Despite their ecological and economic importance, the majority of plant species and their conservation status are poorly known. Only 4% of plants have been assessed globally and listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; and without plant conservation assessments, many plant species will not feature in conservation planning. Herbarium collection information can significantly increase the number of plant conservation assessments. Thus, the aims of this thesis were: (1) to investigate how the quality of herbarium-based conservation assessments can be optimised; (2) to assess the extent to which herbarium-based conservation assessments reflect the reality on the ground; and (3) to scientifically validate genetic and spatial underpinning of IUCN criteria. Preliminary range-based assessments of the Leguminosae of Madagascar achieved a result consistent with the final conservation rating for over 95% of species when using up to fifteen herbarium specimens. Bioclimatic modelling of range shifts based on future climate change predicted that, in the worst case scenario, up to one third of endemic Leguminosae in Madagascar will be threatened with extinction over the next 100 years. An analysis of the population structure of species of Delonix s.l. (Leguminosae) showed that combining spatial analysis with population genetic data provides a more complete picture of landscape-level population dynamics and the impacts on conservation status. Moreover, range-wide genetic analysis of AFLP markers for four species of Delonix demonstrated a genetic basis for IUCN categories distinguishing between threatened and non-threatened species. Although genetic data are currently not often incorporated in conservation assessments, they are crucial in making accurate management decisions and creating effective action plans for conservation. Only by using all available scientific resources can informed conservation decisions be made and the survival of plants and their associated ecosystems be ensured.

This dissertation investigates the relationship between Madagascar’s environment and the stress physiology of the red-bellied lemur, Eulemur rubriventer. Unique lemurid traits are proposed to have evolved in response to selection pressures unlike those in other primate habitats, and appear to be particularly suited to helping animals cope with harsh and unpredictable environments. Several hypotheses as to why lemurs evolved characteristics such as small group sizes, low basal metabolic rates, and cathemerality rest upon the untested assumption that these species are ecologically and/or reproductively stressed. This study simultaneously analyzes seasonal changes in climate, ecology, and the behavior and stress hormones (cortisol) of Eulemur rubriventer, as well as differences in these parameters across habitats with different ecological matrices. The goals of this dissertation are to: (1) evaluate the influences of seasonally varying food availability and climate upon lemur behavior and physiology, to determine whether such changes are sufficient to exert strong selective pressure; and (2) assess the additional influences of habitat composition and quality to evaluate the effects of unpredictability and habitat disturbance. Eulemur rubriventer are sensitive to seasonal environmental changes, as indicated by their time budgets, diets, and fecal cortisol levels. Overall they adopt a time minimizing strategy whereby energy is conserved by resting a majority of the time. Ripe fruit scarcity periods elicit the launch of an energy maximizing strategy whereby fecal cortisol levels and time feeding increase, and time resting decreases. Sensitivity to these influences varies across habitats. The behavioral and stress responses of groups in the undisturbed habitat (UND) were more seasonal and pronounced than those from their disturbed habitat (DIST) counterparts. Lower cortisol levels in DIST may result from a less seasonally predictable environment requiring frequent short-term responses (with possible energy deficits during critical reproductive stages yielding 3 deaths out of 5 births and out-of-season reproduction). Alternatively, the attenuated behavioral and hormonal response to environmental change in DIST may indicate a severely stressed population with insufficient energy to launch an appropriate coping response. The hypothesis that animals in DIST have adapted to frequent unpredictability due to disturbance is rejected because all animals behaviorally and hormonally respond to fruit declines, indicating that this species undergoes ecological stress. / text

M.Sc. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Little is known about the pollination in the spiderwort family, Commelinaceae. One of the species endemic to Madagascar, Coleotrype madagascarica C. B. Clarke, is an extremely ostentatious plant. With visual attraction such as basally coloured apical leaves, vividly coloured petals and an astounding fuzzy spherical hair structure on the stamens. The aim of the present study was to investigate the pollination system and reveal the effective pollinator of C. madagascarica. Field studies in central Madagascar indicated that the flowers attract a number of species of pollen seeking bees and flies. The pollination of C. madagascarica relies on female bees that buzz the fuzzy bright yellow stamen filament hairs and later deposit pollen on the stigma topping the ventrally protruding hook shaped style of another flower. During a visit, the bee grabs on to the stamens and vibrate its flight muscles to eject pollen from the anthers. Anthophorid bees, especially Amegilla and Pachymelus, were the most frequent visitors and apparent pollinators.

Understanding the triggers of the intention was, is and will be at the heart of scholars’ preoccupations when dealing with the universe of entrepreneurship. This unique pioneering research aimed at comparing the Malagasy main ethnic groups in terms of measures of cultural dimensions and perceived desirability and examining the effects of this perceived desirability on the relations between cultural dimensions and entrepreneurial intention. A non-experimental cross-sectional survey, based on a cluster sampling with quota approach comprising three sub-samples of ethnic groups and a structured questionnaire directly administrated by trained interviewers, was the source of data of the research. The use of relevant robust statistical tests characterised the data processing of the research, which revealed that there is no important difference in the measures of cultural dimensions among main ethnic groups in Madagascar’s rural areas. The level of perceived desirability and the relationships between cultural dimensions and entrepreneurial intention are not importantly moderated by perceived desirability among the main ethnic groups in Madagascar’s rural areas. Furthermore, it has been discovered that to some extent, Madagascar would not be a country of ethnic diversity and beginning to understand the Malagasy entrepreneurial profile based on cultural dimension, perceived desirability and entrepreneurial intention is possible. Within the context of an unprecedented level of poverty of the population of Madagascar, which strangles the way to a harmonious and sustainable development, the findings of the research would make an invaluable contribution to the setting up or the refining of policies and strategies targeting the promotion of entrepreneurship in general and self-employment in particular. It is broadly acknowledged that the key to alleviating poverty is based on the encouragement of self-employment of all individuals.

Dans le passé, la procédure de configuration de la conduite d'acteur social est confrontée à deux procédures, aussi controversées l'une que l'autre dans la sphère de la formation initiale de l'enseignement reformé de Madagascar. Les actions de légitimation sont effectuées par des procédures compartimentées. Chaque acte est soutenu par un héritage de parcelles de pratique civilisationnelle souvent en contradiction éthique avec d'autres formes de convictions théologico-idéologiques juxtaposées. En conséquence, ce déroulement crée une situation de dissension sociale. Cette situation évolue dans un climat social dominé par une caractéristique incertaine de spécificité civilisationnelle. Toute activité démarre avec un flou de cadre de conduite et se termine par un résultat d'action non –légitimée par le public de l'enseignement. Par conséquent, les résultats d'actions accumulées ne donnent pas une vraie légitimité à la « conduite d'acteur social ».C'est ainsi qu'apparait la nouvelle dynamique sociale générée par le processus de la civilisation osmotique. Elle crée une nouvelle configuration éthique civilisationnelle, cadre de légitimité de la « conduite d'acteur social », Il convient de stabiliser un nouveau cadre de ralliement social. C'est une condition de réussite du changement social. Cette procédure commence par l'adoption d'un nouveau droit social : « le droit à la transculturalité ». S'il revient aux acteurs sociaux de décider par eux-mêmes et pour eux-mêmes leurs propres codes de légitimité collective, ils ne peuvent pas le réaliser sans entrer dans des valeurs transculturelles. La « conduite d'acteur social » ne se comprend en effet sans avoir sa place réelle dans l'accomplissement des causes patriotiques d'intérêt sociétal. Etant donné que cette condition de légitimation, vise tout autant à façonner une ascension sociale collective qu'individuelle. Ensuite, entrer dans un mécanisme de changement social ne se comprend, sans adoption des valeurs potentielles du fihavanana. Ce cadre de ralliement social authentiquement malgache, détermine la place de la « conduite d'acteur social » dans le rouage de la coresponsabilité et de la sociabilité. De toutes manières, la conduite d'acteur sociale aurait-elle un sens si elle n'apportait pas une action précise pour la collectivité ? / In past, the procedure of configuration of the “practice of social actor” is confronted with two procedures, so controversial the one as the other one in the sphere of the initial training of the education re-formed by Madagascar. The actions of legitimization are made by divided procedures. Every act is supported by an inheritance of plots of land of civilizational practice often in ethical contradiction with the other forms of juxtaposed théologico-ideological convictions. Consequently, this progress creates a situation of social dissension. This situation evolves in a social climate dominated by an uncertain characteristic of civilizational specificity. Any activity starts with a vagueness of frame of behavior and ends by a result of action not - legitimized by the public of the education. Consequently, the results of accumulated actions do not give a true legitimacy to the «practice of social actor ".And so appears the new social dynamics generated by the process of the o smotic civilization. It creates a new civilizational ethical configuration, a frame of legitimacy of the «practice of social actor", it is advisable to stabilize a new frame of social reunification. It is a condition of success of the social change. This procedure begins with the adoption of a new labor rigth « cross-culturally right ". If it returns to the social actors to decide by themselves and for themselves on their own codes of collective legitimacy, they cannot realize it without entering cross-cultural values. The «practice of social actor" indeed understands without having his real place in the fulfillment of the patriotic causes of societal interest. Given that this condition of legitimization, aims just as much at shaping a social collective ascent that individualThe «practice of social actor" indeed understands without having its real place in the fulfillment of the patriotic causes of societal interest. Given that this condition of legitimization, aims just as much at shaping a social collective ascent that individual. Then, to enter a mechanism of social change understands, without adoption of the potential values of the fihavanana. This frame of authentically Malagasy social reunification, determines the place of the «practice of social actor" in the cog of the coresponsibility and the sociability. Anyway, “practice of social actor” would have a sense if it did not bring a precise action for the community?Words-keys, practice of social actor, social ascent, osmotic civilization, frame(executive) of social reunification, social change, collective legitimacy, cross-culturally right, fihavanana, social cohesion, social configuration, osmotism, conflict of plot of land of civilizations, Malagasy reformed Protestant education, missionary.

Thèse de doctorat--Dynamiques comparées des sociétés en développement--Paris 7, 2003. / Bibliogr. vol. 1, p. 359-373. Notes bibliogr. Index à la fin du vol. 1.

No description available.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Univ., 2004. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of History, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.