MADAGASCAR HIGHLIGHTS November 6-21, 2020
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ISSAP Madagascar Pond Heron
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals Secretariat provided by the United Nations Environment Programme 15 th MEETING OF THE CMS SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL Rome, Italy, 27-28 November 2008 UNEP/CMS/ScC15/Doc.6 DRAFT INTERNATIONAL SINGLE SPECIES ACTION PLAN FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE MADAGASCAR POND HERON ARDEOLA IDAE (Introductory note prepared by the Secretariat) 1. The Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Madagascar Pond Heron Ardeola idae was initiated jointly by CMS and AEWA in 2007 upon a recommendation of the 14 th Meeting of the CMS Scientific Council. 2. The plan covers the entire range of this intra-African migrant. The drafting of the Plan was commissioned to the BirdLife International Africa Partnership Secretariat with financial support provided by the Ministry of Environment of Italy and was compiled by a team under the management of Paul Kariuki Ndang’ang’a. Earlier drafts of the Plan have been consulted extensively with experts and governmental officials at the Range States. 3. The Plan has already been adopted by the 4 th Meeting of the Parties to AEWA (Antananarivo, Madagascar, 15-19 September 2008). Action requested: The Scientific Council is requested to: a. review and endorse the Plan; and b. transmit the Plan to the Conference of the Parties for adoption. For reasons of economy, documents are printed in a limited number, and will not be distributed at the meeting. Delegates are kindly requested to bring their copy to the meeting and not to request additional copies. DISCLAIMER The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP/CMS concerning the legal status of any State, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of their frontiers and boundaries. -
An Updated Review of Adansonia Digitata: a Commercially Important African Tree ⁎ G.P.P
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com South African Journal of Botany 77 (2011) 908–919 www.elsevier.com/locate/sajb An updated review of Adansonia digitata: A commercially important African tree ⁎ G.P.P. Kamatou, I. Vermaak, A.M. Viljoen Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa Abstract Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae) is a majestic tree revered in Africa for its medicinal and nutritional value. The plant parts are used to treat various ailments such as diarrhoea, malaria and microbial infections. It is reported that it is an excellent anti-oxidant due to the vitamin C content which is seven to ten times higher than the vitamin C content of oranges. Baobab has numerous biological properties including antimicrobial, anti- viral, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities amongst others. Phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of flavonoids, phytosterols, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. The seeds are a source of significant quantities of lysine, thiamine, calcium and iron. Baobab is an important commodity which is integral to the livelihood of rural communities. In addition, the global demand for baobab raw material (e.g. seed oil, fruit pulp) by the food and beverage, nutraceutical and cosmetic industries has increased dramatically in recent years thereby increasing the commercial value and importance of this coveted African tree. In the past few years, there has been an increased demand for non-timber forest products (NTFPs), specifically baobab seed oil for inclusion in cosmetic formulations due to its high fatty acid composition. This review summa- rises the botanical aspects, ethnobotany, phytochemistry, biological properties and most importantly the nutritional value and commercial impor- tance of baobab products. -
Adansonia Grandidieri
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ ISSN 2307-8235 (online) IUCN 2008: T30388A64007143 Adansonia grandidieri Assessment by: Ravaomanalina, H. & Razafimanahaka, J. View on www.iucnredlist.org Citation: Ravaomanalina, H. & Razafimanahaka, J. 2016. Adansonia grandidieri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T30388A64007143. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016- 2.RLTS.T30388A64007143.en Copyright: © 2016 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale, reposting or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission from the copyright holder. For further details see Terms of Use. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London. If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown in this document, please provide us with feedback so that we can correct or extend the information provided. THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED -
Madagascar, 1998
A mammal, bird, reptile, orchid and people-watching trip to - Madagascar (and a very short stay in Mauritius) 18-10-98 to 21-11-98 Dave Siems and Steve Anyon-Smith “weird (verb) – Madagascar” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ When our first guide, Patrice Rabearisoa, asked us what we wanted to see, he went white (not easy) at our reply – “we want to see all the birds, mammals, reptiles, orchids and everything else of interest in the forest, in no particular order.” He showed us all these things and more in the paradise that was, and still is, in parts, Madagascar. Outline of Trip “Madagascar” I said to Dave, and his eyes lit up. Five weeks later we were looking at lemurs. Our advice was that there was no safe or even practical way to visit a country populated by thieves, thugs and other human detritus of the worst order. There was said to be no usable public transport and if the food or the locals didn’t kill you, the insects most definitely would. So Dave and I set out to test these propositions. Madagascar is renowned for its wildlife, political instability and not much else. Our mission was to see as much of the native fauna and flora as possible during a five-week stay. We used public transport at all times and hired local guides at every location (this is generally compulsory anyway). We scattered ourselves widely throughout the country as the habitats are extremely varied, boasting rainforest, semi-desert, the so-called spiny forest and anything in between. Our expectations for the trip were not high given that we had little prior information and fully expected to be roasted slowly over a kitchen fire somewhere if we had managed to avoid perishing in a traffic accident. -
MADAGASCAR: the Wonders of the “8Th Continent” a Tropical Birding Custom Trip
MADAGASCAR: The Wonders of the “8th Continent” A Tropical Birding Custom Trip October 20—November 6, 2016 Guide: Ken Behrens All photos taken during this trip by Ken Behrens Annotated bird list by Jerry Connolly TOUR SUMMARY Madagascar has long been a core destination for Tropical Birding, and with the opening of a satellite office in the country several years ago, we further solidified our expertise in the “Eighth Continent.” This custom trip followed an itinerary similar to that of our main set-departure tour. Although this trip had a definite bird bias, it was really a general natural history tour. We took our time in observing and photographing whatever we could find, from lemurs to chameleons to bizarre invertebrates. Madagascar is rich in wonderful birds, and we enjoyed these to the fullest. But its mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects are just as wondrous and accessible, and a trip that ignored them would be sorely missing out. We also took time to enjoy the cultural riches of Madagascar, the small villages full of smiling children, the zebu carts which seem straight out of the Middle Ages, and the ingeniously engineered rice paddies. If you want to come to Madagascar and see it all… come with Tropical Birding! Madagascar is well known to pose some logistical challenges, especially in the form of the national airline Air Madagascar, but we enjoyed perfectly smooth sailing on this tour. We stayed in the most comfortable hotels available at each stop on the itinerary, including some that have just recently opened, and savored some remarkably good food, which many people rank as the best Madagascar Custom Tour October 20-November 6, 2016 they have ever had on any birding tour. -
Baobab (Not Boabab) Species General Background Germinating
Baobab (not Boabab) Species Baobab is the common name of a genus (Adansonia) with eightspecies of trees, 6 species in Madagascar; 1 in Africa and 1 in Australia. Adansonia gregorii (A.gibbosa) or Australian Baobab (northwest Australia) Adansonia madaf Zascariensis or Madagascar Baobab (Madagascar) Adansonia perrieri or Perrier's Baobab (North Madagascar) Adansonia rubrostipa or Fony Baobab (Madagascar) Adansonia suarezensis or Suarez Baobab Diego Suarez,(Madagascar) Adansonia za or Za Baobab (Madagascar) The name Adansonia honours Michel Adanson, the French naturalist and explorer who described A. digitata. General Background One of the earliest written references to the Baobab tree was made by the Arabic traveller, Al-Bakari in 1068. In 1592, the Venetian herbalist and physician, Prospero Alpino, reported a fruit in the markets of Cairo as "BU HUBAB". It is believed that the name is derived from the Arabic word Bu Hibab which means fruit with many seeds. Common names include bottle tree and monkey bread tree. Baobab - derived from African fokelore "upside-down-tree". The story is after the creation each of the animals were given a tree to plant and the stupid hyena planted the baobab upside-down. The baobab is the national tree of Madagascar. Height is 5-25m tall and trunk diameter of up to 7m. The Baobab can store up to 120 000 lt of water inside the swollen trunk to endure harsh drought conditions. All occur in seasonal arid areas and are deciduous, losing leaves during dry season. It is believed that the elephant must digest the seed before it will germinate as the heat and stomach acids help to soften the shell. -
Disaggregation of Bird Families Listed on Cms Appendix Ii
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals 2nd Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council (ScC-SC2) Bonn, Germany, 10 – 14 July 2017 UNEP/CMS/ScC-SC2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II (Prepared by the Appointed Councillors for Birds) Summary: The first meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council identified the adoption of a new standard reference for avian taxonomy as an opportunity to disaggregate the higher-level taxa listed on Appendix II and to identify those that are considered to be migratory species and that have an unfavourable conservation status. The current paper presents an initial analysis of the higher-level disaggregation using the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World Volumes 1 and 2 taxonomy, and identifies the challenges in completing the analysis to identify all of the migratory species and the corresponding Range States. The document has been prepared by the COP Appointed Scientific Councilors for Birds. This is a supplementary paper to COP document UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.25.3 on Taxonomy and Nomenclature UNEP/CMS/ScC-Sc2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II 1. Through Resolution 11.19, the Conference of Parties adopted as the standard reference for bird taxonomy and nomenclature for Non-Passerine species the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Non-Passerines, by Josep del Hoyo and Nigel J. Collar (2014); 2. -
An Introduction to Lemurs for Teachers and Educators
AN INTRODUCTION TO LEMURS FOR TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF AKO THE AYE-AYE The Ako the Aye-Aye Educator’s Guide introduces you to the remarkable world of lemurs. This guide provides background information about the biological concepts conveyed through the 21 Ako lessons. These lessons were created to accompany the Ako books. The Ako book series were developed by renowned primatologist Alison Jolly for students in Madagascar to inspire understanding and appreciation for the unique primates that share their island home. In addition to the books there is also a set of posters which showcase the habitat of each lemur species and their forest “neighbors.” GOALS OF THE AKO LESSONS: • Inspire students to make a positive difference for lemurs and other wildlife. • Promote environmental awareness, understanding and appreciation. • Provide activities that connect students to nature and motivate conservation action. HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE Each lesson aligns with a specific grade level (Kindergarten-1st, 2nd-3rd and 4th-5th) and one of the seven environmental themes below. Before carrying out an activity, we recommend reading the corresponding section in this guide that matches the theme of the lesson. The themes are: • LOOKING AT LEMURS—CLASSIFICATION AND BIODIVERSITY (PAGE 4) • EXPLORING LEMUR HABITATS (PAGE 10) • INVESTIGATING LEMUR ADAPTATIONS (PAGE 18) • DISCOVERING LEMUR COMMUNITIES—INTER-DEPENDENCE (PAGE 23) • LEARNING ABOUT LEMUR LIFE—LIFE CYCLES AND BEHAVIOR (PAGE 26) • DISCOVERING MADAGASCAR’S PEOPLE AND PLACES (PAGE 33) • MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR LEMURS (PAGE 40) Lessons can be completed chronologically or independently. Each activity incorporates multiple learning styles and subject areas. -
Ecosystem Profile Madagascar and Indian
ECOSYSTEM PROFILE MADAGASCAR AND INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS FINAL VERSION DECEMBER 2014 This version of the Ecosystem Profile, based on the draft approved by the Donor Council of CEPF was finalized in December 2014 to include clearer maps and correct minor errors in Chapter 12 and Annexes Page i Prepared by: Conservation International - Madagascar Under the supervision of: Pierre Carret (CEPF) With technical support from: Moore Center for Science and Oceans - Conservation International Missouri Botanical Garden And support from the Regional Advisory Committee Léon Rajaobelina, Conservation International - Madagascar Richard Hughes, WWF – Western Indian Ocean Edmond Roger, Université d‘Antananarivo, Département de Biologie et Ecologie Végétales Christopher Holmes, WCS – Wildlife Conservation Society Steve Goodman, Vahatra Will Turner, Moore Center for Science and Oceans, Conservation International Ali Mohamed Soilihi, Point focal du FEM, Comores Xavier Luc Duval, Point focal du FEM, Maurice Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, Point focal du FEM, Seychelles Edmée Ralalaharisoa, Point focal du FEM, Madagascar Vikash Tatayah, Mauritian Wildlife Foundation Nirmal Jivan Shah, Nature Seychelles Andry Ralamboson Andriamanga, Alliance Voahary Gasy Idaroussi Hamadi, CNDD- Comores Luc Gigord - Conservatoire botanique du Mascarin, Réunion Claude-Anne Gauthier, Muséum National d‘Histoire Naturelle, Paris Jean-Paul Gaudechoux, Commission de l‘Océan Indien Drafted by the Ecosystem Profiling Team: Pierre Carret (CEPF) Harison Rabarison, Nirhy Rabibisoa, Setra Andriamanaitra, -
Madagascar Highlights I 11 Th to 25 Th July 2011 (15 Days)
Madagascar Highlights I 11 th to 25 th July 2011 (15 days) Trip Report Trip report compiled by tour leader: Rainer Summers Tour Summary Sometimes referred to as the “laboratory of evolution”, Madagascar, the huge Indian Ocean island situated 500km off the coast of east Africa, has long attracted the attention of naturalists and travelling birders alike. Our winter tour, although a departure from the standard summer tours to the “Red Isle”, was very successful, and we managed to see a fantastic proportion of the amazing creatures that call Madagascar home. Trip Report RBT Madagascar Highlights I 2011 2 We began our first day with a visit to the Tsimbazaza Zoo, where despite the overcast weather we managed to find Eleonora’s Falcon, Mascarene Martin and the first of many Madagascar Buzzards, while our afternoon at Lake Alarobia proved to be most enjoyable, with large numbers of waterfowl including Knob-billed Duck and Red-billed Teal, Black and Dimorphic Egret, Malagasy Kingfisher and Madagascar Swamp Warbler, before enjoying a sumptuous dinner at our comfortable accommodations. The eastern rainforests of Madagascar harbour a rich assemblage of sought-after mammals and birds, and for this reason the forested zone in the vicinity of Perinet village formed the basis of our explorations for four days. Our time was divided between visits to the reserve at Perinet and the more distant Mantadia National Park, both offering good rainforest birding. Despite the less than optimal weather during our time in Perinet- Mantadia, our hard work and time in the field paid off, and we were rewarded with a mouth-watering selection of eastern rainforest endemics. -
Altriciality and the Evolution of Toe Orientation in Birds
Evol Biol DOI 10.1007/s11692-015-9334-7 SYNTHESIS PAPER Altriciality and the Evolution of Toe Orientation in Birds 1 1 1 Joa˜o Francisco Botelho • Daniel Smith-Paredes • Alexander O. Vargas Received: 3 November 2014 / Accepted: 18 June 2015 Ó Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015 Abstract Specialized morphologies of bird feet have trees, to swim under and above the water surface, to hunt and evolved several times independently as different groups have fish, and to walk in the mud and over aquatic vegetation, become zygodactyl, semi-zygodactyl, heterodactyl, pam- among other abilities. Toe orientations in the foot can be prodactyl or syndactyl. Birds have also convergently described in six main types: Anisodactyl feet have digit II evolved similar modes of development, in a spectrum that (dII), digit III (dIII) and digit IV (dIV) pointing forward and goes from precocial to altricial. Using the new context pro- digit I (dI) pointing backward. From the basal anisodactyl vided by recent molecular phylogenies, we compared the condition four feet types have arisen by modifications in the evolution of foot morphology and modes of development orientation of digits. Zygodactyl feet have dI and dIV ori- among extant avian families. Variations in the arrangement ented backward and dII and dIII oriented forward, a condi- of toes with respect to the anisodactyl ancestral condition tion similar to heterodactyl feet, which have dI and dII have occurred only in altricial groups. Those groups repre- oriented backward and dIII and dIV oriented forward. Semi- sent four independent events of super-altriciality and many zygodactyl birds can assume a facultative zygodactyl or independent transformations of toe arrangements (at least almost zygodactyl orientation. -
Madagascar: the 8Th Continent with Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures Nov
Madagascar: The 8th Continent With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures Nov. 26 – Dec. 10, 2018 866.900.1146 800.426.7781 520.558.1146 [email protected] www.naturalistjourneys.com or find us on Facebook at Naturalist Journeys, LLC Naturalist Journeys, LLC / Caligo Ventures PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 / 800.426.7781 Fax 650.471.7667 naturalistjourneys.com / caligo.com [email protected] / [email protected] Madagascar: The 8th Continent With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures Isolated from any continental landmass since the Cretaceous period, Madagascar has drifted through the Indian Ocean, following its own evolutionary course, having only five major terrestrial animal colonization events since the time of the dinosaurs. The result is an island where every land mammal is endemic, as are nearly half the bird species. Reptiles are well represented as well, like chameleons, and day and leaf-tailed geckos. The uniqueness of this island’s fauna makes it one of the world’s great destinations for the birdwatcher and naturalist, alike. Our tour features both birds and mammals. We focus on Madagascar’s most iconic and charismatic bird species (we hope to see over 95% of the endemics), as well as the Island's other oddities, like endearing lemurs and strikingly bizarre chameleons. We also focus on the Island’s geology and geography with resulting various habitats ― from the spiny forests of Ifaty with its towering baobabs and other-worldly Didierea octopus trees, to the verdant rainforests of Andasibe-Mantadia