Parfait Bora’s research while affiliated with University of Antananarivo and other places

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Publications (20)


S2 Table
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  • File available

January 2016

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55 Reads

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Summary of survey data used in the meta-analysis and references for the original data. (DOC)

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Fig 1. Maps of Madagascar. (a) topography with major mountain massifs and rivers, (b) major bioclimatic zones (herein called biomes) [47], (c) geographic regions ([48], boundaries based on watersheds ([2], and (d) delimitation of northern Madagascar as used herein including the Sambirano, North, and North East regions (map also shows a few towns and nature reserves discussed in the text). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144076.g001 
Table 1.  Results of a Principal Component Analysis of surveyed sites in Madagascar (Fig 8), based on species numbers recorded for each of 4 major amphibian and 8 major reptile groups.
Principal Components with eigenvalues >1 were extracted (PC1-PC3). Component loadings with values >0.5 are in bold.
Fig 1.  Maps of Madagascar.
(a) topography with major mountain massifs and rivers, (b) major bioclimatic zones (herein called biomes) [47], (c) geographic regions ([48], boundaries based on watersheds ([2], and (d) delimitation of northern Madagascar as used herein including the Sambirano, North, and North East regions (map also shows a few towns and nature reserves discussed in the text).
Fig 2.  Biodiversity measures for reptiles and amphibians.
Species richness (SR), endemicity (corrected weighted endemism, CWE), and turnover as measured by general dissimilarity models (GDM), based on the distribution of 325 species of amphibians and 420 species of reptiles from Madagascar. Species richness scales range from low (blue) to high (red) number of species per hexagon; Local endemism values range from low (blue) to high (red).
Fig 3.  Species richness.
Species richness (SR) calculated separately for different clades and subclades of Malagasy amphibians and reptiles. Microhylidae G1 includes scaphiophrynines whereas G2 includes cophylines.

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Spatial Biodiversity Patterns of Madagascar's Amphibians and Reptiles

January 2016

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8,915 Reads

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89 Citations

Madagascar has become a model region for testing hypotheses of species diversification and biogeography, and many studies have focused on its diverse and highly endemic herpetofauna. Here we combine species distribution models of a near-complete set of species of reptiles and amphibians known from the island with body size data and a tabulation of herpetofaunal communities from field surveys, compiled up to 2008. Though taxonomic revisions and novel distributional records arose since compilation, we are confident that the data are appropriate for inferring and comparing biogeographic patterns among these groups of organisms. We observed species richness of both amphibians and reptiles was highest in the humid rainforest biome of eastern Madagascar, but reptiles also show areas of high richness in the dry and subarid western biomes. In several amphibian subclades, especially within the Mantellidae, species richness peaks in the central eastern geographic regions while in reptiles different subclades differ distinctly in their richness centers. A high proportion of clades and subclades of both amphibians and reptiles have a peak of local endemism in the topographically and bioclimatically diverse northern geographic regions. This northern area is roughly delimited by a diagonal spanning from 15.5°S on the east coast to ca. 15.0°S on the west coast. Amphibian diversity is highest at altitudes between 800-1200 m above sea-level whereas reptiles have their highest richness at low elevations, probably reflecting the comparatively large number of species specialized to the extended low-elevation areas in the dry and subarid biomes. We found that the range sizes of both amphibians and reptiles strongly correlated with body size, and differences between the two groups are explained by the larger body sizes of reptiles. However, snakes have larger range sizes than lizards which cannot be readily explained by their larger body sizes alone. Range filling, i.e., the amount of suitable habitat occupied by a species, is less expressed in amphibians than in reptiles, possibly reflecting their lower dispersal capacity. Taxonomic composition of communities assessed by field surveys is largely explained by bioclimatic regions, with communities from the dry and especially subarid biomes distinctly differing from humid and subhumid biomes.


Extinction Risks and the Conservation of Madagascar's Reptiles

August 2014

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2,988 Reads

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73 Citations

BACKGROUND: An understanding of the conservation status of Madagascar's endemic reptile species is needed to underpin conservation planning and priority setting in this global biodiversity hotspot, and to complement existing information on the island's mammals, birds and amphibians. We report here on the first systematic assessment of the extinction risk of endemic and native non-marine Malagasy snakes, lizards, turtles and tortoises. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Species range maps from The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species were analysed to determine patterns in the distribution of threatened reptile species. These data, in addition to information on threats, were used to identify priority areas and actions for conservation. Thirty-nine percent of the data-sufficient Malagasy reptiles in our analyses are threatened with extinction. Areas in the north, west and south-east were identified as having more threatened species than expected and are therefore conservation priorities. Habitat degradation caused by wood harvesting and non-timber crops was the most pervasive threat. The direct removal of reptiles for international trade and human consumption threatened relatively few species, but were the primary threats for tortoises. Nine threatened reptile species are endemic to recently created protected areas. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: With a few alarming exceptions, the threatened endemic reptiles of Madagascar occur within the national network of protected areas, including some taxa that are only found in new protected areas. Threats to these species, however, operate inside and outside protected area boundaries. This analysis has identified priority sites for reptile conservation and completes the conservation assessment of terrestrial vertebrates in Madagascar which will facilitate conservation planning, monitoring and wise-decision making. In sharp contrast with the amphibians, there is significant reptile diversity and regional endemism in the southern and western regions of Madagascar and this study highlights the importance of these arid regions to conserving the island's biodiversity.


A new species of Mantidactylus (subgenus Chonomantis) from Ranomafana National Park, eastern Madagascar (Amphibia, Anura, Mantellidae)

February 2011

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56 Reads

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2 Citations

Zootaxa

We describe a new frog species of Mantidactylus belonging to the subgenus Chonomantis from Ranomafana National Park, in the Southern Central East region of Madagascar, at mid-elevations (about 950 m above sea level). Specimens of Mantidactylus paidroa sp. nov. were observed during the day in cavities under large rocks next to a stream in rainforest. Their advertisement calls are unique in Chonomantis and consist of a long series of note pairs. The new species shows a high divergence to other Chonomantis species in DNA sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene (5.6-10.8%). Mantidactylus paidroa is so far only known from several streams in Ranomafana National Park but may have been overlooked at other rainforest sites in eastern Madagascar. We propose an IUCN threat status of Data Deficient for this new species.


FIGURE 1. Schematic map of the southern portion of the Tsingy de Bemaraha area, western Madagascar, with the names of survey sites: Antsalova (S1); Andranopasazy (S2); Andafiabe (S3); Bendrao Forest (S4); Ankily (S5); Anjaha (S6); Ankazomanga (S7); Ranotsara (S8); Ankilogoa (S9); Andolombazimba (S10).  
FIGURE 2. Unvouchered species that we recorded during the survey of Bemaraha National Park, western Madagascar: (A) Trachylepis elegans, (B) Furcifer cf. petteri, (C) Zonosaurus karsteni, (D) Leioheterodon modestus. (Photographed by C. Randrianantoandro).  
Amphibians and reptiles of the Tsingy de Bemaraha Plateau, Western Madagascar: Checklist, biogeography and conservation

April 2010

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1,301 Reads

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38 Citations

Herpetological Conservation and Biology

We surveyed the Tsingy de Bemaraha plateau in central-western Madagascar for amphibians and reptiles. We recorded 19 species of amphibians and 60 species of reptiles by opportunistic searching, bioacoustic identification (frogs), and pitfall trapping. Among the species recorded, 13% were previously unknown to science and a further 15% are of uncertain taxonomic status and possibly represent undescribed species. Of all the species recorded, 28% are endemic to the Bemaraha plateau and 48% appear to be dependent on forest habitat. Phylogenetic relationships of Bemaraha amphibians suggest a biogeographic link to eastern rainforests; whereas, those of reptiles demonstrate a link to the forests of northern Madagascar. We comment on former species records from the area and discuss conservation issues for amphibians and reptiles related to the habitat alteration observed in several parts of the protected area complex.


Table 2). However, our genetic results pertain to a species that 
High haplotype diversity in a microendemic Malagasy gecko species, Lygodactylus mirabilis (Pasteur, 1962)

October 2009

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180 Reads

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1 Citation

Zootaxa

Among Malagasy montane reptiles, the diurnal gecko Lygodactylus mirabilis has one of the most restricted distribution ranges, occurring only on the Tsiafajavona mountain on the Ankaratra massif. Here we report data on the current distribution of this species and its genetic diversity. Mitochondrial data based on samples collected in the only previously known distribution area (the Tsiafajavona peak) showed numerous haplotypes at low frequencies, suggesting a past population expansion and a relatively high within-species genetic diversity in an extremely small distribution area. Our field survey also revealed that the range of the species is larger than previously thought, but still is extremely small and restricted to the Ankaratra massif.


Citations (15)


... The interaction of this environmental heterogeneity with periodic climatic fluctuations and the expansion and contraction of forested habitats along watersheds and altitudinal gradients is believed to have had an essential role in the formation of Madagascar's rich species diversity 1,3 . The effect of this ecogeographic patterning on speciation has been explored in a wide range of organisms 1,2,[4][5][6][7][8][9] , including many of the 103 recognized species of lemurs (infraorder Lemuriformes). The adaptive radiation of Lemuriformes in Madagascar followed their split with other strepsirrhine primates (~50 Ma) 10 and one or two overwater crossings from mainland Africa 11,12 . ...

Reference:

Ecological and anthropogenic effects on the genomic diversity of lemurs in Madagascar
Spatial Biodiversity Patterns of Madagascar's Amphibians and Reptiles

... This resulted in several taxonomic revisions (mostly at the genus level) and in a remarkable number of new or resurrected amphibian and reptile species [e.g. Aglyptodactylus (Köhler et al., 2015), Boophis , Blommersia , Gephyromantis , Guibemantis (Lehtinen et al., 2011), Mantidactylus (Bora et al., 2011), Scaphiophryne (Raselimanana et al., 2014), Anodontyla (Vences et al., 2010a), Cophyla (Rakotoarison et al., 2015), Platypelis , Rhombophryne (Scherz et al., 2016); Stumpffia (Rakotoarison et al., 2017), Brookesia , Furcifer (Florio et al., 2012), Calumma , Chalarodon , Zonosaurus (Raselimanana et al., 2006), Madascincus (Miralles et al., 2011), Paracontias (Miralles et al., 2016), Paragehyra , Uroplatus , Phelsuma , Liopholidophis ]. ...

A new species of Mantidactylus (subgenus Chonomantis) from Ranomafana National Park, eastern Madagascar (Amphibia, Anura, Mantellidae)
  • Citing Article
  • February 2011

Zootaxa

... Note that measurements of Plethodontohyla brevipes are from specimens that match the original description of that species in having a uniform brown dorsum and slightly granular dorsal skin. Terminology and description scheme follow Vences et al. (2003), Glaw and Vences (2007a) and Glaw et al. (2007) to allow for better comparison to other Plethodontohyla species. (MNHN 1901.235) and (e-f) Plethodontohyla laevis tsianovohensis (MNHN 1936.47) in dorsal (a, c, e) and ventral (b, d, f) view. ...

Discovery of the genus Plethodontohyla (Anura: Microhylidae) in dry western Madagascar: Description of a new species and biogeographic implications

Zootaxa

... Unlike the reptile skin trade, species selection is driven by aesthetic and cultural factors that inadvertently select for specific functional trait extremes, including low clutch size, associated with slow life histories and increased vulnerability to sustained wild harvest. Corresponding trade-induced population declines have been observed among African species of tortoise (e.g., ploughshare tortoise [Astrochelys yniphora]), geckos, and chameleons as well as Asian chelonian species, with the Yunnan box turtle (Cuora yunnanensis) and Burmese star tortoise (Geochelone platynota) suffering global and functional extinctions, respectively (Hinsley et al., 2023;Jenkins et al., 2014;Luiselli et al., 2013). Sustained wild harvest of functionally diverse assemblages will compound regional threats, including habitat loss, contributing to reduced local species abundances among harvestvulnerable species and potentially compromising ecological functioning in ecosystems within epicenters of sub-Saharan African and Southeast Asian trade (Atwood et al., 2020). ...

Extinction Risks and the Conservation of Madagascar's Reptiles

... Despite the lack of data, Vences et al. (1999) felt forced to describe this species because, based on published photos, it had already been given invalid scientific names by various hobbyists, a situation that was leading to nomenclatural confusion. The rediscovery of the holotype later permitted to provide an adequate morphological description of the species (Vences et al. 2004b) but its relationships remained obscure. The species has several similarities with Mantella laevigata, which occurs in north-eastern Madagascar as well, such as the black belly with relatively small bluish dots, and the green-yellowish dorsal color which does not fully cover the posterior part of the dorsum. ...

Rediscovery and redescription of the holotype of Mantella manery

Alytes

... In M. bernhardi, we analysed separately individuals of two different populations which differed for habitat conditions: the first one from a rather intact rainforest site (Mangevo) within the Parc National de Ranomafana, and the second one from a heavily deforested site (Ambohimandrozo) next to the presumed species' type locality (Rabemananjara et al., 2005;Vieites et al., 2006). ...

New records, distribution and conservation of Mantella bernhardi, an Endangered frog species from south-eastern Madagascar

Oryx

... Population size estimates of M. baroni in the literature are limited to the work of Rabemananjara et al. (2008) who rapidly assessed the size of three populations exploited for the pet trade. Using slightly different methods than us, they found population sizes of 49-108 frogs at three sites (Fanjavala, Ampasimpotsy, and Kidonavo). ...

Rapid assessment of population sizes in ten species of Malagasy Poison frogs, genus Mantella

... Natural history. At tsingy de Bemaraha the species was collected at five out of 10 study sites (Bora et al. 2010). Individuals were observed being active during daytime within forest habitat (Fig. 13), mainly on bushes and smaller trees up to at least 2.5 m in height (see also Bora et al. 2010). ...

Amphibians and reptiles of the Tsingy de Bemaraha Plateau, Western Madagascar: Checklist, biogeography and conservation

Herpetological Conservation and Biology

... our attempts of barcode fishing from the lectotype was unsuccessful and the few 16S reads obtained were inconclusive, probably contaminated with Homo sapiens reads. however, we succeeded in PCramplifying and sequencing 16S from a specimen (zSM 176/2006 = MvtIS 16559) from the Midongy du Sud National Park (Bora et al. 2007) (also known as Befotaka-Midongy), and thus presumably from very close to the type locality. Based on the phylogenetic position of this sample, we circumscribe M. tricinctus to a lineage Natural history.-At ...

A rapid assessment survey of the herpetofauna at Befotaka‐Midongy National Park, south‐eastern Madagascar
  • Citing Article
  • September 2007

Zoosystematics and Evolution

... Although the island supports a remarkable diversity of frog species, ecological studies are rare (Andreone 2008). Information about population size and structure is limited to Boehmantis microtympanum (Andreone 1998), two phytotelm-inhabiting Guibemantis species (Lehtinen 2009), the highly threatened Boophis williamsi and Mantidactylus pauliani of Ankaratra Massif (Andreone et al. 2014), and two genera harvested for the international pet trade (Vieites et al. 2005;Tessa et al. 2007Tessa et al. , 2011Guarino et al. 2008;Rabemananjara et al. 2008;. Madagascar faces rapid and sustained deforestation (Harper et al. 2007;Vieilledent et al. 2018), and there is increasing concern for amphibians regarding the threats of climate change and infectious diseases Raxworthy et al. 2008;L€ otters et al. 2011;Bletz et al. 2015). ...

Distribution and Population Density of the Black-Eared Malagasy Poison Frog, mantella Milotympanum Staniszewski, 1996 (Amphibia: Mantellidae)
  • Citing Chapter
  • April 2007