Modeling impacts of climate change on the potential distribution of six endemic baobab species in Madagascar.

Madagascar, a globally renowned biodiversity hotspot characterized by high rates of endemism, is one of the few remaining refugia for many plants and animal species. However, global climate change has greatly affected the natural ecosystem and endemic species living in Madagascar, and will likely continue to influence species distribution in the future. Madagascar is home to six endemic baobab (Adansonia spp., Bombacoideae [Malvaceae]) species (Adansonia grandidieri, A. suarezensis, A. madagascariensis, A. perrieri, A. rubrostipa, A. za), which are remarkable and endangered plants. This study aimed to model the current distribution of suitable habitat for each baobab species endemic to Madagascar and determine the effect that climate change will have on suitable baobab habitat by the years 2050 and 2070. The distribution was modeled using MaxEnt based on locality information of 245 occurrence sites of six species from both online database and our own field work. A total of seven climatic variables were used for the modeling process. The present distribution of all six Madagascar's baobabs was largely influenced by temperature-related factors. Although both expansion and contraction of suitable habitat are predicted for all species, loss of original suitable habitat is predicted to be extensive. For the most widespread Madagascar baobab, A. za, more than 40% of its original habitat is predicted to be lost because of climate change. Based on these findings, we recommend that areas predicted to contract in response to climate change should be designated key protection regions for baobab conservation.

Fatty Acid Composition of Baobab Seed and Its Relationship with the Genus Adansonia Taxonomy.

Baobab seed oil contains specific fatty acids. Most of the studies on baobab fatty acids have been carried out singly and in isolation from each other, making it difficult to compare results through different species. The objective of the present study is to establish the seed fatty acid composition of each Adansonia species in order to evaluate and understand the relationships between the oil chemical compositions, the baobabs' taxonomy and, the ecological and geographical origin of each seed lot. The seed oils have been analysed using gas chromatography (GC). The oils of all baobab species contain three major fatty acids: palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids. They also contain specific fatty acids such as cyclopropenic and cyclopropanic acids, which are characteristic of the Malvaceae family seed oils. It was possible to distinguish three sections through principal components analysis using the eleven fatty acids identified by GC. The Adansonia section contains high rates of oleic acid (± 35%), the Brevitubae section is rich in palmitic acid (± 42%) and the Longitubae section contains high levels of dihydrosterulic acid (± 5%). The oil fatty acid composition, however, does not enable a definitive characterization of profiles according to species. The fatty acid composition is not significantly influenced by the geographical, soil and climate conditions of the collection sites.

Diet and Effects of Sanford's Brown Lemur (Eulemur sanfordi, Archbold 1932) Gut-passage on the Germination of Plant Species in Amber forest, Madagascar.

Kaloantsimo Sarah Chen, Jun Qing Li, Jean Rasoarahona, Fousseni Folega, and Christophe Manjaribe (2016) Eulemur sanfordi belongs to a group of endemic lemur species in Amber Mountain National Park, Madagascar. The diet of E. sanfordi and the effects of gut-passage on the germination of seeds were studied to determine how the feeding activities of this lemur affect the integrity of this forest ecosystem. A specific group of E. sanfordi was observed and monitored during 396 hours from the end of the dry season to the beginning of the rainy season. Field observers recorded the food items taken, plant species consumed, plants organs preferred and the forest layer in which food was harvested by this species. Seeds were sorted from discarded food items left by the group of E. sanfordi being followed. Germination tests allowed analysis of the germination potential of the collected seeds. Feeding times for E. sanfordi varied significantly (p = 0.01) across the study period (from September to February). Their feeding activities were intense between December and February, peaking in January (90%). They spent more time eating fruits than other organs of plants. Feeding patterns on ripe fruit also varied significantly (p = 0.01) during the study. E. sanfordi consumed 34 plant species, with 21% from the family of Moraceae. This group of observed lemurs consumed 9 to 17 plant species per month and preferred trees greater than 10 m tall. Overall, seeds that passed through the gut of these lemurs had significantly higher germination rates than those seeds that did not (t = 5.87, p = 0.02). The average latency period of passed and control seeds ranged from 35 to 83 days and from 52 to 95 days, respectively. E. sanfordi's gut passage provides better germination of seeds species they consumed. This could contribute to the conservation of plant diversity. E. sanfordi play an important role in Amber forest ecosystem to preserve some endemic species.

Annual evolution of fatty acid profile from muscle lipids of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Madagascar inland waters.

Annual evolution of muscle lipids fatty acid (FA) from common carp (Cyprinus carpio) has been determined in 2001 through monthly samplings in the reserve pond of Sisaony (SIS series) and Itasy Lake (ITA series) of the Madagascar highlands. Total lipids from muscle were extracted and quantified according to the Bligh and Dyer method. FA identification was performed by GC-MS of FA methyl esters and FA pyrrolidides and led to the identification of 41 FA; routine analyses of FA were made by capillary GC. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on the data set to compare FA profiles. Lipid content is low, ranging from 0.91 to 1.73% of wet muscle, with a low stage during the hot season (January-April) and a higher stage during the cold season (July-October). Three FA dominated the FA composition: oleic acid (17.0-21.5%), palmitic acid (13.1-16.1%), and linoleic acid (9.6-13.2%). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were present in appreciable amounts: arachidonic acid (AA; 2.9-5.9%), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 2.9-6.7%), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 1.9-3.4%), and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA; 1.9-4.3%). Two opposite evolution schemes appear within two groups of FA; on the one hand PUFA (both n-3 and n-6 series) show a maximum in August-October and a minimum in January-April, and, on the other hand, oleic, palmitic, and linoleic acids show the opposite maxima and minima. PCA results give confirmation of these evolution schemes, the two groups of FA giving opposite high factor loadings on axis 1. The SIS and ITA series are differentiated by axis 2 by mean of minor FA, mostly odd- and branched-chain. Results indicate that common carp, the second most abundant freshwater fish in Madagascar highlands waters, may be an interesting source of dietary PUFA.