L'expédition Makay 2017 - Naturevolution

Durant l’été 2017, Naturevolution a organisé une nouvelle grande expédition scientifique pluridisciplinaire dans le massif du Makay à Madagascar, la quatrième depuis 2010.

A new expedition to the Makay

Summary

Cette nouvelle mission scientifique s’est déroulée du 22 juillet au 2 septembre. Elle a eu lieu exactement Exactly ten years ago, Evrard Wendenbaum achieved the first transect of the Makay massif : an event that triggered the founding of Naturevolution, the first scientific expeditions in 2010 and 2011 into the massif, and the creation of New Protected Area of the Makay.

In this mountain rangelocated in the center-west of the island, erosion carved over several hundred million years a maze of deep canyons. There, life took shelter in near autarky, occupying all vacant ecological niches. In these isolated ecosystems, free of human observation, biodiversity has developed and diversified, leading to the emergence of new species.

A collaborative undertaking

Under the lead of Naturevolution, plusieurs acteurs ont réuni leurs compétences pour faire de cette mission une réussite à plusieurs niveaux. La Société des Jeunes Aventuriers First who was the first frame of the scientific team with 5 students of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. The People Although Productions and ArteThe youtubeur Leo Grasset (Dirty Biology) as well as NatExplorers, A duo of talented scientists and biologists mediators, all filmed in their way and valued the work of scientists and explicit conservation issues.

Aurélie 'Auka' Calmet, Illustrator accustomed Naturevolution of shipments, led for the first time his notebooks and brushes in Makay.

In 2017, scientists are going back to the Makay canyons.

What the scientists will focus on

Cette nouvelle expédition scientifique dans le Makay a été la première à avoir lieu en saison sèche. Si cela n’a pas facilité pas les observations, plus aisées en saison humide, cela a permis en revanche d’étudier la faune et la flore dans la transition de cette période difficile. Cette expédition a été également la première à étudier les zones forestières de Makaikely et de Mahasoa, deux des plus grandes forêts du Makay, situées respectivement au sud et au nord de la grande forêt de Menapanda.

Lemurs
Gaëtan Deltour (Naturevolution) et Anselmo Andriananandrasana (GERP)
Animal emblématique de Madagascar, c’est aussi un des mammifères les plus menacés de la planète: 94% des espèces de lémuriens apparaîssent dans la liste rouge de l’IUCN, faisant de leur conservation une priorité. Le Makay, avec 9 espèces confirmées de lémuriens, est un des endroits de Madagascar où l’on en trouve la plus grande diversité d’espèces. Un large projet a été déployé cet été pour l’étude et le suivi des lémuriens du Makay.

Mapping of lemur populations

Mise en place d’un suivi exhaustif des populations de lémuriens avec une cartographie systématique des groupes rencontrés. Pour aider les écovolontaires à identifier ces animaux, un outil inédit sur appareil mobile créé au MNHN a été testé sur place : CLEMURS.

Study of their adaptation to the environment

Des études anatomiques et morphologiques à partir de spécimens capturés ont permis de mieux comprendre l’adaptation de ces animaux dans ce milieu unique.

Diet study

Des études biologiques et génétiques des fèces ont eu pour objectif de déterminer l’alimentation précise des lémuriens du Makay afin d’adapter les programmes de reforestation en fonction.

Carnivores, Rodents and Bats
Margot CHAUD, Rohan suit, Paul Nicolas (Naturevolution); Martin Raheriarisena et Steven Goodman (Wolfgang)
Read the detail of the research project on carnivores and bats (French).

Mapping and image recording of fossas

The fossa, elusive féliformes are endemic carnivores of Madagascar. Still to this day, little is known about their presence in the Makay. The goal was to better understand their distribution in the massive and capture the first images using camera traps.

Mapping of bat colonies

Acoustic methods were used to identify bat species and look for new colonies to obtain a first population census in the massif.

Rodents

Specimens small lemurs (lemurs) were observed. Rodents were captured at the same time, and morphological and anatomical studies were conducted.

Primatologist Ed Louis with a Verreaux's sifaka (white sifaka)

Ferns, Briophytes, Angiosperms and Canariums
Catherine Reeb (Naturevolution) and Rado Ramahandrison (University of Antananarivo)

Inventory of ferns and angiosperms

This survey was conducted as a classic technique inventory quadrat by unpublished vertical transects on the walls of the massif to raise flora.

Counting of canarium trees

The canarium is a species of tree from which the resin is used in perfumery. This impact assessment was to determine whether the density of canariums is sufficient for operating small-scale resin to generate additional income for the villagers Makay and value in their eyes healthy forest.

Birds
Vincent Roméra (Agence VISU), Anne-Sophie Lafuite (CNRS) and Eric Marcel Temba (Antananarivo University/Asity)

Birds inventory

Equipped with binoculars, telescopes and cameras, birding team continued the inventory of the avifauna of the Makay with a focus on birds of prey. A basic sound data and images was incorporated to compare with other forests of Madagascar. The ornithology project in detail.

Insects and crustaceans
Benoît Gilles (Naturevolution) and Jean-François Cart (IUCN)

Collection and inventory

En utilisant des méthodes très variés de collectes, ces 2 passionnés ont réalisé un inventaire des espèces en saison sèche et rechercher de potentielles nouvelles espèces. Ce fut pour l’entomologiste Benoît sa 2^nd mission in the Makay.

Archeology
Antoine Heurtel (Naturevolution)

Cartography, new spots search and conservation strategy

La découverte en 2010-2011 de 465 peintures rupestres (les premières de Madagascar) a mis en avant une richesse archéologique unique dans le Makay. Ce patrimoine inestimable a été étudié à travers un programme de cartographie, la recherche de nouveaux sites et des études en vue de la mise en place rapide d’une stratégie de conservation pour ces sites qui se dégradent rapidement. Des prélèvements de fragments tombés au sol ont être effectués pour datation.

Fishes
Megann Texereau (Naturevolution) et Jean Robertin Rasoloariniaina (CNRE)

Inventory of species and studies of milieu

L’inventaire des espèces de poissons du Makay a été poursuivi. En 2010-2011, la découverte d’une nouvelle espèce de Pachypanchax sp. scored shipping. A thorough study of its environment and its range was the program and the animal was found and captured ..

Catherine Reeb, botanist of the Makay expeditions

Participatory science in the field

The base camp of the scientific mission in 2017

Makay 2017 expedition basecamps

For the first time, Naturevolution took on a scientific expedition many ecovolunteers attracted by the prospect of contributing to research projects, assisting to the conservation of the Makay massif and living an amazing adventure in a spectacular and secluded nature.

This cluster of goodwill especially allowed to perform simultaneous counting and mapping projects of several species (Among other lemurs) in major forest areas of Makay: Menapanda, the largest forest in the Makay; Makaikely south, a forest encased in beautiful canyons that had not yet given rise to any study; Mahasoala north, 2^nd forest massif, also virgin until scientific studies.

Read more about our ecovolunteer missions.

A lower environmental impact

ATVs, certainly comfortable but inefficient, have been used until they were absolutely necessary. Local collective vehicles were privileged to rally the doors of the massif, and several junctions were made on foot. Inside the massive porting material was done on their backs, which has brought extra additional income to the villagers.

Crossing the Mangoky river in Beroroha

An expedition related through various channels

To share this adventure more and continue our advocacy for the protection of lost worlds, we have been keen to communicate over multiple channels and most varied possible.

Auka, field illustrator

A daily diary in text and video
A reporter embedded to tell the shipping daily text and picture format. Evrard Wendenbaum presented meanwhile on some videos, explored places, the equipment used, research and actions on the ground and the members of the team.
These publications were posted on the roadbook, via Facebook and Instagram.

A scientific web series
Two talented scientists mediators, " NatExplorers« , présents sur toute la mission, ont réalisé une web-série vidéo sur les recherches des scientifiques, les enjeux et les difficultés de la conservation du Makay. Ces vidéos ont été diffusées sur Youtube et les réseaux sociaux. Elles alimenteront également la bibliothèque multimédia destinée au monde de l’éducation que nous mettrons prochainement en ligne sur notre nouveau site à venir.

A short film crazy popular science
Leo Grasset, the Youtuber on steroids of the channel Dirty Biology a été de la partie et on a hâte de voir ce que ça donne ;-)

A 52 minute documentary
Evrard Wendenbaum in collaboration with Gil Kebaïli made a documentary "discovered" on the entire shipment for 2018 earlier this year and broadcast on Arte in many festivals and conferences. Production The People Of Production

Radio operations
Interventions waves were carried out in particular in the program " Time for a bivouac "France Inter who spent several interviews live by satellite phone.

Illustrations and exhibitions
The work of scientists and animals Makay was also masterfully illustrated by Aurélie Calmet and Alix ThiebaultAnd their images are visible on the blog of the expedition, and will also be featured on the upcoming book but also on large panels in the exhibition venues.

A book
After sharing three scientific expeditions, Aurélie Calmet (illustration) and Evrard Wendenbaum (Photos) jointly prepare a book to be published in 2018.