Wildlife population assessments

We conducted a broad suite of ecological assessments to monitor the population dynamics of wildlife.

TENRECS:

We conducted two types of research to understand tenrec population dynamics: 1) a mark-recapture study of Tenrec ecaudatus (the Common Tenrec) and Setifer setosus (Hedgehog Tenrec) and 2) a photo-trapping study of tenrecs. In addition to anesthetizing and eartagging tenrecs during the mark-recapture study to estimate recapture rates (and thus density of species), we also collected parasite samples from tenrecs while they were under anesthesia.

LEMURS:

In 2011-2015, we conducted line-transect surveys of both diurnal and nocturnal lemur species in forest areas in the Makira Natural Park. These surveys covered 11 different geographical regions throughout Makira and were resurveyed during the same season each year. This project will last until 2015.
Publications:
  1. Brook, C. E., Herrera, J. P., Borgerson, C., Fuller, E., Andriamahazoarivosoa, P., Rasolofoniaina, B. R., … & Golden, C. D. Population viability and harvest sustainability for Madagascar lemurs. Conservation Biology. In press.
  2. Herrera, J., C. Borgerson, L. Tongasoa, P. Andriamahazorivosoa, B.J.R. Rasolofo-niaina, E.R. Rakotondrafarasata, J.F. Randrianasolo, S.E. Johnson, P.C. Wright, D. Golden. 2018. Estimating the population size of lemurs based on their mutualistic food trees. Journal of Biogeography. DOI: 10.1111/jbi.13409
BIRDS:
In 2013-2015, we have been conducting line-transect surveys of bird species in the Makira Natural Park. These surveys covered 11 different geographical regions throughout Makira and were resurveyed during the same season each year.
Publications:
Murphy, A., Farris, Z., Karpanty, S. Kelly, M., Miles, K., Ratelolahy, F., Rahariniaina, R.P., and Golden, C.D. (2017). Using camera traps to examine distribution and occupancy trends of ground-dwelling rainforest birds in north-eastern Madagascar. Bird Conservation International,1-14. doi:10.1017/S0959270917000107
CARNIVORES:
I was primarily a collaborator on this part of the assessment, working collaboratively with Zach Farris. We conducted photo-trap assessments across the Makira Natural Park and recently finished an assessment of drivers of carnivore population dynamics, including human hunting.
Publications:
Farris, Z. J., Golden, C. D., Karpanty, S., Murphy, A., Stauffer, D., Ratelolahy, F. and Kelly, M. J. 2015. Hunting, Exotic Carnivores, and Habitat Loss: Anthropogenic Effects on a Native Carnivore Community, Madagascar. PloS ONE, 10(9), e0136456.