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1. Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity: Evolution, distribution, and use

   https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abf0869  

   Antonelli, Alexandre ; Smith, Rhian J. ; Perrigo, Allison L. ; Crottini, Angelica ; Hackel, Jan ; Testo, Weston ; Farooq, Harith ; Torres Jiménez, Maria F. ; Andela, Niels ; Andermann, Tobias ; et al ( December 2022 , Science)

   BACKGROUND The Republic of Madagascar is home to a unique assemblage of taxa and a diverse set of ecosystems. These high levels of diversity have arisen over millions of years through complex processes of speciation and extinction. Understanding this extraordinary diversity is crucial for highlighting its global importance and guiding urgent conservation efforts. However, despite the detailed knowledge that exists on some taxonomic groups, there are large knowledge gaps that remain to be filled. ADVANCES Our comprehensive analysis of major taxonomic groups in Madagascar summarizes information on the origin and evolution of terrestrial and freshwater biota, current species richness and endemism, and the utilization of this biodiversity by humans. The depth and breadth of Madagascar’s biodiversity—the product of millions of years of evolution in relative isolation —is still being uncovered. We report a recent acceleration in the scientific description of species but many remain relatively unknown, particularly fungi and most invertebrates. DIGITIZATION Digitization efforts are already increasing the resolution of species richness patterns and we highlight the crucial role of field- and collections-based research for advancing biodiversity knowledge in Madagascar. Phylogenetic diversity patterns mirror that of species richness and endemism in most of the analyzed groups. Among the new data presented, our update on plant numbers estimates 11,516 described vascular plant species native to Madagascar, of which 82% are endemic, in addition to 1215 bryophyte species, of which 28% are endemic. Humid forests are highlighted as centers of diversity because of their role as refugia and centers of recent and rapid radiations, but the distinct endemism of other areas such as the grassland-woodland mosaic of the Central Highlands and the spiny forest of the southwest is also important despite lower species richness. Endemism in Malagasy fungi remains poorly known given the lack of data on the total diversity and global distribution of species. However, our analysis has shown that ~75% of the fungal species detected by environmental sequencing have not been reported as occurring outside of Madagascar. Among the 1314 species of native terrestrial and freshwater vertebrates, levels of endemism are extremely high (90% overall)—all native nonflying terrestrial mammals and native amphibians are found nowhere else on Earth; further, 56% of the island’s birds, 81% of freshwater fishes, 95% of mammals, and 98% of reptile species are endemic. Little is known about endemism in insects, but data from the few well-studied groups on the island suggest that it is similarly high. The uses of Malagasy species are many, with much potential for the uncovering of useful traits for food, medicine, and climate mitigation. OUTLOOK Considerable work remains to be done to fully characterize Madagascar’s biodiversity and evolutionary history. The multitudes of known and potential uses of Malagasy species reported here, in conjunction with the inherent value of this unique and biodiverse region, reinforce the importance of conserving this unique biota in the face of major threats such as habitat loss and overexploitation. The gathering and analysis of data on Madagascar’s remarkable biota must continue and accelerate if we are to safeguard this unique and highly threatened subset of Earth’s biodiversity. Emergence and composition of Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity. Madagascar’s biota is the result of over 160 million years of evolution, mostly in geographic isolation, combined with sporadic long distance immigration events and local extinctions. (Left) We show the age of the oldest endemic Malagasy clade for major groups (from bottom to top): arthropods, bony fishes, reptiles, flatworms, birds, amphibians, flowering plants, mammals, non-flowering vascular plants, and mollusks). Humans arrived recently, some 10,000 to 2000 years (top right) and have directly or indirectly caused multiple extinctions (including hippopotamus, elephant birds, giant tortoises, and giant lemurs) and introduced many new species (such as dogs, zebu, rats, African bushpigs, goats, sheep, rice). Endemism is extremely high and unevenly distributed across the island (the heat map depicts Malagasy palm diversity, a group characteristic of the diverse humid forest). Human use of biodiversity is widespread, including 1916 plant species with reported uses. The scientific description of Malagasy biodiversity has accelerated greatly in recent years (bottom right), yet the diversity and evolution of many groups remain practically unknown, and many discoveries await. 

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2. Plant conservation assessment at scale: Rapid triage of extinction risks

   https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10355  

   AuBuchon‐Elder, Taylor ; Minx, Patrick ; Bookout, Bess ; Kellogg, Elizabeth A. ( January 2023 , PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET)

   The current rate of global biodiversity loss creates a pressing need to increase efficiency and throughput of extinction risk assessments in plants. We must assess as many plant species as possible, working with imperfect knowledge, to address the habitat loss and extinction threats of the Anthropocene. Using the biodiversity database, Botanical Information and Ecology Network (BIEN), and the Andropogoneae grass tribe as a case study, we demonstrate that large‐scale, preliminary conservation assessments can play a fundamental role in accelerating plant conservation pipelines and setting priorities for more in‐depth investigations.

   The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria are widely used to determine extinction risks of plant and animal life. Here, we used The Red List's criterion B, Geographic Range Size, to provide preliminary conservation assessments of the members of a large tribe of grasses, the Andropogoneae, with ~1100 species, including maize, sorghum, and sugarcane and their wild relatives.

   We used georeferenced occurrence data from the Botanical Information and Ecology Network (BIEN) and automated individual species assessments using ConR to demonstrate efficacy and accuracy in using time‐saving tools for conservation research. We validated our results with those from the IUCN‐recommended assessment tool, GeoCAT.

   We discovered a remarkably large gap in digitized information, with slightly more than 50% of the Andropogoneae lacking sufficient information for assessment. ConR and GeoCAT largely agree on which taxa are of least concern (>90%) or possibly threatened (<10%), highlighting that automating assessments with ConR is a viable strategy for preliminary conservation assessments of large plant groups. Results for crop wild relatives are similar to those for the entire dataset.

   Increasing digitization and collection needs to be a high priority. Available rapid assessment tools can then be used to identify species that warrant more comprehensive investigation.

    

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3. A surprising haven: The biodiversity of an old‐growth forest amidst a scorched landscape in Madagascar

   https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12993  

   Otero Jimenez, Beatriz ; Montaño, Ren ; Rothman, Ryan S. ; Williams, Rachel C. ; Wright, Patricia C. ( July 2023 , Conservation Science and Practice)

   For the endemic wildlife of Madagascar, the risk of extinction increases as the island's forest cover decreases. Many of the remaining forests are isolated fragments serving as important refugia for biodiversity. In this research note, we describe the biodiversity of the Ivohiboro Humid Forest (IHF), and its conservation importance in Madagascar. Located in a region dominated by wooded savannah, the IHF represents a very rare vegetation type. We conducted six biological surveys to explore the diversity of vertebrates and vascular plants in this isolated forest. Our results show that the IHF maintains a diverse ecosystem and harbors species of conservation significance. Thirty‐four of the identified species are categorized as Threatened by the IUCN, such as the ring‐tailed lemur (Lemur catta) and Isalo Madagascar frog (Gephyromantis corvus). Furthermore, we inventoried species distant from their known IUCN‐reported geographic ranges such as a species of blue‐nosed chameleon (Calummasp. aff. boettgeri,linotum) and the Lavasoa dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus lavasoensis).

    

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4. Opportunities for the conservation of migratory birds to benefit threatened resident vertebrates in the Neotropics

   https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14077  

   Wilson, Scott ; Lin, Hsien‐Yung ; Schuster, Richard ; González, Ana M. ; Gómez, Camila ; Botero‐Delgadillo, Esteban ; Bayly, Nicholas J. ; Bennett, Joseph R. ; Rodewald, Amanda D. ; Roehrdanz, Patrick R. ; et al ( November 2021 , Journal of Applied Ecology)

   Neotropical countries receive financing and effort from temperate nations to aid the conservation of migratory species that move between temperate and tropical regions. If allocated strategically, these resources could simultaneously contribute to other conservation initiatives. In this study, we use novel distribution maps to show how those resources could aid planning for the recovery of threatened resident vertebrates.

   Using eBird‐based relative abundance estimates, we first identified areas with high richness of Neotropical migrant landbirds of conservation concern (23 species) during the stationary non‐breeding period. Within these areas, we then identified threatened species richness, projected forest loss and conducted a prioritization for 1,261 red‐listed vertebrates using Terrestrial Area‐of‐Habitat maps.

   Richness for migrants was greatest along a corridor from the Yucatan peninsula south to the northern Andes but also included south‐west Mexico and Hispaniola. Protected areas account for 22% of this region while 21% is at risk of forest loss. Within this focal region for migrants, all four vertebrate groups showed hotspots of threatened species richness along the west and east Andean slopes. Taxa‐specific hotspots included montane areas of southern Mexico and central Guatemala (amphibians/reptiles) and the entire east slope of the Colombian East Andes (mammals).

   Our prioritization highlighted several areas of importance for conservation due to high threatened species richness and projected forest loss including (a) the Pacific dry forests of south‐west Mexico, (b) montane regions of northern Central America and (c) the west Andean slope of Colombia and Ecuador. At a landscape scale in southern Colombia, we show how conservation efforts for six Neotropical migrants could benefit 56 threatened residents that share a similar elevational range.

   Synthesis and applications. Funding and effort for migratory bird conservation also has potential to benefit threatened resident vertebrates in the Neotropics. Our study highlights how novel, high‐resolution information on species distributions and risk of forest loss can be integrated to identify priority areas for the two groups at regional and landscape scales. The approach and data can be further modified for more specific goals, such as within‐country initiatives.

    

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5. Description of the subfossil crocodylians from a new Late Pleistocene subfossil site (Tsaramody, Sambaina Basin) in central Madagascar

   Rakotozandry, R. ; Ranivoharimanana, L. ; Ranaivosoa, V. ; Rasolofomanana, N. ; Hekkala, E. ; Samonds, K.E. ( December 2021 , Malagasy nature)

   Madagascar is famous today not only for its unique biodiversity, but also for the high levels of endemism of plants and animals. Less appreciated is the fact that, in the recent past, the island had even greater biodiversity with many other endemic animals such as giant lemurs, elephant birds, pygmy hippopotami, tortoises, and crocodiles that have gone extinct within the past 2000 years. The extinction of many of these groups is thought to be the result of both human activities and environmental change. Most research has focused on the lemurs, hippopotami, and elephant birds. Other recently extinct animals, including the Malagasy horned crocodile (Voay robustus), are relatively poorly known. Madagascar’s subfossil crocodylians include two taxa: the extinct V. robustus (the Malagasy horned crocodile) and the extant Crocodylus niloticus. The latter arrived on Madagascar relatively recently and we know little about the habitat preferences, distributions and ecological interactions (if any) of either species during the Holocene. In order to better understand the recent history of crocodylian extinction in Madagascar, we must first identify which species were present and where they were found. We present here a description of subfossil crocodylian material collected from the newly discovered subfossil site of Tsaramody (Sambaina Basin), a high-elevation wetlandenvironment. At 1655 m, it represents the highest elevation subfossil site on the island. Here we describe both cranial (e.g., premaxillary, jugal, and squamosal “horns”) and postcranial elements (e.g., osteoderms). Our research indicates that crocodile material from Tsaramody appears morphologically to belong to V. robustus, the extinct species. However, oval tuberosities on the frontal bone and a triangular extension of the squamosal bone suggest previously unrecognized variation. 

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