Aristide Andrianarimisa

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• PhD
• Professor (Full) at University of Antananarivo

Marine mammals have been proposed to have a passively changing buoyancy that influences their swimming efforts depending on the depth, as a result of pulmonary alveolar compression/expansion as ambient pressure changes. Mysticetes have been described to have the same passive mechanism without considering their unique respiratory system, which may p...

Background Bats are important reservoir hosts for a variety of microparasites, some of which are transmitted by ectoparasite vectors that include mites, fleas, lice, ticks, and bat flies (families Nycteribiidae and Streblidae). All of these ectoparasite taxa are known to parasitize two endemic fruit bats of Madagascar, Eidolon dupreanum and Rousett...

Baleen whale calves vocalize, but the behavioural context and role of their social calls in mother–calf interactions are yet to be documented further. We investigated the context of call production in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calves using camera-equipped animal-borne multi-sensor tags. Behavioural states, including suckling sessions,...

Habituation is crucial for studying the behavioral ecology of wild nonhuman primates, but the process can vary between species and sites. Few studies have described habituation in lemurs. We initiated a long-term study of black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) in Vohibe Forest, eastern Madagascar, by habituating 15 individuals from three...

Transformation of forests into agricultural lands threatens biodiversity and ecosystem functions globally. In the biodiversity hotspot Madagascar, key ecosystem functions along with highly endemic flora and fauna are under threat. Comprehensive studies identifying determinants of biodiversity and ecosystem functions losses are lacking, with no stud...

Understanding the activity budget of mother‐young pairs can inform how energy is allocated and its relation to the development of young. Using suction cup tag data collected off Sainte Marie, Madagascar, during the calving season, we compared the time budgets of mothers and their calves in capital‐breeding humpback whales, investigated the changes...

Large‐bodied mammals living in fragmented habitats are at higher risk of extinction, and such risk can be influenced by ecological factors such as predator–prey system dynamics. These dynamics can be particularly complex for conservation management when one endangered species preys on another endangered species in an isolated or poor‐quality habita...

Now published as a paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03154 Transformation of forests into agricultural lands threatens biodiversity and ecosystem functions globally. In the biodiversity hotspot Madagascar, key ecosystem functions along with highly endemic flora and fauna are under threat. Comprehensive studies identifying proximate driv...

Large-bodied mammals living in fragmented habitats are at higher risk of extinction, and such risk can be influenced by ecological factors such as predator-prey system dynamics. These dynamics can be particularly complex for conservation management when one endangered species is known to prey on another endangered species within the confines of iso...

Despite its biological importance, the nursing behavior in baleen whales has been poorly documented mainly because of the challenges in tracking whales in their natural environment. We studied the suckling behavior (nursing from the calf's perspective) in < 3-month-old humpback whale calves off Sainte Marie Island, Madagascar, South Western Indian...

This study aims to understand the behavior territoriality of the lemur Decken's Sifaka Propithecus deckenii in the Protected Areas (PAs) Complexe Tsimembo Manambolomaty and Mandrozo in the central-west of Madagascar between November 2017 and April 2018, and between July and October 2018. The continuous focal animal sampling method was used to monit...

Current incessant threats of environmental changes, such as habitat fragmentation, may disrupt vital mutualistic plant-frugivore networks, threatening the whole ecosystem. To advance our knowledge of the magnitude of the impacts of such disruption, we need a better understanding of its structure and robustness. We addressed this by comparing severa...

Diversity of understory arthropods in the dry forests of Madagascar. The arthropods of Madagascar are among the most poorly known animal groups on the island. The principal objective of this study was to determine the diversity of this group at three different localities in lowland dry forests of western Madagascar. The three sites, all inventoried...

Forests have extraordinary importance for the conservation of endemic species in Madagascar. However, they are disappearing fast due to a number of pressures, notably unsustainable agricultural practices leading to aggravated status of biodiversity. Here, we used a number of ecological and spatial criteria to identify and prioritise unprotected for...

Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) use vocalizations during diverse social interactions or activities such as foraging or mating. Unlike songs produced only by males, social calls are produced by all types of individuals (adult males and females, juveniles and calves). Several studies have described social calls in the humpback whale’s bree...

Resolving ecological-economic trade-offs between biodiversity and yields is a key challenge when addressing the biodiversity crisis in tropical agricultural landscapes. Here, we focused on the relation between seven different taxa (trees, herbaceous plants, birds, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, and ants) and yields in vanilla agroforests in Mad...

The IPBES Scoping document for the values assessment highlights the need to assess the types of values of nature that have (or have not) been incorporated into decision-making, the types of valuation approaches incorporated into decision-making, the challenges that have hindered the incorporation of diverse conceptualizations of values of nature in...

For humpback whales, the mother–calf pair is the only stable social unit with calves following their mother after birth and staying in close proximity. This following strategy ensures the maintenance of such close proximity between the mother and her calf, with calves benefiting from maternal protection and care. Using multi-sensor tags, we recorde...

In April 2000, the Masoala forest was devastated by a very intense category 4 cyclone, called Hudah. Studies were carried out on the impacts of this natural disaster on the population of the diurnal lemur Varecia rubra which were carried out one year (2001) and four years (2004) after its passage in a site named Antsahamanara, located on the east c...

Getting maternal milk through nursing is vital for all newborn mammals. Despite its importance, nursing has been poorly documented in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Nursing is difficult to observe underwater without disturbing the whales and is usually impossible to observe from a ship. We attempted to observe nursing from the calf's per...

Significance Finding entry points where policy has strong leverage to transform land systems for people and nature is pivotal. We develop an innovative framework to identify and evaluate such leverage points along land-use trajectories that account for path dependency. Applied to the biodiversity hotspot Madagascar, the framework reveals three leve...

The annual patterns of precipitation in the dry deciduous forest of Madagascar are characterized by a dry season when the majority of trees lose their leaves and a wet season with full foliage development. Such variation allows the examination in shifts in the vertical distribution of birds and to their response to changing environmental conditions...

Large expanses of tropical rainforest have been converted into agricultural landscapes cultivated by smallholder farmers. This is also the case in north‐eastern Madagascar; a region that retains significant proportions of forest cover despite slash‐and‐burn shifting hill rice cultivation and vanilla agroforestry expansion. The region is also a glob...

Now published in Animal Conservation (Open Access) https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12760

Predation can take unexpected turns. For instance, various invertebrate species—most commonly spiders—may prey on vertebrates. Here, we report one observation of a spider (Sparassidae, Damastes sp.) feeding on an amphibian (Hyperoliidae, Heterixalus andrakata) inside a retreat in northeastern Madagascar. To our knowledge, this is the second report...

Land‐use change is the most important driver of biodiversity loss worldwide and particularly so in the tropics, where natural habitats are transformed into large‐scale monocultures or heterogeneous landscape mosaics of largely unknown conservation value. Using birds as an indicator taxon, we evaluated the conservation value of a landscape mosaic in...

Data on the vertical distribution and ecological requirements of forest birds in western Madagascar are poorly documented. Strata use of forest-dwelling birds associated with vegetation structure and daily temperature patterns was examined in the dry deciduous forest of Kirindy. Six line transects of 1000 m each were used to survey birds and linear...

Vertical distribution of birds in different dry forest types of western Madagascar (1st part). Aspects associated with the vertical structure of natural vegetation on bird richness, composition, diversity index and abundance, particularly for 13 common species, were examined at three lowland protected areas falling along a latitudinal gradient: dry...

Predation can take unexpected turns. For instance, various invertebrate species - most commonly spiders - may prey on tetrapods. Here, we report observations of spiders (Sparassidae, Olios sp.) preying on amphibians (Hyperoliidae, Heterixalus andrakata) in north-eastern Madagascar. To do so, the spiders built highly-specialized traps by weaving two...

When talking about the genus Hapalemur griseus, Ranomafana National Park is considered as a reference site. The study on the vertical use by Hapalemur g. griseus was carried out in Maromizaha rainforest during the wet and dry season in 2016. Hapalemur g. griseus is found in this forest but the scientific information on this taxon remains unknown, e...

This study provides data on the diet of understory birds living in the dry deciduous forests of western Madagascar. Samples were collected at three lowland localities: Ankarafantsika National Park in the northwest, the Kirindy forest (Menabe Antimena Protected Harmonious Landscape) in the central west, and Tsimanampesotse National Park in the extre...

Cette étude a été effectuée dans la forêt tropicale humide de Maromizaha (Andasibe), l’Est de Madagascar en 2016. L’animal focal sampling est la méthode adoptée pour des suivis écologiques pendant la saison humide (Novembre-Avril) et sèche (Mai-Octobre). Durant cette étude, le comportement alimentaire, le repos et la vigilance avec des pourcentages...

The vertical stratification of arthropods was studied in western Madagascar during the dry season, along a latitudinal gradient in three protected areas with dry forest and bush formations: Ankarafantsika National Park (northwest), Menabe Antimena Protected Harmonious Landscape (central west), and Tsimanampesotse National Park (southwest). Seasonal...

The members of the order Carnivora display a variety of dietary patterns that appear to be linked to body size and activity. Small-bodied members of the family Herpestidae are known to specialize on an insectivorous diet and to be opportunistic generalists. However, the feeding ecology of the Malagasy mongoose-like carnivorans of the family Eupleri...

Population size and survival are crucial factors to understand population dynamics of a given species, especially those that have long life spans and delayed sexual maturity, such as Pteropodidae bats. We studied the population size and apparent survival of individuals at a day roost site of an endemic cave-dwelling Malagasy fruit bat, Rousettus ma...

Hapalemur griseus qui appartient à la famille de Lemuridaea est un lémurien de bambou, vivant dans l’Aire Protégée de Maromizaha (Andasibe). L’étude sur l’écologie alimentaire d’Hapalemur griseus a été effectuée pendant la saison humide et sèche en 2016. Elle a pour but de montrer la flexibilité de l’animal au niveau du comportement alimentaire et...

The Bat Hawk, Macheiramphus alcinus anderssoni, is a widespread but generally poorly-known crepuscular Old World raptor whose distribution includes Madagascar. Until 2011, when a breeding pair was found in the Mandrozo Protected area in central western Madagascar, little was known about the ecology of the species on this island. The current study c...

Land-use change is the main driver of terrestrial biodiversity decline worldwide, and particularly so in the tropics, where land-use change often results in large-scale monocultures or in complexly structured landscape mosaics with smallholder agriculture, agroforestry and forest fragments. The value of such small smallholder agricultural landscape...

Spatial proximity to mothers is a key factor in offspring survival in group-living mammals. In humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), an extreme migrating species, new-born calves stay close to their mothers. This proximity can be modified by the presence of other congeners or other species. The spatial relationship between mother and calf can t...

Cette étude a été effectuée dans la forêt humide de Maromizaha (ANDASIBE) pendant la saison de pluie des mois de Février-Mars 2010, dans le but d’étudier les préférences écologiques et le comportement de Hapalemur g. griseus. L’approche écologique par la méthode « groupe-scan » concernant l’étude comportementale de cette espèce permet de dire que s...

Cette étude a été effectuée dans la forêt humide de Maro- mizaha (Andasibe) pendant la saison de pluie des mois de Février-Mars 2010, dans le but d’étudier les préférences écologiques et le comportement de Hapalemur g. griseus. L’approche écologique par la méthode «groupe-scan» con- cernant l’étude comportementale de cette espèce permet de dire que...

Anthropogenic habitat disturbance of various levels is in- uencing many aspects of the ecology of lemur species. Yet, little is known concerning the effects of human-induced habitat disturbance on the habitat use of nocturnal lemurs. This two-month study (May-June 2014) aims to provide data on sympatric nocturnal lemurs’ ecological responses in ter...

Cette étude a été effectuée dans la forêt humide de Maromizaha (Andasibe) pendant la saison de pluie des mois de Février-Mars 2010, dans le but d’étudier les préférences écologiques et le comportement de Hapalemur g. griseus. L’approche écologique par la méthode «groupe-scan» concernant l’étude comportementale de cette espèce permet de dire que ses...

As results, Hapalemur g. griseus has seen frequented low forest strata between 0.1-3 m in height during its behavioral activities. Major food sources are composed by plants: Panicum sp1 (Poaceae), Cephalostachyum sp (Poaceae) and Hypoestes sp (Acanthaceae). They appeared to be spread from the valley to the versant of its habitat and were at the sam...

Background: Few details are available on the consumption of ectoparasites, specifically bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae and Streblidae), by their chiropteran hosts while grooming. Such details are important to document consumption rates of ectoparasites by their bat host provide details on the dynamics of host-parasite interactions. We present d...

Paretroplus dambabe is a local endemic fish species only found in Kinkony Lake (in north-western wetland and protected area) and two surrounding small lakes, Andranobe and La Digue. The ecology of P. dambabe is threatened by the human activities that cause the erosion and decrease of reed vegetation surface. Also, the lake is undergoing rice-growin...

The purpose of this study was to examine seasonal variation in age and sex structure, as well as the disparity in the proportion of males and females of different age groups, of a population of Rousettus madagascariensis roosting in the Grotte des Chauves-souris, Ankarana, northern Madagascar. The study included 1196 individuals captured during six...

Ce travail présente des détails sur la biologie de reproduction de la mouche ectoparasite, Eucampsipoda madagascarensis (Nycteribiidae), de Rousettus madagascariensis, une espèce de chauve-souris frugivore endémique de Madagascar. La synchronisation du cycle de reproduction de cet ectoparasite avec celui de son hôte est mise en exergue. Les données...

Seasonal variation in the age and sex structure of Rousettus madagascariensis (Yinpterochiroptera : Pteropodidae) in Ankarana, northern Madagascar. The purpose of this study was to examine seasonal variation in age and sex structure, as well as the disparity in the proportion of males and females of different age groups, of a population of Rousettu...

We monitored the productivity of the critically endangered Madagascar Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vociferoides inside and outside of the Tsimembo-Manambolomaty Protected Area (T-M PA), western Madagascar from 2010 to 2015. We recorded 14 breeding pairs inside and 13 outside T-M PA. The T-M PA and surrounding habitat hosted respectively 10 and six breedin...

The ecological factors, the environmental conditions and food availability may affect the interactions between a lemur species and its habitat, particularly in terms of feeding behavior. A seasonal study of bamboo lemur feeding behavior was carried out in Maromizaha rainforest. The goal was to determine both the home range and the core area size re...

Madagascar has three endemic species of Anatidae, all of which are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Endangered or Critically Endangered. Until recently there have been no protected areas within their ranges to secure key habitat. The creation of several new protected areas in Madagascar since 2010 has creat...

We studied variation in the Body Condition Index (BCI) of a Malagasy frugivorous bat, Rousettus madagascariensis (Pteropodidae), in relation to the abundance of ectoparasite flies, Eucampsipoda madagascarensis (Nycteribiidae). The study site was a cave in northern Madagascar that was visited three times during the dry season (September 2014, 2015,...

We studied the nesting biology and food habits of the endangered and endemic Sakalava Rail Amaurornis olivieri from July to November 2015 in the Mandrozo Protected Area, western Madagascar. Three nesting pairs were observed and their nests were constructed in a dense mat of reeds Phragmites mauritianus and averaged 56.7 ± 15.3 cm above the water (n...

In this study, we investigated on the seasonal variation on the feeding ecology of the Malagasy narrow-striped mongoose in Kirindy forest, western part of Madagascar. Using a combination of behavioral observations and scat analysis, M. decemlineata revealed to be a generalist and opportunist predator. Its insectivorous diet may be also one of the f...

Deux approches ont été utilisées pour étudier la distribution des oiseaux: à l’échelle du paysage et à l’échelle espèce. Bien que les oiseaux soient des taxa particulièrement mobiles, les résultats indiquent qu’ils se trouvent influencés par l’hétérogénéité des habitats et par la fragmentation forestière. A l’échelle du paysage sur des forêts fragm...

Madagascar is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. The island’s past and current rates of deforestation and habitat disturbance threaten its plethora of endemic biodiversity. On Madagascar, tavy (slash and burn agriculture), land conversion for rice cultivation, illegal hardwood logging and bushmeat hunting are the major contributors to habita...

The Spectacled Tetraka Xanthomixis zosterops is a sexually monomorphic species in a family (Bernieridae) endemic to Madagascar and is found in various humid forest types. It is categorised as Least Concern by the IUCN. Despite its commonness, the biology of this species is little known. This study focused on its breeding biology and took place from...

Eupleridae, itself endemic to Madagascar. Until recently, these animals were generally taken to be island representatives of mon- gooses (Herpestidae) and civets (Viverridae), but genetic investigation proves that they are all descended from one colonisation by a species neither a civet nor a mongoose. Many of the widely used English names for most...

Avec sa biodiversité unique dans l’un des grands blocs de forêts humides de l’Est de Madagascar, les ressources naturelles de la forêt de Makira (Nord-Est) occupent une place prépondérante dans le développement des communautés riveraines et la préservation des organismes endémiques de l’Île. Le système de gestion rationnelle mise en place ces derni...

An intensive study of the breeding biology of Foudia madagascariensis and Foudia omissa in the family Ploceidae was first conducted in Ranomafana National Park from November 2003 to April 2004. During the survey, 368 nests of Foudia madagascariensis and 7 nests of Foudia omissa were found. Nest building of F. madagascariensis can be divided into fo...

Des inventaires floristiques ont été faites entre 2005 à 2010 dans les trois fragments forestiers de la Montagne d’Ambatotsirongorongo. Environs 236 espèces y ont été recensées avec 142 à Ambatotsirongorongo, 176 à Vohisampa et 189 à Lavasoa. Le taux d’endémisme varie de 65% à 93%. Le bloc forestier de Lavasoa semble le seul caractérisé par la prés...

Madagascar has long been recognized for its unique and diverse biota. In particular, significant effort has been made to establish baseline population data to better conserve the endemic avifauna. During field expeditions between 1993 and 2004, birds were mist-netted at 11 different sites, at elevations from 60 m to 2,050 m above sea level. Data on...

THE AMBATOVY PROJECT BBOP PILOT PROJECT BUSINESS AND BIODIVERSITY OFFSETS PROGRAMME CASE STUDY

Vertebrate communities were surveyed in the Ambatotsirongorongo forests, defined by three forest patches in southeastern Madagascar, from 30 January to 19 February 2005. The natural habitats existing within these transitional forests, which include Ambatotsirongorongo (25 ha), Vohisampa (30 ha), and Lavasoa (50 ha), are suspected to have been disco...

This study focuses on some genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation in populations of four endemic bird species (Monticola sharpei, Terpsiphone mutata, Foudia omissa, and Foudia madagascariensis) living in the understory of forests in the Reserve Speciale d'Ambohitantely on the Central High Plateau of Madagascar. The four species differ in the...

Summary This study focuses on some genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation in populations of four endemic bird species (Monticola sharpei, Terpsiphone mutata, Foudia omissa, and Foudia madagascariensis) living in the understory of forests in the Réserve Spéciale d’Ambohitantely on the Central High Plateau of Madagascar. The four species diffe...

Hawkins, A.F.A., Andrianarimisa, A., Rakotonomenjanahary, O.M. & Raminoarisoa, V.M. 2000. Inventaire des oiseaux de la Reserve Naturelle Integrale de Zahamena, Madagascar. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 317.Zahmena est une Reserve Naturelle Integrale de 73 160 ha situé dans le centre-est de Madagascar. Nous y avons visités 4 sites entre 465–1490 m d'altitude....

This study focuses on some genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation in populations of four endemic bird species (Monticola sharpei, Terpsiphone mutata, Foudia omissa, and Foudia madagascariensis) living in the understory of forests in the Re Âserve Spe Âciale d'Ambohitantely on the Central High Plateau of Madagascar. The four species differ in...

This study compares the habitat use by three species of couas, the Crested Coua Coua cristata, Coquerel's Coua C. coquereli and the Red-capped Coua C. rujiceps, in a dry forest at Ampijoroa, western Madagascar. The Crested Coua used higher layers (> 5 m) exclusively. Both Coquerel's and the Red-capped Coua stayed mainly on the ground, but the forme...

The behaviour of the globally threatened and little known Madagascar Teal was studied at Lake Bemamba, western Madagascar in July 1992. At least seven pairs and two single birds were observed. The pairs were tightly bonded and aggressively defended feeding space from conspecifics. Paired birds were dominant over and more aggressive than single bird...