An analysis of bird communities in the Tsingy Forest of Madagascar's western domain

Ramanitra, N.A. 2000. An analysis of bird communities in the Tsingy Forest of Madagascar's western domain. Ostrich: 71 (1):51.

Composition of the bird communities at different habitats in the Tsingy Forest may be influenced by weather. The species, which occur in this region are important, but the presence of several eastern species was very surprising. Canyon and reservoirs of water in caves or between the rocks helped some species to survive the dry season. The mosaic habitat structure and steep slopes of the karst formation determined the distribution of birds, especially terrestrial species. The uneven furrowed rocky topography constitutes a barrier for human penetration and reduces anthropic pressure in this region. That is the reason Tsingy of Bemaraha is more protected than other natural reserves in the western domain of Madagascar.     

Longevity in some Malagasy rainforest passerines

Data on longevity is a prerequisite to understand the life-history strategies of a species. For Malagasy songbirds no information has been previously published. Therefore, we studied their longevity in a capture–recapture effort in a rainforest in eastern Madagascar (Maromizaha, Andasibe) between 2003 and 2016. We present first data on the longevity of 23 species of Malagasy songbirds. A female Dark Newtonia Newtonia amphichroa (Vangidae) and a Grey-crowned Greenbul Bernieria cinereiceps (Bernieridae) attained an age of at least 12 years, followed by two male Madagascar Brush Warblers Nesillas typica (Acrocephalidae), female Madagascar Bulbul Hypsipetes madagascariensis (Pycnonotidae) and Madagascar Drongo Dicrurus forficatus (Dicruridae) that attained at least 10 years. There was much variation within some taxonomic groups, longevity did not increase with the mass of a bird species and most insectivorous birds lived longer than granivorous ones.