Conservation of Endemic Species of Madagascar

1. Conservation of Endemic Species of Madagascar A presentation by: Kaitlin Zwicker Jessica Fredericks and Karen Ssebazza

2. Where is Madagascar? • Located in the Indian Ocean • Approx. 430 km Southeast off the coast of Mozambique • World’s 4th largest Island • Approx: 592,800 km sq • Population: 20,653,556 (2009 census) • Consists of a variety of Ecosystems

3. Ecosystems of Madagascar Montane Rainforest Lowland Rainforest • Tropical Moist Forests • Coastal Rainforests • Lowland Rainforests • Montane Rainforests • High Elevation Scrub • Southern and Eastern Dry Forests • Dry Deciduous Forests • Spiny Forests • Wetlands • Lakes, Marshes and Swamps • Mangrove Forests • Secondary Man-Made Communities Spiny Forest Spiny Forest (http://photos.wildmadagascar.org)

4. Biogeography “Evolution In The News”, Berkley University

5. “Biodiversity Hotspots” • Norman Meyers (1988) proposed 10 tropical forests as “Hotspots” • “Hotspot” characterized as: • Having exceptional levels of plant endemism • Having serious levels of habitat destruction • “Endemic Species”: • Species found no where else in the world.

6. “Biodiversity Hotspots” • In 1989 Conservation International adopted Meyers’ list as an institutional blueprint • In 1996 a quantitative threshold was introduced to designate “Biodiversity Hotspots” • To qualify as a hotspot a region must meet two criteria • Must contain at least 1,500 species of endemic vascular plants • Has to have lost at least 70 percent of its original habitat

7. Madagascar as a Biodiversity Hotspot • A good example of species evolution in isolation. • Is in close proximity with Africa but does not share any of the typical animal groups. • Has high levels of genus- and family-level endemism

8. Biodiversity

9. Biodiversity

11. Facts of Madagascar diversity • Endemic species, what they are, importance to Madagascar? • Will be giving examples of these species from few animal classes

12. Class Mammalia

13. Class Reptilia

14. Anasmelleri • Meller’s Duck • Named in 1864 after founder Christopher Meller. • Belongs to mallard group • One in several to be non-migratory, monochromatic, similar drab plumage to female mallard Photo taken from Mangroverde World Bird Guide Species Page Photo taken by Alan D Wilson, NaturesPicsOnline.com

15. Anasmelleri • Has green speculum feathers. • Similar to other non-dimorphic mallard species • Bordered by white • Like in the common mallard. • Does not have supercilium • Characteristic of majority of mallard species in the group. Photos taken from Cologne Zoo, Germany

16. Ecology: Habitat • Eastern slope of the central plateau. • Sea level to 2000m • Inhabit freshwater wetlands. • Majority of birds recorded are centered around Lac Alaotra. Photo taken from BirdLife International (2010)

17. Ecology Nest: • Made of vegetation (ie: dry grass leaves, etc) • Built near waters edge or among herbaceous vegetation. Diet: • Forage on land or by dabbling • Aquatic plants, seeds, molluscs, rice

18. Ecology: Behaviour • Non- migratory • Nesting period from Sept- April • Dependent upon levels of rainfall. • Highly territorial and aggressive • Pairs can defend area up to 2km in length. Photo taken from BirdLife International (2010)

19. Compared molecular genetic relationships; used mitochondrial control region sequences. DNA isolated from each sample; 2 variable domains were amplified, sequenced and aligned. Evolutionary History (Common mallard: Holoarctic) (Common mallard: N.A) (Meller’s Duck) (African yellow-billed duck) (African black duck) (Common Teal) Young and Rhymer, 1998

20. Evolutionary History Young and Rhymer, 1998

21. Conclusion • Meller’s duck and African yellow-billed • Diverged approx. 0.9Mya from common mallards. • Diverged from each other 1.0Mya. • Both diverged from African black duck 1.8-2.0Mya • Along with the common mallard evolved from the nondimorphic African black duck (Young and Rhymer, 1998)

22. Conclusion Young and Rhymer, 1998

23. Issues/Habitat concerns • Wetlands are being threatened • Habitat modification, deforestation, drainage, pollution (human impacts) • Introduction of exotic plants and animals. • Hunting • For food and for sport. • About 18% of global population hunted each year

24. Conservation Efforts • Change its national status to protected species. • Protect the area around Lac Alaotra which is its primary habitat. • Study more in depth ecology • Preventative measures of their decline

25. Status • “IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species” as Endangered. • Currently 2,000-5,000 remain • Population trend shows they are decreasing. • Range estimate (breeding/resident): 211,000 km2

26. Systematics & Biodiversity • Using phylogenetic relationship data to identify separately evolving lineages. • Important for identifying which species are in need of protection.

27. References

28. References (Karens) • Young, H. Glyn, and Judith M. Rhymer. "Meller's duck: A threatened species receives recognition at last." Chapman and Hall. 7. (1998): 1313-1323. • BirdLife International 2008. Anasmelleri. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 March 2010 • BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Anasmelleri. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/3/2010

29. Questions?