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Over the course of the past decade, there has been an enormous
augmentation in the amount of information available on the lemurs
of Madagascar. These advances are closely coupled with an increase
in the number of national and international researchers working on
these animals. As a result, Madagascar has emerged as one of the
principal sites of primatological studies in the world.
Furthermore, the conserva tion community has a massive interest in
the preservation of the natural habitats of the island, and lemurs
serve as one of the symbols of this cause. Between 10 and 14 August
1998, the XVIIth International Primatology Society (IPS) Congress
was held in Antananarivo, Madagascar. For a country that about a
decade ago was largely closed to foreign visitors, this Congress
constituted a massive event for the Malagasy scientific community
and was assisted by about 550 primatolo gists from 35 different
countries. Naturally, given the venue and context of the Con gress,
many of the presentations dealt with lemurs and covered a very wide
breadth of subjects."
Over the course of the past decade, there has been an enormous
augmentation in the amount of information available on the lemurs
of Madagascar. These advances are closely coupled with an increase
in the number of national and international researchers working on
these animals. As a result, Madagascar has emerged as one of the
principal sites of primatological studies in the world.
Furthermore, the conserva tion community has a massive interest in
the preservation of the natural habitats of the island, and lemurs
serve as one of the symbols of this cause. Between 10 and 14 August
1998, the XVIIth International Primatology Society (IPS) Congress
was held in Antananarivo, Madagascar. For a country that about a
decade ago was largely closed to foreign visitors, this Congress
constituted a massive event for the Malagasy scientific community
and was assisted by about 550 primatolo gists from 35 different
countries. Naturally, given the venue and context of the Con gress,
many of the presentations dealt with lemurs and covered a very wide
breadth of subjects.
A marvelously illustrated reference to the natural wonders of one
of the most spectacular places on earth Separated from Africa's
mainland for tens of millions of years, Madagascar has evolved a
breathtaking wealth of biodiversity, becoming home to thousands of
species found nowhere else on the planet. The New Natural History
of Madagascar provides the most comprehensive, up-to-date synthesis
available of this island nation's priceless biological treasures.
Now fully revised and expanded, this beautifully illustrated
compendium features contributions by more than 600 globally
renowned experts who cover the history of scientific exploration in
Madagascar, as well as the island's geology and soils, climate,
forest ecology, human ecology, marine and coastal ecosystems,
plants, invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and
mammals. This invaluable two-volume reference also includes
detailed discussions of conservation efforts in Madagascar that
showcase several successful protected area programs that can serve
as models for threatened ecosystems throughout the world. Provides
the most comprehensive overview of Madagascar's rich natural
history Coedited by 18 different specialists Features hundreds of
new contributions by world-class experts Includes hundreds of new
illustrations Covers a broad array of topics, from geology and
climate to animals, plants, and marine life Sheds light on newly
discovered species and draws on the latest science An essential
resource for anyone interested in Madagascar or tropical ecosystems
in general, from biologists and conservationists to ecotourists and
armchair naturalists
In 1989, a book written by Martin E. Nicoll and Olivier Langrand
was published on the protected areas of Madagascar, which heralded
in a new era of conservation for this island nation. In the
subsequent three decades, there was an important increase in
inventories and studies on Madagascar's terrestrial biota. This
work led to significant changes in the systematics of Malagasy
plants and animals, a large percentage unique to the island, and a
notable augmentation in knowledge on Malagasy biodiversity. In
addition, the considerable expansion of the protected area network,
reinforcement of legal tools, and the development of new management
modes and tools have contributed to a modernization of the
protected area network. The purpose of these bilingual,
French-English books is to present a large-scale update of
information available from 98 terrestrial protected areas, various
analyses to understand general trends in the conservation of these
sites, and a synthesis to assess the needs for future scientific
programs. Beautifully illustrated throughout with color maps,
graphs, and photos, these three volumes will be an important
reference for students, researchers, protected area managers,
conservationists, and visiting ecotourists.
The landscapes of Madagascar have long delighted zoologists, who
have discovered, in and among the island's baobab trees and
thickets, a dizzying array of animals, including something
approaching one hundred species of lemur. Madagascar's mammal
fauna, for example, is far more diverse, and more endemic, than
early explorers and naturalists ever dreamed of. But in the 2,500
or so years since the arrival of the island's first human settlers,
the vast majority of its forests have disappeared, and in the wake
of this loss a number of species unique to Madagascar have vanished
forever into extinction.
In "Extinct Madagascar," noted scientists Steven M. Goodman and
William L. Jungers explore the recent past of these land animal
extinctions. Beginning with an introduction to the geologic and
ecological history of Madagascar that provides context for the
evolution, diversification, and, in some cases, rapid decline of
the Malagasy fauna, Goodman and Jungers then seek to recapture
these extinct mammals in their environs. Aided in their quest by
artist Velizar Simeonovski's beautiful and haunting
paintings--images of both individual species and ecosystem
assemblages reproduced here in full color--Goodman and Jungers
reconstruct the lives of these lost animals and trace their
relationships to those still living.
Published in conjunction with an exhibition of Simeonovski's
paintings set to open at the Field Museum, Chicago, in the fall of
2014, Goodman and Jungers's awe-inspiring book will serve not only
as a sobering reminder of the very real threat of extinction, but
also as a stunning tribute to Madagascar's biodiversity and a
catalyst for further research and conservation.
Madagascar, with its unique and highly endemic flora and fauna, is
a world conservation priority, but until now, no detailed synthesis
has been available for the small mammals of the island. This
pocket-sized book, written in non-technical French and beautifully
illustrated throughout, fills that gap with both a general
introduction to Malagasy small mammals and detailed entries for
fifty-nine endemic species, many only recently described by
science. Small mammals covered include Madagascar's endemic rodent
species--the mice and rats of the greatly diversified subfamily
Nesomyinae, which have evolved to fill a variety of ecological
niches--as well as the snouted, insectivore-like mammals of the
family Tenrecidae.
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