Aphloia Theiformis (Anacardiaceae) (Aphloiaceae)

Restoration of declining populations of threatened woody species: does the age of seedlings influence survival and recruitment?

Alvarado, Swanni T., E. Buisson, H. Rabarison, C. Rajeriarison, C. Birkinshaw and P.P. Lowry II. [email protected]

Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d’Ecologie IMBE Université d’Avignon, France

Département de Biologie et Ecologie Végétales Université d’Antananarivo, Madagascar

Missouri Botanical Garden MBG Madagascar Research and Conservation Program, Antananarivo, Madagascar

Introduction Contexte local

Madagascar  Great diversity

Flore= >90 % of species are endemic of the island (Phillipson et al. 2006) 2 Photos par Swanni T. Alvarado Introduction Contexte local

Formations autochtones boisées dans les Hautes Terres  ont été remplacées par des zones de cultures et des formations herbacées 3 secondaires Photos par Swanni T. Alvarado Introduction

4 Introduction Contexte local

Increase of fire frequencie

 Human activities

 Pasture, cultures, etc (Kull 2000)

Reforestation with exotic species(Pin, Eucalyptus and Acacia)

5 Introduction Study site

Région Vakinankaratra

NPA created in 2008 MBG: management and conservation program Nouvelle aire protégée d’Ibity

Distrit d’Antsirabe II Malagasy Highlands Région Subhumide region Vakinankaratra6 Introduction Vegetation

• Grasslands and an endemic sclerophyllous forest dominated by Uapaca bojeri (Phyllanthaceae)

• Tapia forests = Highland zones of central and southwestern Madagascar

•Sarcolenaceae (largest endemic Malagasy plant family) (DEF, 1996; Lowry et al. 1997)

7 Introduction Tapia Forest

Adapted to fire – Pyrophytic trees

The species regenerates by resprouting from roots and stumps, as well as by rhizomes and establishment from seeds 8 Introduction Tapia Forest •Human-modified vegetation formation •Transformed by frequent burning •Sclerophyllous forest  Open Woodland •Uapaca bojeri-dominated open canopy woodlands with a largely herbaceous understory

•Discontinuous or loosely connected patches

•Important for local economy 9 Suppression du feu

Ignition

Savane boisée Prairie/ (boisement) Savane

Canopée fermée (forêt) Canopée ouverte (-) inflammable, < densité (+) inflammable; herbacée > densité herbacée

10 (Hoffmann et al. 2012; Whitlock et al. 2010) Results

Ibity Itremo Canopy cover 6.6 ± 0.58m2 13.1 ± 1.27 m2 Fsoil×massif = 6.1, p<0.05

Heigth 3.3 ± 0.10m < 5.1 ± 0.28m

Fmassif=38.1, p<0.001 (> 10m) 9.5±0.52cm < 16.1±0.84cm

DBH < Fmassif=57.4, p < 0.001 DHP DHP 1-5 cm *** 20-30 cm *** > > 30-40 cm *** 5-10 cm *** 40-50 cm *** 11 Results Flowering and fruiting intensity Pentaclaena latifolia

F A J A N D F A J A O D

60 50 Uapaca bojeri 40 30 20 10 Xeroclamys bojeriana 0 -10 -20 Pachypodium brevicaule -30 -40

Percent of individuals (%) of individuals Percent Burned three %

Vaccinium secundiflorum Burned once % Fire decreases flowering and fruiting intensity Sarcolaena oblongifolia Reintroduction and reinforcement of endangered woody species populations in Tapia woodland

Study on the survival and regeneration of seedlings of woody species in response to fire.

- Controlled burns - 2 soil types : local soil and standard soil

Reintroduction and reinforcement of endangered woody species populations in Tapia woodland Uapaca bojeri Carissa edulis (Phyllanthaceae) (Apocynaceae)

Abrahamia ibityensis Aphloia theiformis (Anacardiaceae) (Aphloiaceae)

4 woody species were studied Grown for: 6, 9, 12, 17, and 25 months (age of burn)

Controlled burns

Height Stem diameter Leaf number Cover area

Seedlings Measurements Time 0  (Before burning) 1 Controlled burns

2 Loudetia Seedlings  Measurements simplex, the Time 0 (Before burning) main grass 1 used as fuel Controlled burns

3 Controlled burns

Low density : 5 cm high (0.25 kg/m² ) High density: 15 cm high (1 kg/m² ) Controlled burns

5 Controlled burns Controlled burns 6

Measurements (1 and 3 months after burning) Thanks for your attention… Thanks for your attention… Introduction

300 25

250

C) ° 200 15 150 10

100 Rainfall (mm) Rainfall

50 5 ( Temperature 0 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D Rainfall (mm) Temperature (°C)

Annual rainfall = 1583mm

Wet season = 1470 mm Dry season = 113 mm.

Temperature max = 27°C Temperature max = 22.3°C

Temperature min = 13.2°C. Temperature min = 5.5°C. 24 Results: Survival Results: Survival

Carissa edulis Aphloia theiformis (Apocynaceae)

N.S.

(%)

0.6

0.4 survival

Aphloia theiformis

0.2 (Aphloiaceae)

Percent Percent 0.0 Ibity Plant Nursery Soil type Abrahamia ibityensis (Anacardiaceae) Soil type: No difference between Ibity soil and Nursery soil Results: Survival

Uapaca bojeri

P < 0.001 Uapaca bojeri

0.8

(%)

(Phyllanthaceae)

0.6

survival

0.4

0.2

Percent Percent 0.0 Ibity Plant nursery Soil type

Soil type: Significant difference between Ibity soil and Nursery soil Results: Survival

Uapaca bojeri

P < 0.001 Uapaca bojeri

0.8

(%)

(Phyllanthaceae)

0.6

survival

0.4

0.2

Percent Percent 0.0 Ibity Plant nursery Soil type

Ibity soil have less mycorrhiza Results: Survival

Uapaca bojeri Carissa edulis Aphloia theiformis (Phyllanthaceae) (Apocynaceae)

p< 0.001

1.0

(%)

0.8

0.6

survival

0.4

0.2

Percent Percent

0.0 Control Low High density density Aphloia theiformis Abrahamia ibityensis (Aphloiaceae) (Anacardiaceae) Low density = more probability to survive

High density = less probability to survive Results: Survival

Uapaca bojeri Carissa edulis Age of burn (Phyllanthaceae) (Apocynaceae)

Aphloia theiformis

p< 0.001

(%)

1.0

0.8

0.6

survival

0.4

Aphloia theiformis Abrahamia ibityensis 0.2

(Aphloiaceae) (Anacardiaceae)

Percent Percent 0.0 6 8 12 17 25 Age (months)

8 months  More probability to survive Results: Survival

Uapaca bojeri Carissa edulis Age of burn (Phyllanthaceae) (Apocynaceae)

Abrahamia ibityensis

p< < 0.001

(%)

1.0

0.8

0.6

survival

0.4 Aphloia theiformis Abrahamia ibityensis

0.2 (Aphloiaceae) (Anacardiaceae)

Percent Percent 0.0 6 8 12 17 25 Age (mois)

12 months  More probability to survive Results: Resilience<

Age of burn: 8 months Aphloia

theiformis

soil (Aphloiaceae)

(cm)

Height

Ibity

0 C LD HD C LD HD C LD HD

T0 T1 T3

soil

(cm)

Height

Plant nursery nursery Plant C LD HD C LD HD C LD HD T0 T1 T3 Height Results: Resilience<

Age of burn: 8 months Aphloia

theiformis

soil (Aphloiaceae)

(cm)

Height

Ibity

0 C LD HD C LD HD C LD HD

T0 T1 T3

soil

(cm)

Height

Plant nursery nursery Plant C LD HD C LD HD C LD HD T0 T1 T3 Height Results: Resilience< Age of burn: 12 months

Age of burn: 8 months Aphloia

theiformis

soil (Aphloiaceae)

(cm)

Height

Ibity

0 C LD HD C LD HD C LD HD 0 C LD HD C LD HD C LD HD

T0 T1 T3 T0 T1 T3

soil

(cm)

Height

0 0

Plant nursery nursery Plant C LD HD C LD HD C LD HD C LD HD C LD HD C LD HD T0 T1 T3 T0 T1 T3 Height Fire frequency: 2000-2010

Burnt 1 time Burnt 2 times Burnt 3 times Burnt 4 times