavato and Abroad, biodiver- Team under- team research to capture 12 Prole- awarded the Herrnstein Ivohiboro “Lost Rainforest” marries Noel Rowe biodiversity and Kimmerling Razafindrina sity courses (11 takes commu- climate change via mur simus Family Endowed Chair by Dr Patricia Wright and the at Centre ValBio community focus attend the Durrell people) nity service visit amphibian canopy in Conservation Biolo- wife and son of the US Ambas- (12 people) Conservation Academy (12 people) position gy at SBU sador training on regional Dec. 16 capacity building in PIVOT and the Jan. 9 biodiversity conservation Jul. 7 Jul. 22 - 25 Oct. 18 Oct. 21 - 23 and monitoring, held in Ministry of Health SOS IUCN Mauritius Marc Hoffman, Patricia Wright, and CVB National Director Pascal Rabeson Education pavilion Representatives from the Chan inaugurate major Biodiversity Research Noel Rowe attend biodiversity hero, E.O attends the Society for Conservation Biology’s funded by Gems of Zuckerberg Initiative and the infrastructure projects Centre - topping out Wilson’s 90th birthday party at Walden 29th International Congress for Conservation Madagascar completed Gates Foundation visit to discuss at three facilities ceremony Pond, Massachusetts Biology (ICCB 2019) in Malaysia at Kianja Miatso their Madagascar projects

6 7 This year we have worked hard to deepen our we welcomed their new National Director, This year, Centre ValBio has continued its search Institute, who have collected over relationship with Malagasy government. We Mamy Rakotoarijaona Ph.D., who was previ- internationally-significant research on the 3,000 butterflies representing 189 species. renewed our headquarters agreement with ously Site Director of Ranomafana National environment, flora, and fauna inside and This demonstrates that research at CVB is the Ministry for Environment and Sustain- Park. outside of Ranomafana National Park. As constantly expanding and developing, inte- able Development, extending the partnership scientific and technical partner of Madagas- grating new knowledge into our understand- that has lasted so many years. We also partic- Lastly, we are expanding our network of col- car National Parks (‘MNP’), CVB helps MNP ing of the rainforest biome. ipated in World Lemur Day in Ranomafana. laborators, welcoming our first researchers to manage this protected area by sharing from the University of Hildesheim in Germa- information on the research we have facilitat- Integrating activities including biodiversity, We were excited to learn this year that the ny and University of Brasilia in Brasil, in ad- ed. To date, almost 1,000 publications have conservation, education, health, and refor- government had agree to turn Ivohiboro into dition to our presence at the Association for resulted from the studies and research un- estation, combined with the support of ad- a protected area, which will protect many Tropical Biology and Conservation meeting. dertaken in Ranomafana, a fact of which we ministration, IT, finance, and logistics, can- undiscovered species. We are continuing are immensely proud. not be done without hard work by all of our with our work in Karianga to gain it the same exceptional staff, and I would like to thank special status. Tsihy be lambanana ny ambanilantra. 229 researchers came to CVB this year to them all and wish them good health and either continue or start their research. One prosperity in life and work. As we have done for the last 17 years, CVB - Dr. Benjamin Andriamihaja, remarkable example is the work done by - Pascal Rabeson, worked closely with MNP, and this year ICTE Country Director Steve Collins and the African Butterfly Re- CVB National Director

Looking back at 2019, we made some truly beginning of a collaboration with the Univer- I am extremely proud to say that 2019 saw Work has continued on the Razana drone amazing progress at Centre ValBio. None of sity of Manchester into how the essential oils the “closing up” of the SOS Biodiversity system, which utilises long endurance drones this would have been possible without the of endemic plants can combat “Trichuris”. Research Centre. With the exterior sealed we equipped with machine learning to monitor wonderful collaboration of our partners; the This exciting project will continue in 2020, were able to make significant progress on the the forest in real-time, giving researches in- people power of our now 134-person strong when we also hope to welcome the UK am- new data centre which will house all of the formation that would previously have taken staff, the strong showing of volunteers, the bassador to see our conservation successes. digital side of CVB’s research and collections. weeks to gather. This will be complement- government of Madagascar, and last but not With the completion of this facility, com- ed by the AfterRes system, which employs least our ever-growing ranks of researchers. We have started a push to keep our mainte- bined with the final fitting out of the building drones that dissolve without residue to leave nance down so as much as possible goes to quickly coming together, this new resource behind a high-tolerance mesh relay network. For instance, plans are underway to expand our teams on the front lines of conservation, for Ranomafana will soon be fully brought how many Study Abroad partners we work biodiversity, education, and health. This has online. This will significantly increase CVB’s I feel truly blessed to be a part of such an with; hopefully we will be able to welcome already resulted in a renegotiation of our capabilities. I look forward to seeing the amazing scientific hub, and look forward groups from different continents, making internet costs with the generous Telma Foun- augmentations from this facility complement to watching it continue to grow, train, and CVB more diverse throughout the year. dation, and discussions regarding electricity our existing I.T. infrastructure, allowing CVB inspire over the next decades. costs are underway. to remain competitive as one of the most In keeping with this push to make our net- - Michael Docherty, cutting-edge conservation campuses in the - Jesse McKinney, work of partners more global, 2019 saw the ICTE/CVB Administrative Director tropics. ICTE/CVB Chief Technology Officer 8 9 53.03% (n=1254), 17.52% (n=194), 1.25% Map of CVB Program Villages Research (n=240) of the monitored trees were found Centre ValBio is working in over 50 communities Long-term Surveys dead. This plant species is an important food around Ranomafana National Park to provide environ- for six species of lemurs. mental education and access to healthcare, as well as Centre ValBio continued to monitor the to facilitate community development and strengthen demography, diet, and social behavior of the Propithecus edwardsi income-generating opportunities. greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus) and golden bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus). Surveys on Milne-Edwards’ sifaka, Propithe- Four groups of Hapalemur aureus with 25 cus edwardsi, have been conducted for more individuals in total in Talatakely forest site than thirty years by Patricia Wright and the have given birth to five newborn infants this CVB research team. Four groups of Propithe- Ambalakindresy year. The greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur cus from the two different sites (Valohoaka and Talatakely) have been monitored. This Key Tsaratanana simus) has also been continuously moni- tored. Despite the rarity and the presence of year, four newborn infants were born respec- Conservation Club tively on July 7th and 10th for Talatakely; Ranomafana only one group with two individuals in Ta- Conservation Club & Reforestation and August 27th and 23rd for Valohoaka National latakely, a translocation project to add more Reforestation forest. The Talatakely female gave birth to Park groups at the site has been planned in order Health to save the population from local extinction. an infant during two successive years. A new My Rainforest, My World rival male entered in the group of Talatakely Participatory Ecological Monitoring The long-term research on plant phenology and killed the newborn infant in late August. The previously born male infant was also Environmental Art with regular monthly observation and data collection on growth, DBH, fruiting, and missing from the group. “Orange Blue” male, Road flowering patterns in rainforest tree species over 20 years old, was last seen heading west towards Sakaroa. River has been continued. 342 individual trees

District were measured. Spreading disease on forest Long-term Monitoring Commune tree species has been monitored and diag- Ranomafana nosed in collaboration with the University The long-term project “Tropical Ecology National of . The Calophyllum species Assessment and Monitoring” (‘TEAM’) has Park has been studied within five sites: Mangevo, been continuing this year at six separate Valohoaka, Vatoharanana, Talatakely, Sa- sites. Rare species of terrestrial vertebrates, hamalaotra, and found to be infected by a including the endangered lemur species aye- rare tree fungus. Within the three surveyed aye and Milne-Edwards’ sifaka, were found, mostly within array 3 in the and 0 5 10 Calophyllum species (C. paniculatum, C. Km mulvum, and C. drouhardii), respectively Bevoahazo sites of the northern part of the

10 11 park. Six carnivore species were also record- Centre ValBio Biodiversity Surveys on the ring-tailed lemur, Lemur catta. Prolemur simus surveys Team Climate Data ed and the species Cryptoprocta ferox and Monitoring at Talatakely, RNP As with 2018, January was the wettest month was noted in abundance. In relation to the A second expedition occurred, headed by In parallel with the Ivato Karianga project, with 680 mm of precipitation, closely fol- Biodiversity Surveys at Ivohiboro Patricia Wright and Pascal Rabeson, and in- climate, a total rainfall of 2,514 mm with two Prolemur simus individuals at lowed by June with 599 mm. The total forest cluding Mark Sidall (curator of invertebrates mean temperatures ranging from 6 °C to Talatakely have been monitored. A team of amount of precipitation in 2019 was 3,291 at AMNH), Suja Pelletier, Mai Fahmy, and above 29 °C were recorded. Dr. Steig John- Under the collaboration of Centre ValBio, CVB researchers and MNP representatives mm compared to 4,043.6 mm in 2018. Beatriz Otero. They discovered a new species son with students from the University of Cal- MICET, and the Rainforest Trust, a “rapid investigated the state of the group and the August overtook September as the driest of snail and possibly multiple leeches, as well gary visited some of the TEAM and “Partici- biological assessment for target species con- habitat type of Talatakely forest, to identify month, with rainfall of just 68.4 mm. The as observing four groups of L. catta. patory Ecological Monitoring” (‘PEM’) sites servation” was conducted at Ivohiboro forest. and discuss the potential large quarantine maximum temperature was a sweltering this year, to observe, discuss, and train CVB Two field teams, working respectively on Prolemur simus surveys cage for the future translocation of the 12 35.5 °C recorded in December, and the low- technicians on reforestation and camera trap lemur and small species, conduct- greater bamboo lemurs. est temperature was 7 °C recorded in August. methodology. These sessions were very well ed daytime and nocturnal surveys. Camera at Ivato Karianga This year in a collaboration with MNP, CVB December was the hottest month on average, received, and gave the team many ideas for and Sherman traps were used to detect other Invasive Tree Disease at 22.6 °C. the future. We hope to welcome Dr. Johnson terrestrial vertebrates and small mammal began a project to translocate 12 greater bamboo lemurs (Prolemur simus) from The spread of the fungus disease on the plant back next year. species. Daily lemur surveys focused mainly species Calophyllum has also been moni- fragmented forests near Ivato to RNP. 2019 Climograph of Ranomafana A CVB team, along with veterinarians tored. Surveys of forest sites of Valohoaka, Mangevo, Bevoahazo, Vatoharanana, and 35 700 including Haja Rakontondrainibe, Tobias 680 Gräßle, Sina Feyer, and Cornell veterinary Sahamalaotra were conducted. 30 600 student Bekah Weatherington took health 599 27.1 Participatory Ecological Monitoring

25.2 ) data on the lemurs. The veteranarians and 24.9 24.4 24.2

at RNP surroundings: Kathryn Alessi, 25 23.7 500 m the CVB darting team captured 12 animals 22.2 m °C , (

as part of her master’s thesis at City and fitted them with radio collars and gave e 20.3 r 19.9 n u University of New York, compared human 20 18.5 400 o t them medical checkups. Both ecto- and 18.3 18.1 i 17.2 17.5 17.5 17.6 t a 17.2 17.2 a activity in four fragmented forest areas; r t

e 15.7 endoparasites were studied by Ezzeldin 14.7 i p Ambatolahidimy, Mangevo, Sahavanana, 365 p 15 300 i Enan. Amanda Du Bour studied feeding m 319 12.3 12.7 c e and Amboasary, south of RNP. In addition, e T behavior after the 12 lemurs were released. 10.8 10.6 261 r biodiversity surveys within Ranomafana 240 P Plant samples were collected for laboratory 10 200 nutritional analysis. Bekah Weatherington National Park, including Vatoharanana and 190 162 154 Sakaroa, were also conducted. Along two sets 138 looked closely at the feasibility of the project 5 114 100 to translocate Prolemur simus to RNP. Eight of two kilometer transects, primate and bird 68 local guides were trained to be able to follow species, along with other vertebrates such as small mammals and chameleons, were 0 0 and observe marked Prolemur simus by Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. surveyed. using a radio telemetry transmitter. Precipitation Average minimum temperature Average maximum temperature

12 13 the Mahasoa forest. The team consisted of Conservation CVB technicians along with Tobias Gräßle, a Lemur Translocation Project veterinarian from Germany (see p. 40), and Bekah Weatherington, a veterinary student Ivato Karianga from the USA (see p. 42). With this expert This year, Centre ValBio invested in strength- help on hand to ensure the safety and com- ening and expanding the collaboration we fort of the lemurs, extensive samples were have with the local community in Ivato taken to understand the health of the indi- Karianga. This will help us with the planned viduals. Following this mission, local people translocation of the greater bamboo lemur were enlisted to monitor the lemurs, under (Prolemur simus) from the threatened forest supervision from CVB. Then a second mis- fragment at Mahasoa to the safe and expan- sion was undertaken, again with a team of sive habitat of Ranomafana National Park. CVB technicians and veterinarians, to attach radio collars to five individuals, to assist with To demonstrate to the community that we tracking. were serious not only about biodiversity, but also their local community, we organised a Local preparation at Centre ValBio for the small development project. Two large solar translocation has also progressed, with a site Reforestation for the SPICES project (see p. 16), 3,220 was completed in October, with seeds sown panels along with a battery were donated, identified for the initial quarantine enclo- In collaboration with Catholic Relief Services seedlings were planted around the village of from these nurseries becoming available by giving them access to free electricity for the sure where the lemurs will stay before being and The St Andrews Prize for The Environ- Ranomafana by CVB’s staff and stakeholders November. In order to have the seedlings first time. As an in-kind donation, the com- released into Ranomafana National Park. ment, CVB continued its successful village including the gendarmes of Ranomafana, ready in these nurseries, numerous seed col- munity provided labour and construction Additionally, a botanical plot for bamboo was reforestation project. Core operations in National Geographic student expeditions, lection sessions were conducted, resulting in materials. Following this, we donated 1,000 established, to allow nutritional analysis at a Ranomafana comprise two nurseries man- University of Florida study abroad students, 389 kilograms of seeds being gathered. These copies of a wildlife-themed colouring book, later date. aged by the CVB Reforestation Team: the and many others! nurseries are managed by the CVB Reforesta- along with ten each of our resident artist upper campus endemic tree nursery, and tion Team in conjunction with local com- Alain Rasolo’s lemur, bird, and reptile post- With preparations largely complete, we are the Kianja Maitso tree nursery operated in At Kianja Maitso, nursery construction was munities that are motivated to reclaim their ers to the local primary school. Afterwards, hopeful that the translocation will be com- collaboration with Madagascar National completed at the end of November, with natural forest. Each of these tree nurseries 200 notebooks and pens were distributed to pleted as soon as our dedicated team is able Parks. Each nursery can now produce rough- seedlings expected from January 2020 on- will produce upwards of 5,000 seedlings the 4th and 5th grade students. to return to the field, and we can monitor the ly 10,000 seedlings each per year, many wards. This is the second major nursery that can be planted in the 2020 reforesta- lemurs as they get to know their new home in of which get planted around Ranomafana operated by CVB, and represents a large tion campaign. Given this, we are targeting a Following consent from Madagascar Na- Ranomafana! National Park. At the upper campus nurs- increase in capacity. total of 55–65,000 seedlings planted during tional Parks, two preparatory missions were ery, 9,450 seedlings were grown, enabling 2020 around these villages. Hopefully, this undertaken. Firstly, a capture and release us to conduct several reforestation sessions. Farther afield, in , construction of will usher in a new era of harmony with the of a group consisting of 12 individuals in For instance, as well as the seedlings used 11 endemic tree nurseries in separate villages forest.

14 15 Spices Project is ensuring the production of 12,000 trees of endemic species in the mother nurseries. A This year, after being a finalist for the St training workshop on construction and main- Andrews Prize for the Environment, as well tenance of nurseries was held by CVB and as gaining funds from our partnership with CRS technicians in August with 24 nursery- Catholic Relief Services (CRS), we have been men and women from the 24 mother nurser- able to expand our reforestation programs ies and CRS and CVB technicians. to include SPICES (Securing and Protecting Investments and Capacities for Environmen- tal Sustainability).

The SPICES project teaches and encourag- es local farmers to grow endemic trees with high value crops like vanilla orchids and rain- forest black pepper growing on these trees. In the SPICES project, the main component is the introduction of the agroforestry sys- tem to the local community. Native trees are planted and high value plants, such as vanilla or wild pepper, will be placed on the branch- es and trunk.

Indeed, there are 24 mother nurseries in the SPICES project. These mother nurseries are found in two regions and 18 communes. Each nursery will annually produce: 12,000 saplings of indigenous plant species, 18,000 saplings of spice species such as cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, wild pepper, other valu- able spices, and 2,000 fruit trees. In total, one nursery would annually produce 32,000 seedlings.

The main role of CVB in the SPICES project

16 17 were from secondary, and 7.18% were from As part of a collaboration between long-term Community Outreach high schools. In addition, 20 teachers were partner Oakland Zoo and Centre ValBio trained about environmental education in through The Three Graces Foundation, a new Centre ValBio is working in over 50 com- October 2018. two classroom school was built in Ranovao. munities around Ranomafana National The Community of Ranovao, southeast of Park (RNP) to provide environmental edu- My Rainforest, My World Ranomafana, as well as the Commune of cation and access to healthcare, as well as This program entered its fourth year of Ranomafana also collaborated with the fund- to facilitate community development and conservation education in remote primary ing and construction. strengthen income-generating opportunities. schools. This school year, 305 students from 15 schools benefited from a four days a week The students of the program had the chance Environmental Education of class. As part of the program, two train- to visit Ranomafana National Park and pre- ings were organized to prepare the intern sented their work to their parents through a Rainforest Class teachers for the school year. As a result of the project presentation. Each student who grad- uated to the next grade received a backpack, Rainforest Class is an eco-friendly education- program, production of vegetables increased of 31% compared to last year, and 284 more and as you can see below these were very well al program for schools. The program, super- received! vised by Jean Némèse Randriarimanana, native trees were planted. works with 16 public schools along the main road in Ranomafana National Park. The “I have eight children and five main goal is to teach and inspire the children of them are in school. My wish to understand the value of biodiversity. is that they will all succeed and This year took a participatory approach; our will have a better life than I had. team worked with 4th graders as well as sec- I believe that if they succeed in ondary and high schools to better understand biodiversity, the rainforest, techniques for study, even if they go back to do planting trees and better practices in hygiene agriculture in the remote village, and sanitation. Visits to Ranomafana Nation- it will be different and they will al Park were very inspiring for the children. Biodiversity posters of Ranomafana National be more productive than I am.” Park, illustrated by Jessie Jordan, were used as a tool to teach local biodiversity to stu- - Father of one MRMW dents. In total, 1,715 students were involved, of which 54.16% were from primary, 38.60% student in Aboasary

2018 19 Environmental Arts Jessie Jordan returned to help coordi- in the year she raised funds and spearheaded nate January’s inauguration of the new SOS an epic 24 hour World Lemur Day Festival In June, residents celebrated the annual Biodiversity Research Center. She contin- in Ranomafana, which attracted thousands Environmental Day with a parade, speeches, ued to utilize her skills in graphic design of people from many different backgrounds, dances, and music in the commune of An- towards important CVB communication including the US Ambassador. She has not droy west of RNP. pieces throughout the year. She developed only proven herself as an exceptional team

a biodiversity illustration featuring over 50 player, but also as a budding leader in the Artists-in-Residence endemic species found within Ranomafana’s field of wildlife conservation. Jessie contin- Deborah Ross, a wildlife artist and profes- forest, then crowd-sourced funds to print ues to use her creative skills to cover stories sor at The School of Visual Arts, NY, led a se- and distribute copies to schools and public on the frontlines of conservation through ries of nature and watercolour workshops in education spaces throughout the region in social media. Ranomafana in the spring of 2019. The first collaboration with the Education Team. Later series was with the children of Ranomafana sponsored by Madame Josiane of MNP and CVB. She was assisted by Tre Lawrence, Jean Nemese, and Jean Claude. The children were Alain Rasolo, Malagasy artist, worked on led through the National Park by park guides designing CVB’s annual report. With Nation- and learned about their plant and animal al Geographic Student Expeditions, he devel- neighbours in the forest. The next several oped and helped to paint a Madagascar and a sessions were held in Kianja Maitso for the world map mural, featuring iconic fauna and children to paint the observations of the for- flora species, in Kelilalina’s primary school. est in watercolour. Great happiness was felt Rasolo continues to create intricate watercol- by all. Deborah also ran a series of painting ors of Ranomafana’s species and other sci- workshops with Lova Razafindravony and the entific illustrations for wildlife conservation rest of CVB Education Team for participants and education. In August, he joined a team in the My Rainforest, My World programme. of researchers from the association Timarcha These included forest hikes and painting ses- (Sorbonne Université) as a field artist, illus- sions for the children to describe their forest trating the beauty of Isalo’s canyons and the encounters. variety of its ferns. Rasolo also helped with the organization of Ranomafana’s World Deborah’s art classes for local children have Lemur Day Festival. With funding, his art- become very popular, and we look forward works can be printed and used as educational to welcoming her and her students back very materials in classrooms around Ranomafana soon! and throughout Madagascar.

20 21 Conservation Clubs were trained in hopes of having more villages Miandrivany, 22 members of Conservation Kianja Maitso This greatly enhances the capabilities of the produce biochar next year. Clubs were able to maintain a social fund us- project, and the space is already becoming a Conservation Clubs, one of the educational In October, Gems of Madagascar (a Colo- ing the profits from cash crops such as coffee. hub for the community. This includes on- programs at CVB, inclusively integrate local rado-based charity run by Michelle Rahm Thanks to funding from Bergen Highlands/ As they can make money from this income going production of saplings to support the communities into biodiversity conservation that has been supporting Madagascar and Ramsey Rotary Club, the construction skills source, people are excited to continue cash national reforestation drive. programs such as reforestation, farming, Ranomafana for a number of years) gener- of Ny Tansika, the workforce of the CVB crop farming. and well-being promotion. In addition, art, ously funded the construction of a covered Conservation Clubs, and local government music, hygiene, and sanitation activities have amphitheatre and pavilion at officials, boreholes were built in Nanda and Promoting young people in community lead- been promoted with the collaboration of the Kianja Maitso. Ambanja. Now over 600 people have safe, ership and commitment, Conservation Clubs villagers to encourage life quality improve- drinkable water. participated in the third CRS Youth Sum- ment. CVB Conservation Clubs, in partner- mit hosted at Centre ValBio this year. The ship with CRS, work in the communes of Through expeditions to the remote villages, conference gathered 106 participants from Ranomafana and Kelilalana. Conservation Clubs followed up with village public and private sectors. The main focus members about vanilla farming, hygiene, and was the potential for Malagasy youth to take This year Conservation Clubs have intro- sanitation. In , fiveCon - charge of their future. The summit encour- duced new technologies to mobilize commu- servation Clubs were given training on how aged youth to have a positive influence and to nities: scientific audio-visual materials about to grow and to produce high quality vanil- remember the motto “we will be victorious”. farming and modern agriculture. In collab- la. More than 100 vanilla plants have been oration with Scientific Animation Without monitored for good farming practises. In Conservation Clubs also collaborated with Borders (SAWBO) they used audio visual ma- Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture terials to instruct farmers about composting, (CNFA) in the Farming-to-Farming project water filtration, and the use of cassava flour takeoff in region this to improve nutrition. Four illustrated videos year. This project is funded by USAID and were produced, translated into the Malagasy supported by volunteers. The Minister of language and broadcast during expeditions Agriculture has launched trainings about fish to remote villages. farming, aiming to strengthen the capacity of fish-farmers in the region. CNFA donated Conservation Clubs partnered with BeLocal tools and equipment such as digital scales, Group (an NGO focused on social engineer- files, and measurement tests for water quality ing and based in USA) to encourage and em- to trainees. Nine fish farmers from Conser- power communities to challenge local issues. vation Clubs in Miandrivany and Andrano- This year, BeLocal conducted workshops mainty benefited from this project. and demonstrations about the production of biochar (green charcoal). Five pilot villages

22 23 Community Healthcare expeditions. Using both audio and visual re- The Team was pleased to continue their part- Respiratory sources, the Team raised awareness in their nerships with local, national, and interna- Health CVB Health Team target population of basic activities villagers tional organizations and institutions. Nota- The CVB Mobile Health Team continued could perform to improve their health. It bly, Pivot generously supplies the Team with to work with and serve 24 remote villages was a success, and a good experience for the 40 essentials drugs from the WHO model list around Ranomafana National Park. Team to expand their outreach in this way. of essential medicines. In total, 2,250 patients were seen, some mul- 2019 was another successful year for the Nationally, Centre ValBio has been repre- tiple times. As with previous years, respirato- Health Team in terms of teaching and cook- sented in national and regional PHE work- ry illnesses were the most common problem. ing demonstrations, with 150 completed. The shops four times. Team trained around 500 people in 20 villag- There was over a 100 case decrease in ma- es. The ingredients used are based on locally The Team also assisted the Stony Brook laria cases treated from 2018 to 2019, which available products, and the team modifies Dental Team when they performed free tooth remain the second most frequent illness the demonstration to accommodate this. The extractions for local villagers. encountered. This decrease could be caused Team started this initiative to help combat by the increase in use of bed nets. malnutrition with healthy, affordable eating. Looking ahead, the Health Team plans to identify and train educational leaders in vil- This year, 46% of the treated patients were Distribution of Treatment by Age lages. These individuals will work to improve under the age of 14. For children, respiratory health awareness in villages, culminating in a diseases, malaria, and diarrhoea are espe- formal agreement with the village for a yearly cially dangerous. For that reason, improving 590 action plan. This will help to empower medical care access for young people in re- 9% 21% the villages to feel in control of mote areas remains one of the Team’s biggest their healthcare. challenges. Malaria 29% Another focus over the past twelve months has been to follow the evolution of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, asth- 25% High ma, and epilepsy. 8% of the patients treated Blood had one of these three diseases. 16% Oral Health Pressure 2019 225 During 2019, the Team developed a strategy Treatment to improve sanitation and hygiene awareness 0 to 4 5 to 14 15 to 24 Breakdown in villages when they were visited during 25 to 59 60 & Older 134 135 Diarrhea 25 24 44 chine learning models can be developed any- CVB Technology where in the world, and remotely uploaded Development Initiative allowing data to be gathered regardless of the physical location of the researcher. Following The Research Technology Department at trials, we hope to be exporting this drone to Center ValBio is tasked with developing the a number of scientific campuses around the next generation of scientific tools to expand world, creating a global surveillance network the abilities of the campus and its research- and a community to further develop and ers to conduct the cutting-edge research that share hardware, core software, and machine sets Centre ValBio apart. In 2019, CVB an- learning models. nounced two projects Razana and AfterRes. The AfterRes system will use swarms of Razana (a Malagasy word meaning ancestor dissolving drones that crash into tree canopy spirits) will utilize long endurance drones as a means of rapidly populating areas that equipped with onboard machine learning are ultra-remote with a high fault tolerance computers to greatly increase our knowledge data network for research. The drones are of the forest and our ability for rapid detec- built using a biodegradable polymer materi- tion of forest disturbances. The entire Razana al 3D printed around a specially engineered drone system has been engineered by Jesse internal structure. This structure provides McKinney to meet the needs of conservation necessary flight performance while promot- researchers for a low cost, fully autonomous ing full, rapid decomposition into completely ecological drone that can in real-time re- non-toxic compounds. In dry season trials port back what it observes even at extremely this full decomposition happened in under long distances from its launch site. Razana 30 days, in wet season we expect it to occur will utilize the drone launch complex on the in less than three days. After deployment, all north campus to take off, stay airborne for the electronic components left behind—flight around five hours while monitoring the eco- controller, mesh telemetry unit, battery, and system for a wide array of parameters or dis- even motor—undergo a metamorphosis into turbance, then land back at Centre ValBio all a fully functioning mesh network relay, capa- on its own. The Razana drone has a modular ble of both long distance backhaul transmis- compartment allowing for five second swaps sion and end user connectivity. of a number of payloads. Likewise, physically operating the drone is simplistic, requiring no trained pilot and both missions and ma-

26 27 In 2019, BeLocal has made significant head- The new Charbon Maitso groups made ad- BeLocal Group way on the Charbon Maitso (Green Charcoal) justments to improve the quality of their BeLocal, a NGO created in 2016 (represented initiative. They started the year with a Train- product based on data-driven feedback and in Madagascar by Leila Esmailzada, Andry the-Trainer workshop hosted at Centre Val- adjustments to make their production more Andriamiadanarivo, Caroline Rojotahina, Bio. The workshop trained 20 participants efficient. This research has improved their and Jessie Jordan), is dedicated to finding from rural villages who were interested in product’s performance to compete with tradi- global solutions to local challenges. Char- learning how to join the movement towards tion lump-wood charcoal prices coal is a major threat to the forest, and home sustainable fuel in Ranomafana. To maintain charcoal use contributes to the leading caus- consistent follow-up and guidance with the The groups then began to see Charbon Mait- es of death and illness in Madagascar. Pre- new trainees, BeLocal began collaborating so as an income generating activity. Long- vious interventions, like chimneys, efficient with local Peace Corps volunteers. Through- term field researchers at Centre ValBio made stoves, and ethanol, have had little success. out the year, the new trainees spread their the first purchase of Charbon Maitso to bring However, BeLocal is introducing a fuel alter- knowledge by holding independent work- out with their field team to cook their meals. native made from agro-waste that is cheaper shops in their own communities. In under six In addition, the outdoor kitchen at Centre and more efficient than conventional char- months, Charbon Maitso had a regular pres- ValBio is making the transition to using this coal through a data-driven, iterative process. ence in five villages around RNP. more sustainable fuel alternative.

action in 2019, creating a first line of fire into inhospitable degraded areas. Restoring the Lost defense for Ivohiboro, while restarting forest regeneration. At all stages, the restoration plan creates eco- Forest of Ivohiboro nomic opportunities tied to forest steward- To create a brighter future for the Lost Forest With the assistance of more than 200 local ship. Whether through employment building of Ivohiboro, CVB partnered with the Rain- villagers, approximately 3.5 km of initial fire- firebreaks and restoring rainforest, or by forest Trust and the Phoenix Conservancy breaks were constructed in November 2019 selling locally-collected pioneer seeds to The in 2019 to safeguard the forest from wildfire to protect Ivohiboro’s northwest section. Phoenix Conservancy for reforestation, local and begin restoring the isolated rainforest. Thousands of seeds of fast-growing pio- community members benefit directly from The Phoenix Conservancy focuses on the neer species were sown along fire-protected caring for their forest. restoration of critically-endangered ecosys- berms. These pioneer species tolerate harsh tems, and has been developing a restoration conditions found in fire-degraded grasslands, plan for Ivohiboro with CVB since 2017. The acting as nurse plants that provide shade, Rainforest Trust save endangered wildlife nutrients, and shelter for rainforest species. through community engagement and local This in turn creates a new front line for rain- partnerships. The joint plan was put into forest, allowing Ivohiboro to begin expanding

28 29 Research Station Use Researchers Arrivals Per Month & Total Station Days 229 individual researchers stayed at CVB in 2019. In 2019, Centre ValBio hosted 381 individuals from 36 different The average length of stay was 27.7 days. The ma- countries conducting research in Ranomafana National Park and jority of researchers were American (60.26%) its surrounding communities, using our laboratory, participating in and Malagasy (21.4%). This year, CVB wel- training, workshop, or Study Abroad programs, or taking a tour of comed visitors from all six inhabited conti- our facilities and attending a lecture. nents!

Scientific Tourists and Tour Groups The total number of peo- ple given tours in 2019 was 2,127. The majority were students (1,792 students) and the rest were scientific tourists and ordinary visitors (335 people).

Station Days The total number of station days Station Users By Origin increased in 2019 to 4,957. June through October were the busiest months. 61%

Laboratory Use 2% Continental Africa 24 researchers used the CVB laboratories in 2019, for a total number of 347 days of lab The Americas use. 22% Madagascar Researchers made up 25% of those staying at CVB 9% in 2019, while 75% of station patrons were Study 6% Abroad, course, or workshop participants. Europe Asia and Australasia

30 31 Year in Numbers 12,952 & Followers on social media Countries of Origin of CVB Guests 1,949 Field trips visitors 140 (all nationalities) Study Abroad students 30 Total348 scientific visitors CVB scientific publications 4,957 Station days 4,957 Station days at CVB c.1,500 People participated in 8,355 433 World Lemur Festival Days spent in the field Individual visitors 6,721 36 90,000 260 Free healthcare consultations Countries from which Square meters of land 826 Expeditions facilitated provided CVB received visitors reforested Scarves sold by Famiova by CVB

32 33 Aina BRIAS-GUINART, Marketta VUOLA Santiago CASSALETT (City University of The mouse lemur, the smallest prosimian will become our future scientific collabora-

2019 Researchers (both University of Helsinki), and Andrianir- New York) continued to examine the impli- in the forests of Ranomafana National Park, tors. Kathryn ALESSI (The Graduate Center, ina Odile RAFANAMBINANTSOA (Universi- cations of lemur nutritional niches on species may hold the genetic keys to understanding City University of New York) and Manda Ha- ty of Fianarantsoa) investigated the impacts coexistence and conservation. primate biology, behavior, conservation, and As is so often the case in science, the Kras- ingotiana RAKOTONDRABE (École Normale of education on the conservation of the biodi- disease. It is for this reason that the Krasnow now team made an unexpected discovery Supérieure, University of Antananarivo) eval- versity within Ranomafana National Park. Steve COLLINS, Colin CONGDON, Ian group ventures out into the dark each night while conducting their study. Examination uated and assisted with the existing Centre BAMPTON (all from the African Butter- in search of more data. Many genetic studies of the genomes of some of the individuals ValBio Participatory Ecological Monitoring Molly CAIN (Indiana University) and Mario fly Research Institute), and Jean Claude rely on manipulation or modification of the indicates that they belong to two separate programme through inventory and evalua- MUSCARELLA investigated how rice fields RAZAFIMAMPIANDRA (University of An- study species’ genes but, with many individ- species! This came as a surprise to everyone tion of any lost or damaged forest within six impact water resources in Madagascar by tananarivo) continued to conduct systematic uals and dozens of assays, it is possible to at Centre ValBio since the mouse lemurs at fragmented forests in the southern region of surveying sites surrounding Ranomafana reviews by collecting lepidoptera specimens find naturally occurring mutations in rele- this field station have been studied for many Ranomafana National Park. National Park. in Ranomafana and surrounding area to vant genes. Each lemur gets a full veterinary years by many different researchers without investigate the role of development and exam, a variety of blood tests, and a small any indication that they were not a single Andrea BADEN (Hunter College, City Gabriella CARVAJAL (Stony Brook Uni- phenotypic plasticity in speciation, as well biopsy of skin from the ear, which is used to species. In fact, even the Krasnow team’s University of New York) and her team: Ford versity) recorded lemur vocalizations within as the ecological functions and evolutionary grow their cells. The exams take an hour or detailed phenotypic exams do not seem to BENDELL, Tre LAWRENCE, Randy JUNGE Ranomafana National Park to serve as acous- patterns of sexual characteristics. two, then all the animals are released back reveal obvious differences. However, the (Columbus Zoo and Aquarium), Timo- tic references for threatened lemur species. into the forest, at the exact locations where mouse lemurs themselves must be able to thy WEBSTER (University of Utah), Fidy Mariah DONOHUE, Eric KOWALEWSKI Mark Krasnow & Team they were captured. So far the team has iden- distinguish between each other since they do RASAMBAINARIVO (University of Missou- (both University of Kentucky), and Stella As the sun goes down over the cloud forest, tified dozens of animals with abnormal traits intermingle but appear not to interbreed. ri-St. Louis), Eliette NOROMALALA (Uni- NOMENJANAHARY (University of Antanan- most researchers are finishing dinner and and has begun mapping the genes underlying versity of Antananarivo), and Mirana Jeanne arivo) studied of the role of intestinal micro- getting ready for bed. One group, however, these traits. The ambitious long-term goal The Krasnow lab mouse lemur genetics Evah RAHARINIRINA (University of Anta- biomes in speciation and sexual selection in are just starting their day’s work. Haja and is to examine all the mouse lemurs on the project is ongoing and we are excited about nanarivo) continued their long-term research Eulemur hybrids E. cinereiceps and E. rufi- Mahery Razafindrakoto, Caitlin Karanewsky, island! uncovering the mechanisms by which these surveys and monitoring, and looked at the frons in Ranomafana, Isalo, and Andringitra and Zeph Pendleton don headlamps and go “super-cryptic” species distinguish them- breeding physiology and infant care strategy National Parks in the southern region of out to the forest with Victor Nirina Rasendry In order to achieve such an ambitious goal, selves, continuing to identify individuals with of Varecia variegata at Mangevo forest. Madagascar. and Justin Rakotonjatovo to check on traps the Krasnow team has enlisted the help unique traits and map the responsible genes set that afternoon. The first GPS marked of Hanta Rasamimanana, Soatra Rakoto- and mutations, and further developing our Carly BATIST (City University of New Amanda DU BOUR (Northern Illinois location they check is furthest from the field nomenjanahary, and their ENS students at understanding of the biology, behavior, and York) and Mendrika Nina RAZAFINDRAIBE University) and Maherizo Nirina Jacqueline station, and they work their way back along the University of Antananarivo to help teach conservation of this fascinating primate. The (University of Antananarivo) examined how RANDIMBISON (University of Antanana- the trail as they collect the traps. Most of hands-on science to high school students team is very thankful for the help they have behaviour, vocal communication, and social rivo) investigated the nutritional values of them are empty, but some contain a small near the research station. This program is received from Pat Wright and from everyone structure determine territoriality, preda- dietary components for Prolemur simus, primate hiding at the back of the metal box, continuously expanding to more schools, and at CVB. The project would not be possible tor-prey interaction, and breeding strategy in and also assessed the feasibility of the lemur lured in by a generous slice of banana. we hope that some of the students involved without it! Varecia variegata. translocation project for RNP.

34 35 Dr. Onja H. Razafindratsima a set of experiments within the forest. Dr. Mai FAHMY (Fordham University) and transport by picking up traps put along roads New York /NYCEP) and Mirana Jeanne Evah Mark SIDDALL (American Museum of Nat- and near suspected areas as part of Madagas- RAHARINIRINA (University of Antanana- Seed dispersal by animals (zoochory) is a Razafindratsima’s Ph.D.’s research demon- ural History) accompanied the expedition to car’s National Action Plan to reduce mercury rivo) conducted botanical evaluations at five common mode of dispersal for many plant strated that nonrandom seed dispersal by the Lost Forest to continue their work using usage. sites to assess forest regeneration over the species worldwide, especially in tropical lemur frugivores could positively affect plant iDNA analysis to identify biodiversity other- past 25 years since the creation of Ranomafa- ecosystems. In the rainforest of Ranomafa- populations, and structure the spatial asso- wise not recorded. Katherine KLING (Stony Brook Univer- na National Park. na National Park, in particular, a majority ciations and the interactions between plants sity) continued to conduct surveys of the of plant species have traits adapted for zoo- within a community. From these perspec- Zo Ella Samuel FENOSOA (University of population of Eulemur rubriventer in the Omer NEVO (Institute of Evolutionary chory. Using the diverse fauna and flora in tives, losing these large-bodied lemurs would Antananarivo) continued to study the dis- corridor and forest fragments of Andrambo- Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm RNP as a model system, Dr. Razafindratsi- influence vital ecosystem services to human semination of the parasitic plant Bakerella vato, , and . University) and Diary RAZAFIMANDIMBY ma’s research seeks to provide new insights well-being, such as a decrease of the forest’s sp. by frugivores and the effects of its infec- (University of Antananarivo) continued their to advance the field of seed dispersal ecology, potential to store carbon. tion on the community of plants in humid Mark KRASNOW, Caitlin KARANEWSKY, project on chemical ecology of seed dispersal including the impacts of animals on plants forests in eastern Madagascar. Jozeph PENDLETON (all Stanford Universi- by lemurs. – from the individual level to population Dr. Razafindratsima recently started an ty), Andriamahery RAZAFINDRAKOTO and and community levels, the implications of Assistant Professor position at South Dakota Mark HOFFMAN (Technische Universi- Hajanirina Noeline RAVELONJANAHARY Beatriz OTERO-JIMINEZ and Mamini- this plant-animal interaction on the ecology State University. Her research group plans to tät Braunschweig) and Mahandry ANDRI- (University of Antananarivo) continued the aina Haja Fabrice RAZAFINDRABE (Univer- of both partners, and the consequences of continue working on this important subject ANARIMISA (University of Antananarivo) long-term monitoring of mouse lemur popu- sity of Antananarivo) conducted complemen- losing animal seed dispersers on ecosystem amidst the rainforests of Ranomafana. conducted surveys and genetic identification lation, investigating mouse lemur genotypes tary biological inventories within the forests health. “I hope my work of entomologic diversity, especially of prey and phenotypes, with the goal of detecting of Ivohiboro and Analamary, in the south- insects and parasites of the herpetofauna genetic disease and divergence, in mouse le- east of Madagascar. Dr. Razafindratsima has been studying the within Ranomafana National Park. murs in and around RNP. They also pursued multi-faceted aspects of seed dispersal by will have important their teaching program at Kelilalina high Urmi PODDAR (Stony Brook University) three large-bodied lemur frugivores (red-bel- conceptual implications Steig JOHNSON (University of Calgary) school with the École Normale Supérieure, and Maherizo RANDIMBISOA (University lied lemur, red-fronted lemur, and black- monitored and evaluated the “Tropical Ecol- University of Antananarivo. of Antananarivo) investigated a forest resto- and-white ) in Ranomafana, for understanding the ogy Assessment and Monitoring” and “Par- ration pilot project along the forest corridor since 2010 when she was a Ph.D. student at dynamics and functioning ticipatory Ecological Monitoring” projects. Chien LEE and Pearl LEE (both C.L. Wild- and Tolongoina areas in Ambalavero and Rice University. She led a dedicated team of life Photography and Nature Tours) conduct- Ambodivanana. research technicians and local guides at Cen- of plant communities and Roxanne KARIMI (Stony Brook Universi- ed biodiversity photographic projects within tre ValBio in Ranomafana along with Mala- the ecological impacts of ty), Luis FERNANDEZ (Wake Forest Univer- Ranomafana National Park and surround- Timothy RAXWORTHY (Hampshire Col- gasy university students in field expeditions sity), Claudia VEGA (Centro de Innovaccion ings, with the long-term objective of pro- lege) continued surveys on vanilla bean farm- aimed at collecting data on lemur feeding plant-animal interactions Cientifica Amazonica), and Kenneth DAVIS ducing educational and recreational books ing in Madagascar, looking at the economic and defecating, which were combined with in biodiverse tropical (United Nations Environment Programme) promoting Ranomafana National Park. and social aspects of policy and development. an investigation of the lemur movement followed up with the rapid environmental patterns in several field sites within RNP and environments.” assessments of mercury release, fate, and Amanda MANCINI (City University of

36 - Dr. Onja Razafindratsima 37

Onja RAZAFINDRATSIMA (South Dako- Brett SCHEFFERS (University of Florida) Sina Feyer (Freie Universität Berlin) and Brett Scheffers & Team warms and becomes more variable, so does and his team: David KLINGES (University Haja RAKOTONDRAINIBE, along with ta State University) and Veronarindra RA- When you take a walk through the forest, the forest, but potentially not at the same of Florida), Zachary LANGE, and Julia LAT- Madagascar National Parks, investigated the MANANJATO (University of Antananarivo) what is most noticeable to you? Maybe it rate across the vertical spectrum (from forest ERZA-BARBOSA (both John Carroll Uni- feasibility of the translocation project for Pr- continued to investigate the mechanisms is the hoots and chatter from distance calls floor to canopy). The canopy is more exposed versity), along with representatives from the olemur individuals. Field research occurred behind, and consequences of, the spread of on a high branch. Or the slices of light from to the sun than the forest floor– perhaps University of Antananarivo and Madagascar both inside and outside of protected areas in Psidium cattleianum in the rain forest of above that cut between leaves. Perhaps the arboreal herps are more tolerant of warm National Parks, Simplice RAZAFINDRANA- Mahasoa, Mangarabaka, and Ranomafana. Madagascar. immense trunks of trees, stretching up- temperatures, and may be more tolerant to IVO and Tsitohaina ANDRIAMBOLOLONA wards to heights that may play host to un- climate change than their terrestrial neigh- respectively, surveyed and evaluated the role Patricia WRIGHT, Marloes LEEFLANG Amanda Kathryn ROWE (Stony Brook seen creatures and communities. Those who bors. of climatic change and species interaction for (Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp), Al- University) and Eva Stela NOMENJANA- have walked the trails of Ranomafana have determination of the tri-dimensional distri- exandra SHEA, Lucas BOGAERT, Elisanda HARY (University of Antananarivo) led a certainly spent time looking up at the mys- Thanks to the laboratory facilities available bution of Malagasy amphibians, by combin- BARO (both Joves i Ciència, Fundació Cata- team of American and Australian research- terious canopies, envisioning what may be at CVB, we are able to further explore these ing field studies and laboratory experimenta- lunya-La Pedrera), Claire WARSEK (Univer- ers, Centre ValBio technicians, and local hiding there just out of sight. relationships ex-situ (outside of the natural guides to conduct preliminary work in Zom- tion. sity of Wisconsin-Madison), Fidy RASAM- environment). After capturing and identify- BAINARIVO (University of Missouri-St. bitse Vohibasia National Park (ZVNP) in For our research group, looking up wasn’t ing herps, we head to CVB to perform exper- Thomas SNYDER (Seneca Park Zoo Soci- Louis), Eliette NOROMALALA, Henikaja Southwestern Madagascar. Amanda’s work enough. Due to the nature of the organisms imental trials: we place frogs in an arena that ety), Anthony VODACEK (Rochester Insti- RASOAVIARIMANANA (both University focuses on understanding the communi- we study – amphibians and reptiles, or col- offers a range of temperatures, and observe tute of Technology), and Tsinjo Sombiniaina of Antananarivo), Haja RAKOTONDRAIN- ty ecology of the cheirogaleids in the park lectively called herps – we climb. Many of the where each individual relocates to, and Annick ANDRIATIAVINA (University of IBE, and Centre ValBio conducted long-term (Cheirogaleus medius, Mirza coquereli, herp species found in the eastern rainforests therefore the temperatures it prefers. After Antananarivo) conducted their project on health monitoring of Propithecus edwardsi Microcebus murinus, Phaner pallescens). of Madagascar are arboreal, living above the finishing these trials, we carefully return all Madagascar forest modeling and measuring Additionally, Amanda’s team conducted noc- and Varecia variegata inside RNP. ground, and some may almost never touch organisms back to the exact same tree they biodiversity impacts and efforts within Vato- turnal surveys to estimate population density the forest floor. To only study the forest were found in. Then it’s off on a deep dive haranana and Talatakely inside Ranomafana and abundance for all nocturnal lemurs in communities at ground-level is inherently a into the data, to find patterns that may match National Park, as well as surveys of species of ZVNP, including Lepilemur hubbardorum, flat perspective, and to fully understand the our predictions. What species preferred the amphibians, birds, spiders, and arthropods a sportive lemur endemic to ZVNP and its complexity of forests is to appreciate their warmer temperatures? Which ones were at Vatoharanana and Talatakely forests via peripheral zones. three-dimensional structure. Armed with found higher in the canopy? Who will be audio and remote sensing. harnesses and ropes, we ascend to the cano- resilient to climate change, and who needs Akiko SAWADA (Chubu University) and py to explore the many layers that make up a further attention to ensure they persevere? Tsinjo Sombiniaina Annick ANDRIATIAVI- Patricia WRIGHT, Ezzeldin ENAN, Ryan rainforest. NA (University of Antananarivo) examined at ROTHMAN, Thomas KELLY, Gregory TAM We’re eager to discover soon, before time the feeding ecology of three groups of bam- (all Stony Brook University), Amanda DU Our particular interests lie in understanding runs out on the unique biodiversity of these boo lemur; Hapalemur aureus, Prolemur BOUR (Northern Illinois University), Bekah how forest canopies, and their inhabitants, forests. simus, and Hapalemur griseus within Ta- WEATHERINGTON (Cornell University), will respond to climate change. As the planet - David Klinges latakely and Sahamalaotra forests. Tobias GRAESSLE (Robert Koch Institute),

38 39 researchers, government organizations, and in particular those affecting . Diseas- Beatriz Otero Jiménez how the land between patches can promote NGOs to protect and restore wildlife habitats. es are a natural part of any species’ ecology, or prevent species from using this space. At In 2016 the CVB team visited an unexpected Here sustainable ecotourism helps bring in- but anthropogenic habitat loss has led to the Ivohiboro-Analamary forest I am part of rainforest in south central Madagascar, the come to local communities and CVB’s state of fragmented and depleted populations of pri- the team that studies the diversity and health Ivohiboro-Analamary forest. This forest is the art research facilities bring researchers, mates, leaving many vulnerable to being crit- of nocturnal lemurs, such as the mouse and surrounded by human created savannah, and such as myself on the Greater Bamboo Lemur ically affected by disease. Understanding the dwarf lemurs, and the native rodent species. has been isolated from any other rainforests Translocation Project. drivers of wildlife mortality has become an We use morphological and genetic data to for more than 500 years. CVB led the first integral part of conservation. The Leender- investigate how the populations within the scientific expeditions to this unique forest The overall objective of the project is to move tz Lab helps to implement wildlife health forest are doing, how different species move and I joined the team as a postdoctoral re- individuals from a population of critically monitoring at several primatology field sites across the landscape, and to identify species searcher in 2019. My research explores how endangered greater bamboo lemurs (Prole- across Africa, maintaining an emphasis on present. animals move between forest patches and mur simus) living in a degraded unprotect- building local capacity. ed forest in the Karianga region into RNP. As part of this project, in August a diverse Most of the diseases we investigate are zoo- team of CVB technicians, researchers, and noses—capable of jumping from animals to Our hope is that this research veterinarians conducted the first stage of the humans and vice versa. As over 60% of all project—assessing current population size emerging human infectious diseases are esti- will provide important Tobias Gräßle and individual health to decide on animals mated to have zoonotic origins, wildlife dis- evidence to support the I pictured Madagascar quite differently be- suitable for translocation. eases should clearly be considered a signifi- fore my first visit last year. Documentaries cant threat to global health—exemplified by conservation of this forest had led me to anticipate a pristine wilderness For this, lemurs were tranquilized and as lethal diseases like Ebola, SARS, coronavirus, and that it will help in the with lemurs all over the place, but the drive part of the veterinary team I monitored the and the plague. On the other hand, human from Antananarivo to Centre ValBio revealed anesthetized lemurs closely, as their wellbe- and livestock pathogens can infect wildlife as development of conservation another reality—large-scale habitat loss. ing is of uppermost importance during such well, meaning that increasing anthropogen- strategies that will support Anthropogenic driven habitat loss constitutes interventions. Furthermore, we collected an ic disturbance may bring another threat to one of the major threats to biodiversity all extensive sample set from each animal, so wildlife; our diseases. By monitoring patho- these species. over the world, but in Madagascar the degree that many different research groups could gens impacting wildlife populations, we can of destruction is particularly striking. use them to help assess the health and risks help human populations living in proximity facing these animals—amongst them the to wildlife by designing strategies that min- - Beatriz Otero Jiménez Luckily it is not all bad news. Natural para- Leendertz Lab at the Robert Koch-Institute, imize their risk of infection, while also pro- dises still exist scattered across the island. where I am currently working on my Ph.D. tecting wildlife. One of them, Ranomafana National Park (‘RNP’), is illustrative of how communities Our research is focused on the epidemiology living around protected areas can work with and evolution of infectious wildlife diseases,

40 41 ing human-lemur interactions and the likeli- long-term data collection on the group of ownership, and food production. This infor- hood of disease transmission across species interest, Bekah and the team have set up the mation presented us with further insight into boundaries. The fight for the conservation necessary scenario to translocate the group of people’s daily activities and the agricultural of endangered species like greater bamboo lemurs from the village to the pristine rain- challenges they face. lemurs reveals an increasing need for further forests of Ranomafana National Park in the research to fill vast knowledge gaps and vet- near future. This effort will serve to relieve My hope is to use the collected data to devise erinary intervention to treat diseased individ- the village of some of the habitat-deprived community-based solutions that will alle- uals as well as mitigate the spread of disease lemurs that have resorted to crop raiding and viate major issues in food production and through populations. to introduce them into a protected environ- provide income-generating activities to these ment where their food source is plentiful. communities to reduce their reliance on tavy As a veterinary student at Cornell University, farming. A strong focus on sustainable food Bekah spends most of her time wrapped up This project also strives to champion for the security solutions as a long-term initiative in her studies of the fundamentals of veteri- conservation of the species on a larger scale could have an overwhelmingly positive im- nary medicine. However, she jumped at the by allowing the mixing of genes between the pact on health and nutrition for the local opportunity to explore her passion for con- new population and the two greater bamboo people and support forest conservation in the servation medicine and work on this issue. lemurs that already live within Ranomafana generations to come. She utilized a summer to collaborate with Dr. National Park. This would increase the genet- Wright and a team of lemur experts to collect ic diversity of greater bamboo lemurs, giving Bekah Weatherington Kathryn Alessi a variety of samples from a group of greater them a better chance at surviving their rapid- The greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus) bamboo lemurs. These samples will be used ly changing environment. With the long-term goal of reducing the is one of many species in Madagascar found to establish what is normal in a healthy in- practice of tavy, my team worked in six vil- nowhere else in the world outside of cap- dividual so that veterinarians will be able to While the rest of Bekah’s year has been busy lages conducting biodiversity observations tivity. Greater bamboo lemurs are listed as identify and treat lemurs that are abnormal with classes, performing spay and neuter in fragmented forests and surveys focused critically endangered and were even believed in the future. surgeries for low income pet owners in Hon- on household composition and food security. to have been extinct 50 years ago until Dr. duras, and preparing to start her clinical The forest observations are part of Centre Patricia Wright made it her mission to find The efforts made by Bekah and Dr. Wright rotations in 2020, she is excited to continue ValBio’s Participatory Ecological Monitoring them. also sought to improve the relationship be- working on the project and she hopes she can project in which flora and fauna are count- tween the lemurs and people who find their find the time to return to Madagascar to fol- ed along transects in each area to monitor The future of this species remains precar- habitats bleeding into one another. As a part low up with the greater bamboo lemurs she changes in biodiversity and man-made pres- ious due to anthropogenic threats leaving of this research, people in an affected village has come to care for so dearly. sure. With consistent monitoring, this data remaining populations fragmented and more were employed to collect behavioral data and can be used to determine improvements in susceptible to disease. The loss of natural fecal samples on the aforementioned lemur forest conservation. The household surveys habitat and food sources pushes the lemurs population. By establishing a working rela- provide perspectives on family size, house- into human-inhabited areas, thereby increas- tionship with the local village and initiating hold wealth, employment opportunities, land

42 43 Text genomically characterize them. Over 17,000 lightful names such as MalagasyRose, Anti- Mai Fahmy ture distinct diversity, mostly that of small, years. Preliminary expeditions by the CVB phages have been discovered, 3,000 of which sirabe, and Curiosium. The genomes of these ground-dwelling animals often too small to team previously uncovered an unusual amal- For my Ph.D. dissertation, I am using ter- are genomically characterized. Their diversity ten phages show them to have a number of trigger camera traps and easily missed on gamation of species, some of which may be restrial blood-feeding leeches (Chtonobdella is great, and they harbor hundreds of thou- interesting features, and MalagasyRose is visual line transect surveys. iDNA provides new to science. I collected over 1,400 leeches spp.) as a proxy for biodiversity by analyz- sands of genes of unknown function. This is unlike any of the previously sequenced 1,800 conservation biologists with a valuable snap- from the Lost Forest for iDNA analysis which ing the vertebrate DNA in their bloodmeals. truly the dark matter of the biosphere. phages that infect exactly the same type of shot of species living in a specific area and will help us determine the mysterious species Biodiversity inventories are valuable tools bacterium. helps fuel interest in protecting sensitive composition of this newly discovered forest with which researchers assess the status of With his colleague Debbie Jacobs-Sera, areas from the rampant deforestation that is fragment. The results of this research may target taxa. Often, these inventories are limit- Dr. Hatfull is investigating if there are new Every spoonful of dirt contains millions of occurring in Madagascar and beyond. help elevate the forest to protected status. ed, only detecting specific taxonomic classes. and interesting types of bacteriophages in individual bacteriophage particles, and there However, with leech-derived ingested DNA Madagascar, exploring its many novel and are so many more phages to be discovered Previously, I had collected 600 leeches from (iDNA), researchers can obtain broad-spec- interesting environments. Working with and characterized. Phage discovery provides Ranomafana National Park for iDNA analy- trum incidence data on mammalian, avian, Hanta Rasamimanana and her students from opportunities for students to engage in au- sis, finding that leeches feed on a wide vari- reptilian, and amphibious wildlife, all by sim- the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Antanan- thentic scientific research and phage genom- ety of hosts, including snakes, frogs, birds, ply analyzing the blood in the guts of leeches. arivo, ten new phages were isolated from ics promotes a deeper understand of genetics mammals, and even amphibious fish. Once I am interested in cataloguing Madagascar’s Ranomafana using the bacterial host Myco- and molecular biology. The secrets of Mada- the leeches have been collected, the iDNA is bacterium smegmatis, and were given de- gascar phages are ready for investigation! highly threatened biota through iDNA to ex- extracted, sequenced, and queried against a pand and optimize noninvasive inventorying global genetic database. iDNA which matches Graham Hatfull — Bacteriophages – strategies. sequences in the database with high confi- viruses that infect bacteria – are the most nu- dence reflects the fauna on which the leeches merous biological entities in the biosphere. iDNA surveys have been tested in various had fed. Low confidence matches represent They are abundant and they are everywhere! blood-feeding invertebrates such as mosqui- species which are not represented on the da- They are highly diverse genetically, and we toes and carrion flies. However, unlike these tabase or are likely new to science. Through are keen to figure out what different types ex- volant hematophagous invertebrates, leeches the guts of leeches, I have been able to iden- ist, what genes they carry, and how they have appear to be ideal candidates for iDNA be- tify species threatened with extinction as evolved. Furthermore, their ability to infect cause they are able to retain the DNA of up to well as exotic invaders. I believe this method and kill specific bacteria presents therapeutic four distinct taxa on the order of months and holds potential for delimiting the distribu- possibilities in which phages could be used to are not highly mobile, maintaining site fidel- tions of both threatened and invasive species control antibiotic-resistant life-threatening ity. Terrestrial leeches are found across the for ecological monitoring. bacterial infections. Indo-Pacific, a region which simultaneously harbors high rates of endemism, diversity, Most recently, I joined Dr. Patricia Wright’s Dr. Hatfull develops research-education and environmental threats thereby allowing expedition to the Lost Forest, a largely unex- programs in which students discover new us to target some of the world’s most endan- plored stretch of primary forest in south-cen- bacteriophages, name them, purify them, and gered species. Additionally, leeches cap- tral Madagascar isolated for at least 100

44 45 MaTsi project of conservation and NGO practitioners and there is the possibility that a microorgan- species as it avoids disturbance to the ecosys- ism, pathogenic fungi, or bacteria is directly tem. It is not done in a natural habitat but on Protected areas are often established in areas government representatives, and scientific attacking the plant. young plantations of Calophyllum panicula- populated by humans. In many cases, in- knowledge) in one model. We also wanted tum that are either cultivated in a nursery or cluding Ranomafana, their establishment to offer a chance for all these stakeholders To demonstrate that Calophyllum panicula- in vitro to produce resistant plants that could requires a change in livelihoods for the local to meet and discuss shared problems. The tum is a valuable resource, chemical analysis be reintroduced into the natural habitat. communities, such as a shift away from hunt- final model will be shared with the NGOs has been performed which demonstrates that ing, collecting forest products, and slash- and government authorities to potentially the nuts of the tree contain an oil composed My other research involves phytochemical and-burn agriculture. To support this shift, facilitate their work with local communities of sterols, leucoanthocyans, polysaccharides, studies on the active molecules in aromat- conservation actors have been implementing with a wider understanding of the obstacles and tannins. This oil is also rich in polyun- ic plants. These plants could be a source of development projects to provide alternatives. to their livelihood development. Our work saturated fatty acids. In previous studies of income for surrounding population, helping However, to date, local communities contin- in Ranomafana will continue with our Ph.D. another species, Calophyllum inophyllum, to fight against poverty and deforestation at ue to struggle to find sustainable livelihoods. projects, Aina’s focusing on environmental the nuts were shown to possess a fatty oil the same time. The final goal is to design a To address these issues, our research team education and Marketta’s on artisanal gold that displays anti-bacterial and anti-fungal program of reforestation using these species conducted a project called MaTsi (Mampi- mining in and around protected areas of Aina Brias Guinart and Marketta properties. combined with a value chain of sustainable fandray ny Tsirairay), loosely translated as Madagascar. are Ph.D. students in the Global income. Vuola “Bringing all stakeholders together”. The Change and Conservation research group led Investigations should be continued to identi- aim of the project is to create a model of the by Dr. Mar Cabeza at the University of Hel- fy the specific sterols and leucoanthocyans in natural resource use around Ranomafana Baovola Alisoa Kotomangazafy sinki (Finland). They carried out the project the oil, and also possibly the leaves and latex National Park. The qualitative model in- “MaTsi” in Ranomafana and the villages of Inside Ranomafana National Park, Cen- from the trunk, which possess these proper- cluded the Actors, Resources, Drivers, and Mangevo and Amboditanimena in Novem- tre ValBio’s Reforestation and Biodiversity ties. In related species, Calophyllum inophyl- Interactions (ARDI) influencing the natural ber-December 2019. The Malagasy team Teams noted that over 50% of Calophyllum lum and Calophyllum teismanii, anti-viral resource use in the socio-ecological system of members included research assistants Odile paniculatum observed died during the year. compounds named calophyllolide have been Ranomafana following a methodology devel- Andrianirina Rafanambinantsoa and Mat- The illness responsible starts with the leaves, identified. My research into Calophyllum oped by Etienne et al. (2011). The model was thieu Pierre (Master’s Students from the which begin to fade, then the trunks and paniculatum’s chemical components hopes participatory, consisting of nine workshops University of Fianarantsoa) and workshop finally the roots dry out and die. The reason to identify similar pharmacologically useful with two local communities along with other facilitators Caroline Rojosoanotahina (Univer- for this mortality is still uncertain. compounds. stakeholders: conservation and development sity of Fianarantsoa), Maria Hariniaina (Uni- NGOs, local associations, government repre- versity of Antananarivo) and Toky Tsihory Several hypotheses are being investigated. One of my approaches is based on research- sentatives, Madagascar National Parks, and Randriamamonjy (University of Tamatave). One is the possibility that climate change has ing strategies for producing young plants Malagasy researchers. By giving everybody MaTsi project was funded by FinCEAL Plus enhanced the vulnerability of the plant to resistant to the attacks of whatever insects a chance to express themselves, we aimed to BRIDGES project. predators. Alternatively, perhaps there has or microorganisms are causing the problem, include different forms of knowledge (local been an increase in the prevalence of insects by using endophytic and mycorrhizal fungi. environmental knowledge, expert knowledge that produce toxins within the trees. Lastly, This is sensitive to the regeneration of the

46 47 Text Under the guidance of Dr. Baden, Ford Ben- techniques to ascend the nest-use trees at Mariah Donohue study of GM function, as well as host behav- ior, ecology, and demography across seasons dell acted as the field project manager for the Mangevo in order to collect data that would My Ph.D. research uses one of the only pur- using Eulemur hybrids and parental species. Ranomafana Ruffed Lemur Project (RRLP) have been unobtainable from the ground. ported hybrid primate species—Eulemur ru- Elucidating the factors that contribute to at the Mangevo field site during 2019. This Through direct observation and by installing fifrons x E. cinereiceps—to test the hypothe- GM patterning today will provide key insight comprehensive study examines a wide vari- 15 wildlife trail cameras in order to capture sis that the gut microbiome (GM) contributes into how GMs may have shaped eukaryotic ety of traits and behaviors related to Varecia images of activity near the nest site, the team to host speciation. The relationship between biodiversity. I hope this research will inspire with the goal of understanding the demogra- successfully gathered novel data. hosts and symbiotic microbes is ancient and future empirical and theoretical work inves- phy, life history, and reproductive strategies obligatory, as the GM has evolved to perform tigating the role of the GM in host speciation of this highly arboreal primate. Answering In combination with previous behavioral critical functions aiding in host immunity by natural selection. Importantly, this work these questions requires extensive data observations, Dr. Baden’s group aims to and digestion. Despite the link between host will enhance our understanding of how eco- collection, and in turn, an extensive team. further collect data related to tree phenology fitness and GM function, very few studies logical variables, such as habitat disturbance, The project employs 10 local Malagasy tech- and nest site selection in hopes of answering have explored the role of the GM in host alter the GM—thus enhancing our ability to nicians and guides, some of whom have been questions related to Varecia’s reproductive diversification and speciation. I hope to fill assess and conserve endangered species. working with Dr. Baden since 2005. strategies and intraspecific relationships. this gap through a long-term comparative

Bendell supervised day-to-day operations Ford Bendell and ensured research activities were con- Although it is one of the more charismatic ducted in accordance with the project’s lemur species in Madagascar, relatively little objectives. While logistics and planning were is known about the critically endangered his main priorities, he also performed data black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia var- collection analysis to both support the proj- iegata). Fortunately, thanks to Dr. Andrea L. ect’s core research and formulate new ques- Baden and her team, steps are being taken tions in collaboration with Dr. Baden. to understand this enigmatic species. As an ecosystem engineer, Varecia plays a critical Varecia reproduce on a boom and bust cycle, role in seed dispersal and facilitates biodiver- only having offspring every 2–4 years. Excit- sity. Primarily foraging and traveling high in ingly, mating was observed in 2019. Varecia, Madagascar’s rainforest canopy, this lemur like birds, construct nests high in the can- presents a unique challenge for researchers opy in order to birth and rear their young. as it is difficult to detect and follow from the This event presented a rare opportunity to forest floor. Because of this, Dr. Baden has document maternal care, prompting Bend- utilized a robust team of trained research- ell and Dr. Baden to attend the Cornell Tree ers continually since 2017 to collect data on Climbing Institute’s Research Canopy Train- radio-collared individuals. ing. As a result, Bendell utilized rope-based

48 49 Catholic Relief Services. Participants were and on August 30th Caroline Rozosoanota- able to meet and interact with fellow youth hiana led a 25-person workshop on the new leaders from Toliara, Morombe, Toamasina, biochar project spearheaded by BeLocal - see Antananarivo, and . Topics in- p. 28. cluded gender, agriculture, livelihood, youth volunteering, and youth entrepreneurship. MRMW Training From June 27th to 29th and October 20th to Conservation International 26th, MRMW training took place at Centre On May 13th to 17th and November 4th ValBio as part of the programme’s commit- to 8th Conservation International held ment to constantly improving the skills of the team-building workshops on the CVB confer- teachers giving biodiversity lessons in local ence room, attended by 10 participants. schools surrounding RNP.

ATBC E2M2 From July 29th to August 4th 2019, Dr, Jean In the 3rd annual Ecological and Epidemi- Claude Razafimahaimodison, Prisca Andri- ological Modelling (E2M2) workshop, stu- ambinintsoa, Paul Rakotonirina, Dina Andri- dents participated in a series of interactive anoely, Lovasoa Razafindravony, Mahandry lectures and computer-based tutorials and Andrianarisoa, Fara Rakotoarison, Caroline learned to fine-tune model-based research Workshops & Events Rojosoanotahiana, Julia Rasoarimamonjy, questions, develop clear model frameworks and Jessie Jordan accompanied Dr. Wright, and corresponding equations, and fit models Wedding Mme. Josianne Rakotonirina (Director of to real-world data. CVB Founder Patricia Wright and PCI (Pri- RNP), and ten students sponsored by Base mate Conservation, Inc.) Founder Noel Rowe Titanium to the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Lemur Day Association for Tropical Biology and Conser- got married on November 30th at CVB, World Lemur Day Festival was celebrated vation in Antananarivo. presided over by Benjamin Andriamihaja and in Ranomafana on October 25th, attracting Christopher Chapple. thousands of people from many different BeLocal Workshop backgrounds, including the US Ambassador CRS Youth Summit At the University of Fianarantsoa on January Michael Pelletier, and John Dunlop, Mission From August 19th to the 23rd, 106 young 22nd, Jesse McKinney, Caroline Rojosoano- Director, USAID Madagascar. Celebrations Malagasy students attended the 3rd annu- tahiana, and Dr. Jean Claude Razafimahai- included a parade, speeches, face painting, al youth summit organized by CVB partner modison began planning the yearly program, dancing, and mask-making.

50 51 of Centre ValBio). Students dedicated them- gram included lectures, field work, and a Other Study Abroads National Geographic Student Academic Training & selves to three-week internships on a range Expeditions cross-country trip. Students also designed Every year, groups of students come from of topics, with a primary focus on human For the third year in a row, National Geo- Capacity Building independent research projects, covering a around the world come to study at CVB. In health. One student from the State Univer- graphic Student Expeditions came to Mad- large spectrum of issues. Projects were then 2019, 110 students from high school and sity of New York at Buffalo joined the group, agascar. Alicia Lamb (returning for another Stony Brook at CVB presented at CVB in Ranomafana and at the university participated in Study Abroad pro- highlighting the importance of the program University of Fianarantsoa. year!) and Michael Drake led this year’s SBU Dental Students grams. to conservationists all over New York state. expedition. They brought 14 students from For the 15th year in a row, Dr Larry Wynn, From September to November, 10 students the United States and China for nearly three along with Dr Hamil Willoughby, led a group University of Florida SBU’s summer program took place in May (nine from the USA and one local) participat- weeks of community service work with Cen- of dental students from Stony Brook Univer- CVB was proud to welcome back the Univer- and June, again led by Ryan along with ed, led by Frank and Tharcisse again, along tre ValBio’s Reforestation and Education sity. From June to July, these dental students sity of Florida for a fourth year in a row for Amanda DuBour, Frank Rabenahy, & Thar- with Laura Marsh and Amanda DuBour. As Teams. treated a total of 672 patients at free dental their course on biodiversity and conservation cisse Ukizitambara. During this session, six well as SBU, a student from Duke partici- clinics in Ranomafana and Kelilalina for a va- in a developing country. Students worked on U.S. students were exposed to a range of ex- pated, highlighting the diversity of the pro- The students learned about agriculture and riety of tooth problems in both young and old a variety of projects including reforestation, periences, including the Malagasy language, gramme. Teaching focused on biodiversity, soil erosion mitigation work, and helped our patients. As dental coverage in not currently health, and lemur research, and they also health, environmental education, ecosystem education, Malagasy culture and language, resident artist paint educational murals in lo- provided by the state, this mission is vital to immersed themselves in traditional local diversity, and scientific research. The pro- ecosystem diversity, and human impact. cal classrooms. The murals were interpretive the health of the local community. culture. maps of Madagascar in the primary school and a world map in the secondary school Sadly, this was the final group to be led by The Colorado Springs School featuring some iconic wildlife from differ- Drs Wynn and Willoughby, who have passed Centre ValBio was delighted to host a group ent regions. Not only do these maps offer a on the baton. A gigantic thank you is due to of eight students from The Colorado Springs permanent method of teaching and inspir- them for their incredible work here! School. As part of their cultural immersion in Madagascar, they spent time at Centre Val- ing children, this year in tribute to National Bio experiencing the forest in the setting of Geographic the Winkel tripel projection was SBU Undergraduates a research institute. A visit to a local village used! This year we successfully completed three was arranged, where they were taught how SBU Study Abroad programs, with a total of to make spoons and bowls out of cassava Highschool Programs 26 students participating in the winter, sum- leaves, and see a zebu sacrifice to the ances- Centre ValBio was also lucky enough wel- mer, and fall programs. Our third, tenth, and tors. The students even received traditional come back Culture Connect for a second year. 26th such programs respectively! hats as gifts! Of course, no visit to Centre This programme introduces students to the ValBio would be complete without a hike in environment, economy, culture, and people In January, students participated in the the forest, after which the students got to see of Madagascar, and gives students a chance second winter program under the guidance local bands and dancers perform songs about to examine local and global issues. of teaching assistants Leila Esmailzada and conservation and the rainforest. Ryan Rothman (both long-term collaborators

52 53 Volunteers and Interns During July, CVB had the pleasure of hosting Madaworks year. The annual Madaworks awards cere- litres of ravintsara oil have been produced. two high school interns from Spain, under mony was held at Centre ValBio in October This represents a massive increase in effi- Ezzeldin Enan (Stony Brook University) Madaworks is a non-profit organization that the Joves i Ciència programme. Lucas Bo- 2019. All 14 of the current Madaworks schol- ciency, and bodes well for the future success completed an internship that saw him assist was created to change girls’ lives by provid- gaert and Elisenda Baró spent productive ars attended the ceremony with their par- of the FIMARA association. in various laboratory activities, including ing scholarships to allow them to go to sec- weeks assisting with the long-term Propith- ents. Board members Dr. Patricia Wright and faecal DNA sampling, necropsies, laboratory ondary school as well as to support women’s icus monitoring. We hope to welcome back Prisca Andriambinintsoa awarded the certif- The association has continued planting lem- management, and personal research on para- sustainable artisanal weaving collectives more students in the coming years! icates. Julie Rakotozafy from Sahavondro- ongrass in Mahatsarabe, as well as training site transmission in lemurs. that are based in Madagascar. In July 2019 na, who received a Madaworks scholarship the members of FIMARA to grow lemongrass Madaworks hired an Operations Manager, when Madaworks launched in 2015, recently in their own field. Furthermore, to increase Alexandra Eck (Stony Brook University): Training in Mauritius Hajanirina Randrianarivelo, to help support graduated from nursing school in Fianarant- commercialisation the alembic is also now As part of her final year of her technological Nicolas Rasolonjatovo, Head of Reforesta- the girl scholars and manage the field opera- soa this February. Madaworks continues to available for rent to other people or coopera- systems management degree at Stony Brook, tion, was selected to go to Mauritius for tions in Madagascar. She works out of Centre support the artisanal weaving collectives by tives, with the money going to FIMARA. Sasha came to CVB to begin the major task regional capacity building programme on ValBio. Five new scholars were selected from buying their products for Madaworks fund- “Nothing can compare to of updating the Centre ValBio website, while biodiversity conservation and monitoring the villages of Ambalakindresy, Kelilalana, raisers. the adventures we had in assisting the Education Team in presenting a funded by CEPF, led by Durrell Conservation and Ranomafana for the 2019-2020 school Sunshine Comes First fish farming project into the local education Training Ltd, and implemented by Mauritian Susan Cummings-Findel, founder of Sun- Ranomafana accompanied by curriculum. Wildlife Foundation. FIMARA shine Comes First (‘SCF’), visited Ranomafa- the most dedicated, kind, and Centre ValBio again worked closely with na again in March/April to check on the the FIMARA members (mostly traditional progress of the many entrepreneurship and qualified researchers and guides. healers and ampanjaka [kings] of villages) education projects funded by SCF. These in- It is a unique and immersive throughout the year, improving medicinal clude an internship by Koela at Centre ValBio experience; not only in terms of plant production in the Ranomafana region. as she pursues her studies at university, and continued support for the Famiova women’s being part of scientific research, Following the improvements made last year, weaving group but also in terms of learning where two rooms were built (one to store raw plants until dried and the other to keep the Famiova about the local culture, flora, and plants before extracting oil), the capabilities In 2005, CVB spearheaded the formation of of the association were further enhanced. fauna. We were provided with Famiova, a group of 17 local women. Famio- With the help of the Green Climate Fund in the best learning and working va’s incredible cotton and raw silk scarves are Madagascar, the FIMARA alembic was re- one of CVB’s most popular souvenir items at environment and that’s why paired and improved. the Eco-shop, and the talents of the weavers we will certainly carry these increase every year. Following last year’s ren- Following these essential improvements, one ovation, this year’s work has focused on the memories for a long time.” and a half litres of lemongrass oil and three construction of a room for silkworm farming. – Elisenda & Lucas 54 55 SOS Biodiversity Research Center — Roof Raising Celebration

In January we were delighted to welcome Festivities began with a zebu sacrifice at This ceremony was a communal way to cele- numerous friends, dignitaries, collabora- dawn, and when the ribbon was cut the brate what will be an important component tors, and partners to Centre ValBio for the building entered the next phase of its life. in our infrastructure. As the building will not roof-raising ceremony for the new SOS Biodi- only provide a collections room and a new versity Research Centre. Following this, a traditional ceremony was laboratory space, but also offices for staff and held in honour of the ancestors, and com- researchers, a server room, and a conference As well as the Mayor of Ranomafana and the munal meal was presided over by the local room, it will greatly enhance how we can Chef District of Ifanadiana, honoured guests ampanjaka. A drinking horn was also passed operate. CVB is growing and developing to included Russell Mittermeier, IUCN Chair of around. Then, a large crowd gathered to hear accommodate all of the scientific research the Species Survival Commission’s Primate speeches given at the Education Amphi- that must be done in order to understand Specialist Group and President of Conser- theatre, and the building received a second the rainforest, as it is only by integrating the vation International, and Serge Bednarczyk, blessing: this time with water, as the skies work of a huge array of experts that we will representing the donors behind this vital opened and the heavens showed their ap- appreciate the complexities of the tropical enhancement to CVB’s infrastructure. proval! biome.

56 57 • July: Fanny M. Cornejo is appointed • October 17: Patricia Wright received Honours & Awards by the Rainforest Partnership as their the Herrnstein Endowed Chair in WISE Tropics, Inc. Centre ValBio, with Dr. Patricia Wright at its Country Director for Peru Conservation Biology at Stony Brook Newly incorporated as an NGO in New York helm, continues to draw international atten- University in 2019, WISE Tropics supports biodiversity tion and acclaim for its dedication to conser- • July 21–25: Pascal Rabeson, CVB Na- research, environmental awareness through vation, community, and innovation. tional Director, presented CVB’s Partic- • October 18–26: Visit by representatives the arts, restoration ecology, climate change ipatory Ecological Monitoring (‘PEM’) from the Chan Zuckerberg Initia- monitoring, and conservation education. • January: Roof raising for the IUCN success at the Society of Conservation tive and the Bill and Melinda Gates 2019 projects include: the Field Guide to the Save our Species Biodiversity Research Biology’s 29th International Con- Foundation Trees of Ranomafana, illustrated by Jana Center. gress for Conservation Biology Grabner; the CVB Biodiversity Research • October 26: CVB & Jessie Jordan orga- Report, illustrated by Jesse Jordan; environ- • February 19–22: Patricia Wright and • July 21–27: PIVOT board meeting nise World Lemur Day in Ranomafana, mental materials, illustrated by Alain Rasolo; Michael Docherty visited St Andrews, held at CVB which was honoured by the attendance biodiversity microproject initiatives; the pur- Scotland, as finalists for the St Andrews of US Ambassador Michael Pelletier and chase of field equipment; World Lemur Day • July 30–August 3: CVB helped orga- Prize for the Environment Mission Director USAID Madagascar celebrations in Ranomafana; participatory nize and attend the Association for John Dunlop science programs for children in remote vil- Tropical Biology and Conservation • March 22: Staff members Telo Albert lages; and Conservation Clubs. WISE Tropics (ATBC)’s 56th annual meeting, held • November 15: Noromalala Eliette, and Rabaovola Bernadette visit SBU and also funded two local girls to attend higher in Antananarivo. Presentations were giv- CVB researcher, received the J. William U. Arizona education: Julie Rakotozafy, in her last year en by Lovasoa Razafindravony (Head of Fulbright Foreign Student Scholar- of nursing school; and Iliash Elimanantso; • April 15–17: Patricia Wright was the April 30: Mark Krasnow, Chairman of Education), Caroline Rojotahina (Conser- ship to go to the USA for studies at the for her third year of graduate school at the keynote speaker at the British Society the CVB Board, Professor of Biochemis- vation Clubs), Fara Rakotoarison (Health University of Illinois at Urbana-Cham- University of Mahajanga. Iliash’s doctoral of Parasitology conference in Manches- try at Stanford University, and Howard Team), Patricia Wright, and Dina Andria- paign and Hunter College, City University dissertation is entitled “Behavior and Ecology ter, U.K., with a talk titled “Primate Para- Hughes Medical Institute investigator, noely (Biodiversity) of New York sites in Madagascar: Contrasting Lemurs was elected to the U.S. National Acad- of the World’s Smallest Chameleon”. and Humans” emy of Sciences • August 15–20: Special guest Stephen • November 30: Wedding of CVB Quake, Co-President of the Chan Zuck- founder Patricia Wright and PCI (Pri- • April 1: Mariah Donahue, CVB research- • May: Dr. Elise Lauterbur, CVB research- erberg BioHub, visited Ranomafana mate Conservation Incorporated) founder er, was accepted into the Fulbright er, received her Ph.D. from Stony Brook with his daughter, Zoe Noel Rowe held at CVB, presided over by U.S. Student Program for research in University. In August she commenced Benjamin Andriamihaja and Christopher Madagascar on the microbiome of brown a postdoctural fellowship with Dr. • August 28th: Dr. France A. Córdova, Chapple lemurs David Enard in the Department of Ecolo- director of the National Science Foun- gy and Evolutionary Biology University of dation, visits Centre ValBio with her • December 20: Mamy Rakotoarijaona • April: Sarah Kariko, CVB researcher, in- Arizona, USA husband Ph.D. was chosen as Director General augurated the spider education fund. of MNP

58 59 J, Morse SS, Gresham L, Root JJ, Rush M, Youssef, Salma & Hekkala, Evon & Sid- M.N. (2019). Vertical Clinging and Leaping

Publications Pigott D, Winkleman T, Moore M, Gillespie dall, Mark. (2019). Biological inventory of Ahead: How Bamboo Has Shaped the Anato- TR, Nuzzo JB, Han BA, Olinger P, Karesh Ranomafana National Park tetrapods using my and Physiology of Hapalemur. Anatomi- Asangba AE, Donohue ME, Lamb A, et al. WB, Mills JN, Annelli JF, Barnabei J, Lu- leech-derived iDNA. European Journal of cal record. DOI:10.1002/ar.24183 Variations in the microbiome due to storage cey D, Hayman DTS. Policy and Science for Wildlife Research. DOI:65.10.1007/s10344- preservatives are not large enough to obscure Global Health Security: Shaping the Course 019-1305-3 Irwin, M.T., Samonds, K.E., Raharison, J.L., variations due to factors such as host popu- of International Health. Tropical Medi- Junge, R.E., Mahefarisoa, K.L., Rasambain- lation, host species, body site, and captivity. cine and Infectious Disease. 2019; 4(2):60. Fahmy M, Siddall M. Description of a new arivo, F., Godfrey, L.R. and Glander, K.E., Am J Primatol. 2019;e23045. DOI:10.1002/ DOI:10.3390/tropicalmed4020060 haemadipsid species of genus Chtonobdella 2019. Morphometric signals of population ajp.23045 from Ranomafana National Park using mi- decline in diademed sifakas occupying de- de Winter, I.I., Qurkhuli, T., de Groot, N., cro-computed tomography. American Muse- graded rainforest habitat in Madagascar. Baden AL. 2019. A description of nesting be- de Vos-Rouweler, A.J., van Hooft, P., Heit- um Novitates (in prep) Scientific Reports, 9(1), p.8776 haviors, including factors impacting nest site könig, I.M., Prins, H.H., Bontrop, R.E. and selection, in black-and-white ruffed lemurs Doxiadis, G.G., 2019. Determining Mhc-DRB Greene LK, Clayton JB, Rothman RS, Semel Jones, Julia P. G., Jonah Ratsimbazafy, (Varecia variegata). Ecology and Evolution profiles in wild populations of three con- BP, Semel MA, Gillespie TR, Wright PC, Drea Anitry N. Ratsifandrihamanana, James E. 9:1010-1028. DOI:10.1002/ece3.4735 generic true lemur species by noninvasive CM. 2019. Local habitat, not phylogenetic M. Watson, Herizo T. Andrianandrasana, methods. Immunogenetics, 71(2), pp.97-107 relatedness, predicts gut microbiota better Mar Cabeza, Joshua E. Cinner, Steven M. Baden, A.L., Mancini, A.N., Federman, S., within folivorous than frugivorous lemur Goodman, Frank Hawkins, Russell A. Mit- Holmes, S.M., Johnson, S.E., Kamilar, J., Donohue, ME, Asangba, AE, Ralainirina, J, lineages. Biology Letters. 20190028 termeier, Ando L. Rabearisoa, O. Sarobidy Louis, E.E. and Bradley, B.J., 2019. Anthro- Weisrock, DW, Stumpf, RM, Wright, PC. Ex- Rakotonarivo, Julie H. Razafimanahaka, pogenic pressures drive population genetic tensive variability in the gut microbiome of a Hakami, Lee, Paul M. Castle, Jaydon Kier- Andriamandimbisoa R. Razafimpahanana, structuring across a Critically Endangered highly-specialized and critically endangered nan, Koeun Choi, Anjanirina Rahantamalala, Lucienne Wilmé & Patricia C. Wright. Last lemur species range. Scientific reports, 9(1), lemur species across sites. Am J Primatol. Emma Rakotomalala, Rado Rakotoarison, chance for Madagascar’s biodiversity. Nature pp.1-11. 2019;e23046. DOI:10.1002/ajp.23046 Patricia Wright, Simon Grandjean Lapierre, Sustainability, 2019. DOI:10.1038/s41893- Ivan Crnosija, Peter Small, Ines Vigan-Wom- 019-0288-0 Beaudrot, L., Acevedo, M.A., Lessard, J.P., Eremeeva, M.E., Warang, S.S., Anderson, as & Luis A. Marcos (2019) Epidemiology of Zvoleff, A., Jansen, P.A., Sheil, D., Rovero, M.L., Capps, D., Zohdy, S. and Durden, L.A., soil transmitted helminth and Strongyloides Kaczmarek, Ł., Grobys, D., Kulpa, A., Barty- F., O’Brien, T., Larney, E., Fletcher, C. and 2019. Molecular Survey for Pathogens and stercoralis infections in remote rural villages lak, T., Kmita, H., Kepel, M., Kepel, A. and Andelman, S., 2019. Local temperature and Markers of Permethrin Resistance in Human of Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar, Roszkowska, M., 2019. Two new species of ecological similarity drive distributional Head Lice (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae) from Pathogens and Global Health, 113:2, 94-100. the genus Milnesium Doyère, 1840 (Tardi- dynamics of tropical mammals worldwide. Madagascar. Journal of Parasitology, 105(3), DOI:10.1080/20477724.2019.1589927 grada, Apochela, Milnesiidae) from Mada- Global Ecology and Biogeography pp.459-468 gascar. ZooKeys, 884, p.1 Hemingway, H.W., Burrows, A.M., Omstead, Berger KM, Wood JLN, Jenkins B, Olsen Fahmy, Mai & Ravelomanantsoa, Ny & K.M., Zohdy, S., Pastor, J.F., & Muchlinski, Kemp, J., López-Baucells, A., Rocha, R.,

60 61 Wangensteen, O. S., Andriatafika, Z., Nair, ceptions of drones, digital adherence mon- across the senses: A captive case study of A., & Cabeza, M. (2019). Bats as potential itoring technologies and educational videos pair-bonded red-bellied lemurs (Eulemur suppressors of multiple agricultural pests: for tuberculosis control in remote Madagas- rubriventer) at the Duke Lemur Center, NC, A case study from Madagascar. Agriculture, car: a mixed-method study protocol BMJ USA. Primates. 60:499-505. DOI:10.1007/ ecosystems & environment, 269, 88-96 Open 2019;9:e028073. DOI:10.1136/bmjop- s10329-019-00770-9 en-2018-028073 Knoblauch AM, de la Rosa S, Sherman J, Yang A, Bakhtari N, Langdon-Embry L, Red- et al. Bi-directional drones to strengthen Palmer, Lisa. Hacking conservation: how wood E, Grandjean-Lapierre S, Rakotomanga healthcare provision: experiences and les- a tech start-up aims to save biodiversity, P, et al. (2019) Kankanet: An artificial neural sons from Madagascar, Malawi and Senegal Nature 569, 618-619 (2019). DOI:10.1038/ network-based object detection smartphone BMJ Global Health 2019;4:e001541 d41586-019-01678-6 application and mobile microscope as a point-of-care diagnostic aid for soil-trans- Lauterbur, E. (2019). In extremis: Breaking Rasoloarijao, Tsiory Mampionona, Perle Ra- mitted helminthiases. PLoS Negl Trop Dis coalescent models in small populations and mavovololona, Ralalaharisoa Ramamonjisoa, 13(8): e0007577. DOI:10.1371/journal. concerted convergence of mammalian cya- Johanna Clemencet, Gérard Lebreton & pntd.0007577 nide adaptation. Ph.D. Diss., Stony Brook Hélène Delatte (2019) Pollen morphology of University. melliferous plants for Apis mellifera unicol- Zohdy S, Durden LA, Baden AL. 2019. Ec- or in the tropical rainforest of Ranomafana toparasitism in black-and-white ruffed le- Mann AE, Florent F, Lemay M, Morien E, National Park, Madagascar, Palynology, 43:2, murs (Varecia variegata) in southeastern Kowalewski M, Di Fiore A, Link A, Goldberg 292-320. DOI:10.1080/01916122.2018.1443 Madagascar. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. TL, Tecot S, Baden AL, Gomez A, Sauther 980 DOI:10.7589/2017-12-311 ML, Cuozzo F, Britton GAO, Dominy NJ, Stumpf R, Lewis RJ, Swedell L, Amato K, Roberts, Leslie. Small, furry and powerful: Zohdy, Sarah, Schwartz, Tonia S., & Oaks, Wegener Parfrey L. 2019. Biodiversity of pro- are mouse lemurs the next big thing in ge- Jamie R. (2019). The Coevolution Effect as a tists and nematodes in the wild non-human netics?, Nature, Volume 570, pp 151-154. Driver of Spillover. Trends in Parasitology. primate gut microbiome. The ISME Journal. DOI:10.1038/d41586-019-01789-0 DOI:10.1016/j.pt.2019.03.010 DOI:10.1038/s41396-019-0551-4 Semel BP, Baden AL, Salisbury RL, McGee Zohdy, S., Valenta, K., Rabaoarivola, B., Nevo O, Razafimandimby D, Valenta K, et al. EM, Wright PC, Arrigo-Nelson SJ. Assess- Karanewsky, C. J, Zaky, W., Pilotte, N., Signal and reward in wild fleshy fruits: Does ing the function of geophagy in a malagasy Williams, S. A, Chapman, C. A, & Farris, Z. J. fruit scent predict nutrient content? Ecol rain forest lemur. Biotropica. 2019;00:1–12. (2019). Causative agent of canine heartworm Evol. 2019;00:1–10. DOI:10.1002/ece3.5573 DOI:10.1111/btp.12699 (Dirofilaria immitis) detected in wild lemurs. International journal for parasitology, 9, 119- Nouvet E, Knoblauch AM, Passe I, et al Per- Singletary, B, Tecot, S. (2019). Signaling 121. DOI:10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.04.005

62 63 2019 Donor $1,000–$4,999 $100–$499 (continued) Under $100 (continued) Suldan Mohamed Thomas Smith Aronson Foundation Kathryn Scheriff Katherine Guzzetta Peter Narins Romaine Stawowy Acknowledgments Conservation Society of California Mark S. Schneider Hodan Hassan Patricia A. Obstarczyk Marguerite Thorpe Terri and Scott Hamstra Sharlene E. Smith Sharon G. Imswiler Jeanne O’Neil and John P. Sugrue Johnny Tsui We are extremely grateful and wish Alexander C. Harris and Annemarie Drummey Geoff and Leah Tesch Arlene Jennings Christine Pando Carol Turnbull to acknowledge everyone who Dave Peterson Ariel Waldman Karin A. Kelly Erik Patel Kim M. Unertl supported Centre ValBio’s work. Kristin Rasmussen Amanda Wright Karen and Maurice Kernan Pogonia Press Geena L. Waddle Helen Rowe-Drake David Young Timothy M. Kobba Primate Conservation, Inc. Shirley Wersinger Anonymous Chien Lee Chris Reineke Wilderness Travel Endowment donors Nancy and Grover Sherlin Lubert and Andrea Stryer Kiran A. Lorick, M.D. Barbara Robinson Chi-Yong Won The Herrnstein Family Foundation Under $100 Glenn McGinnis Daniel Rossman and Sarah Kariko-Rossman Thomas E. Zimmerman Jesse McKinney Ryan Rothman Anonymous $500–$999 Kathryn F. Alessi $50,000 and above Anne D. Ehrlich and R. A. Wodehouse Elizabeth Balko The Wallace Line Fund/ Fidelity Barbara Hendry Francesco Bellvardo Charitable Ny’ Ala Skin Care Samantha Berg Anonymous Edward W. Testa, Jr. and Jennifer A. Testa Lucille Betti-Nash Emma J. Bonk $10,000–$49,999 $100–$499 Hannah P. Brown Diane and Perry Caminis Bruce and Charlene Bainum Darlene Benzon Ann Crafton Sophie Cassidy Julia Bradford Susan Cummings-Findel Christopher K. Chapple and Hugh E. Chapple II The Herrnstein Family Foundation Maureen Shannon-Chapple Kimberly Decker Holtzman Wildlife Foundation Fanny M. Cornejo Fernandez Mary Lee Gaylor Laurie Landeau Foundation LLC Elizabeth J. Craz and Peter B. Craz David Holowka and Barbara Baird Holowka Elena Cunningham Louis Imbeau and Nancy Lafond $5,000–$9,999 Michael Doolin Dwight Kanyuck Christina M. Fink Larissa Kelly Ronald Kemp Paul Ferraro The Oregon Community Foundation Inge M. Knudson Mehmet Gecir Jeffrey Priest Eileen Larney Thomas R. Gillespie Noel B. Rowe Marc Myers Carol R. Glass Seneca Park Zoo Karen and John Pihl Google The US Embassy Janet Plosser Alan Grinnell Anonymous Luis G. Sanchez Javier Jessica Gurevitch-Postol and Todd A. Postol 64 65 Acknowledgments • The Madagascar Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development • The Madagascar Ministry of Public Health • The Madagascar Ministry of Foreign Affairs • Dr. Rakotozafy Germain, Directeur Regionale de la Santé Publique, Vatovavy Fitovinany • Dr. Andriamihaja Randrianambinina, Medecin Inspecteur, District Ifanadiana • Chef CSB II, Ranomafana, Kelilalina, and Tsaratanana • Dr. Patricia Wright and the financial donors who have made this work possible • Dr. Benjamin Andriamihaja, ICTE Country Director • Pascal Rabeson, CVB National Director • All Centre ValBio staff (Logistics, Administration, Finance, IT, Education, Health, Reforestation, and Research) • PIVOT • Marie Stopes • Bergen Highlands/Ramsey Rotary Club • All our long-term researchers and their graduate students • Jamie T. Cummings & Teresa R. Curry, Peace Corps volunteers • Jessie Jordan and Alain Rasolo, resident artists • Stony Brook University Dental Team • Jesse McKinney and the CVB Research Technology Department • All the Kings of the villages and Presidents of the Fokontany • The Mayors of the communes of Ranomafana, Kelilalina, and Tsaratanana • All the community health workers in the villages To you all, we are truly thankful.

66 67 Our Partners

68 69 Leadership Advisory Board Research - Community - Conservation Dr. Joan Abrahamson Dr. Robin Herrnstein Jane Alexander Dr. Steig Johnson Dr. John Allman Dr. Mark Krasnow Dr. Jonathan Aronson Dr. Thomas E. Lovejoy James E. Brumm Dr. Stuart Pimm Rhett Butler Wai Poc Susan Cummings-Findel Noel Rowe Dr. Thomas Gillespie Dr. Barbara Wold Dr. James Herrnstein Kira Zack p. 44 Photo Contributors Graham Hatfull p. 44 CVB Senior Management Chien Lee: front cover Kimberly Sauer p. 45 Dr. Patricia C. Wright, Founder & CVB Executive Director Rabe Franck pp. 2, 6, 7, 54, 60, 62, 63, Marketta Vuola p. 46 Michael A. Docherty, ICTE/CVB Administrative Director 67, back cover Baovola A. Kotomangazafy p. 47 Dr. Benjamin Andriamihaja, ICTE Country Director Benjamin Reisinger pp. 3, 11, 13, 31, 32, Ford Bendell p. 48 Pascal Rabeson, CVB National Director 36, 65, 69 Tre Lawrence p. 48 Jesse McKinney, ICTE/CVB Chief Technology Officer Jessie Jordan pp. 9, 15, 21, 28, 51, 53, 71 Mariah Donohue p. 49 Dr. Jean Claude Razafimahaimodison, CVBHead of Research The University of St Andrews p. 17 Alexandre Cottin p. 51 Desire Randrianarisata, CVB Head of Logistics The Phoenix Conservancy p. 29 Tharcisse Ukizintambara p. 52 Prisca Andriambinintsoa, CVB Head of Administration Alain Rasolo pp. 20, 23, 51 Lucas Bogaert p. 54 Dr. Ando Rakotoniaina, CVB Head of Health Deborah Ross p. 20 Stacey Tecot p. 58 Lovasoa Razafindravony,CVB Head of Education Michelle Rahm p. 23 Stony Brook University p. 58 Nicolas Rasolonjatovo, CVB Head of Reforestation Luciana Paz p. 25 (All other photos by CVB staff) Leila Esmailzada p. 28 Gabriella Carvajal pp. 34, 70 Chief Editors Stony Brook University Staff Zeph Pendleton p. 35 Dr. Patricia C. Wright Hodan Hassan, Chief Development Strategist Mamy-Fy Rakotondrainibe p. 36 Michael A. Docherty Dave Klinges p. 39 Nathan Montague, Finance Coordinator Jessie N. Jordan Jeanne O’Neil, Study Abroad Coordinator Tobias Gräßle pp. 40, 42 Timothy Kobba, Assistant Mai Fahmy p. 41 Noel Rowe p. 41 Designer & Illus. 70 Kathryn Alessi p. 43 Alain Rasolo 71 Follow us on:

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