Published: October 20, 2022
Download from : https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275017
During many years of studying coral reefs, none have rigorously analyzed Madagascar’s coral assemblages at multiple spatial scales, and the effects of marine protected areas or other drivers like geographic location, abiotic/biotic factors on these latter are poorly known.
In this study, we focused our efforts at 18 sampling stations equally distributed over 3 regions around Madagascar where reefs are the most developed (Masoala in NE, Nosy-Be in NW and Salary Nord in SW). Half of stations in each region are established in unfished area and the other half in fished ones.
We found a marked spatial variability of these assemblages, with variation at either or both regional and local scales for all coral descriptors. The northeast coastal region of Masoala was characterized by the high abundance of coral colonies, most notably of the competitive Acropora and Pocillopora genera and stress-tolerant taxa at several stations. The southwest station of Salary Nord was distinguished by lower abundances, with depauperate populations of competitive taxa. On the northwest coast, Nosy-Be was characterized by higher diversity and abundance as well as by high coral cover (~42–70%) recorded at unfished stations. Marine reserves in MPAs had a positive effect on almost all coral descriptors, with a more pronounced effect in Nosy-Be. Apart, we found that herbivorous fish biomass, crustose coralline algae cover and substrate rugosity also have this positive effect, unlike for macro and turf algae cover.
With our findings, we support the fact that MPAs was a useful coral reef management tool. With more details in this paper, readers could see that reefs in Masoala are initially resilient, those in Nosy-Be are among the priorities of conservation and those at Salary Nord were highly disturbed.
Location of the 18 sampling stations in the three regions around Madagascar. Masoala (A) is located in the northeast coast, Nosy-Be (B) in the northwest, and Salary Nord (C) in the southwest. See Materials and Methods section for station codes.
The WIOMSA Newsbrief is talking about our papers on black corals: Black corals under threat, but studies show hope.
Download PDF (of the news article) here
Read the the WIOMSA Newsbrief, 30 (1): 14-16
Dugauquier, J.M., Godefroid, M., M’Zoudi, S., Terrana, L., Todinanahary, G., Eeckhaut, I. & Dubois, P. 2021. Ecomechanics of black corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia: Antipatharia): A comparative approach. Invertebrate Biology, e12347. Available here
Godefroid, M., Todinanahary, G.G.B., Dubois, P., Eeckhaut, I., Lepoint, G., Terrana, L. 2021. Perspectives on working underwater with black coral nubbins (Cnidaria: Antipatharia): the case of Cirrhipathes anguina (Dana, 1846). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 545: 151645. Available here
Graduate and undergraduate course on “ARMS to reefs: A new tool to restore coral reef biodiversity, fisheries yields, and human health in Madagascar”
Delayed by one day due to the passage of the Cyclone Batsirai, the Graduate and Undergraduate course on « ARMS to reefs: A new tool to restore coral reef biodiversity, fisheries yields, and human health in Madagascar » was finally launched on Tuesday 8th of February.
The first day was devoted to Ecology, with the participation of Gildas Todinanahary (IH.SM University of Toliara) and Aaron Hartmann, from Harvard University Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, who gave an interesting lesson on the sexual reproduction of corals. The debate which followed the lecture showed all the interest of the students in the training and the importance of the topic.
The first day was also marked by the beginning of R Bootcamp. The students learned how to Input and Wrangle Data in R, with Jessica Zamborain Mason from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Today Wednesday, students were able to learn and discuss about Barcoding and eDNA methods, with Jean-Dominique Durand from IRD, followed by a lecture on how to collect fisheries data: fisheries monitoring, GPS tracking, catch survey design, with Marc Léopold, also from IRD.
Due to travel restrictions (COVID 19), these first lectures are all given remotely by videoconference.
Thanks to the local staff including Eddy Falimanana, Léa Ravaoarisoa, and especially the PhD students José Randrianandrasana, Aroniaina Falinirina, Sandra Ranaivomanana and Anissa Volanandiana as well as the MSc interns for their commitment to make this course happen.
Read more about the course here.
Learn more about the ARMS Restore project here.
Pour appuyer son équipe, l’Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines (IH.SM) de l’Université de Toliara cherche un(e)
« Responsable des Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication (H/F Malagasy) »
Poste basé à Toliara
Contrat (CDD) de 1an avec possibilité de renouvellement
Rémunération compétitive
Sous l’autorité du Directeur de l’Institut et sous la supervision directe du Coordinateur du projet ARMS Restore, le Responsable TIC assure le bon fonctionnement du réseau et des outils informatiques de l’Institut. Il veille à la gestion des infrastructures (serveurs, réseau, sécurité), de services et de l’environnement bureautique mis à la disposition du personnel et des étudiants. Il sera amené à mettre à jour (ou à reconcevoir) le portail web de l’Institut et à développer les applications de gestion administrative et technique, de gestion des programmes de cours et à assurer, en appui au gestionnaire de base de données « Recherche », la bancarisation et sécurisation du portail web et du serveur local.
Le Responsable TIC aura comme principales responsabilités :
Poste basé à Toliara ǀ Date limite de dépôt de dossier : 31 Août 2021 ǀ Démarrage : Septembre 2021
Candidature
Le dossier de candidature, composé de CV actualisé, d’une lettre de motivation et d’une copie du diplôme le plus élevé doit être envoyé, par e-mail à vaohari[at]gmail.com copie à gildas.todinanahary[at]gmail.com avant le 31 Août 2021 à minuit. Seuls les candidats sélectionnés seront contactés.
Télécharger l’avis en format PDF ici