TEAM RANOMAFANA
QUARTERLY WEB REPORT
Year: 2014
month: April - June
Communication activities:
o Contributing with the Program “Study Abroad from California University of
Pennsylvania”
o Presenting and Contributing with the celebration of the JME in Ranomafana
o Presenting TEAM project in Ranomafana to groups of visitors at Centre ValBio
Ranomafana
o Co-authoring with an article about the relationship between carbon density and animal
diversity at 14 of the TEAM sites with Lydia Beaudrot
o Co-advising with a student from the private University, “IFT” Antananarivo
o Participating with the inauguration of a new high school in Kelilalina village near Ranomafana
unusual events:
None
new species:
None
Protocol activities:
Vegetation
During this trimester (April – June 2014), taxonomic review and confirmation continued with field
expeditions and collection of additional plant voucher specimens at four plots: (1) plot 5 (Maharira:
March 31st to April 14th), (2) plot 3 (Andranofady: April, 19th to May 04th); and (3 and 4) at plot 1 and
plot 2 (Andemaka and Bevoahazo: May 10th to May 31st). 480 voucher specimens were collected from
the different plots (Table 1).
Table 1. Number of collected vouchers from the TEAM plots during this trimester April – June
2014
PLOT
Nb of collected
vouchers
1
2
3
5
6
75
104
108
118
75
All collected voucher specimens were processed in alcohol during the field expedition, then, dried
up in laboratory oven before going through taxonomic species identification and/or confirmation. Field
individual plant information (height, canopy cover characteristics, presence or not of latex, color of
different parts, etc…) were also gathered. Then, all individual collected specimens from the
Ranomafana TEAM yearly collection had also been arranged by years and catalogued (Table 2).
Table 2. Number of voucher specimens at TEAM Ranomafana site from 2011 to 2014
Year
Voucher specimen number
2011
197
2012
85
2013
50
2014
480
Total
812
Reviews and identification/confirmation of the plot species taxonomy had been conducted, using
specimen references, photographs taken in the field, and web taxonomic references from “Plant
Tropicos”. . Species identification and verification were first pre-determined through comparative web
and photo consultation and references and information from literature within the web “Tropicos on
Madagascar flora”. A pre-determined family, genus, and species list was established in order to be able
to compare vouchers with the national voucher references at the herbarium at PBZT (“Parc Zoologique
et Botanique de Tsimbazaza”) Antananarivo. In collaboration with the botanists at PBZT, we were able
to identify and confirm most of the plot species from the Ranomafana TEAM specimens. The following
table (Table 3) summarizes an updates of the taxonomic groups of the individual stems within the six
vegetation plots of Ranomafana TEAM sites.
Table 3. Updates on taxonomic numbers of the individual stems within the six vegetation plots
Plots
4
5
6
Total within
all plots
959
1292
1094
6568
44
38
42
44
57
77
75
64
61
74
120
82
116
94
82
102
100
229
Identification staying at the genus level
6
7
7
9
7
10
28
Unidentified at the species level
19
28
97
174
74
60
410
Number
1
2
3
Total plot stem individuals
746
1051
1426
Families
38
45
Genera
62
Species
Among all plant species individuals (with a total of 6568 individual stems) of the six
Ranomafana TEAM vegetation plots, 57 families within 120 genera and 229 species have been
recognized. 0,42% (28 individuals) cannot yet be identified at the species level until further studies; and
about 6,24 % (410 individuals) within 13 Families, 21 Genera remained unidentified at the species level
(Table 4). As an example, within the genus Malleastrum, so far, a new species might arise after further
taxonomic studies.
Table 4. Families and genera with the total stem individual number still unidentified at the species level
N°
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Family
Anacardiaceae
Araliaceae
Arecaceae
Icacinaceae
Lamiaceae
Lauraceae
Meliaceae
Monimiaceae
Myrtaceae
Oleaceae
Genus
Protorhus
Polyscias
Dypsis
Cassinopsis
Clerodendrum
Cryptocarya
Malleastrum
Tambourissa
Syzygium
Noronhia
Genus
Abrahamia
Ravenea
Vitex
Potameia
Genus
Genus
Total
individuals
63
27
17
1
9
121
45
22
23
36
11 Rubiaceae
Ixora
12 Salicaceae
Casearia
13 Sarcolanaceae Sarcolaena
Lemirea
Ludia
Peponidium Psychotria
31
8
7
410
After taxonomic review and confirmation, all Ranomafana TEAM vegetation data were uploaded
into the TEAM portal.
Terrestrial Vertebrates
After all field monitoring expedition was accomplished, during this trimester all equipments were
inventoried, cleaned, checked for their states, and testing the accuracy of the camera traps. 13 cameras
were found to need repair, because they could not give clear images. Communication with CI were
made for replacement and/or repair of some malfunctioned camera traps (Table 5).
Table 5. List of camera traps which was sent to be repaired in the States
#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Camera
Number
9
4
6
8
10
12
14
15
16
20
21
27
29
Serial number
RM13AC 03003348
RM13AC 03003325
RM13AC 03003391
RM13AC 03003387
RM13AC 03003385
RM13AC 03003363
RM13AC 05003744
RM13AC 03003394
RM13AC 03003389
RM13AC 03003393
RM13AC 02003103
RM13AC 07004031
RM13AC 03003392
Remarks
Partially Bad taken Pictures
All taken pictures were fuzzy
All taken pictures were fuzzy
All taken pictures were fuzzy
All taken pictures were fuzzy
All taken pictures were fuzzy
All taken pictures were fuzzy
All taken pictures were fuzzy
All taken pictures were fuzzy
All taken pictures were fuzzy
All taken pictures were fuzzy
Not working
All taken pictures were fuzzy
All Camera trap data were compiled, uploaded to the DeskTEAM. Backups of all monitoring data,
including the tpk files and the camera trap images from the three arrays; were also made and sent to the
CI headquarters.
Climate
Monthly climate data collecting (every the 15th of the month) and climate station maintenance (at the
end of the month) have been conducted regularly. Data collecting and uploading to TEAM portal of the
month (April 15th to May 15th 2014) have had some issues especially with the uploading of the data into
the TEAM portal. An error message was shown saying “Invalid Datalog Format: missing of the
timestamp column”. We are still seeking for a solution for that data upload. During this quarter,
climate data is shown in the table and figures below (Table 6).
Table 6. Recorded climate data (Temperature, Relative humidity, and Rainfall) at Ranomafana TEAM
climate station from April to June 15th 2014.
April
Relative
Temperature Humidity
Average
Maximum
Minimum
Total
Rainfall
18,26
29,08
10,74
89,77
99,67
40,42
175,006
May
Relative
Rainfall Temperature Humidity
0,02
5,84
0
16,35
26,14
6,63
87,59
99,83
26,73
52,07
June 15th
Relative
Rainfall Temperature Humidity Rainfall
0,01
2,03
0
14,8541
23,49
7,07
89,11
99,53
44,63
0
0
0
0
Recorded climate during this trimester showed some fluctuation in the average relative humidity
and temperature. The lowest relative humidity was 26.73; and the hihest 99.83%. There was also a
decrease in temperature and in rainfall during this trimester, with the lowest rainfall in June 2014. The
total rainfall during these three months was 227,07mm, during which no rainfall was recorded during
the month of June.
Fig 1. Average Rainfall (in mm) during the quarter April to June 15th 2014 within Ranomafana TEAM
site
Fig 1. Average Relative Humidity (in %) during the quarter April to June 15th 2014 within Ranomafana
TEAM site
Fig 2. Average temperature (in °C) during the quarter April to June 15th 2014 within Ranomafana
TEAM site
Fig 1. Total Rainfall (in mm) during the quarter April to June 15th 2014 within Ranomafana TEAM site
protocol problems:
Climate data uploading to TEAM portal, sometimes has issues with an error message of “Invalid
Datalog Format, or missing of timestamp column”
schedule problems:
None
logistical problems:
None
suggestions:
Despite the difficulties in collecting the plant fertile parts (because not their season yet) during
the previous monitoring (either seasons outside the monitoring phase nor during the rainy seasons), it
would still be necessary to conduct voucher specimens collection at different season from the TEAM
monitoring activities.