16 On Location | Live from the Labs cnrsI InternatIonal magazIne Biodiversity In August 2012, a pluridisciplinary research team initiated an exhaustive inventory of the species inhabiting Madagascar’s Namoroka National Park. Treasure Trove in Madagascar 01 the field, were systematically geo- localized with GPS technology to pre- cisely map their distribution across the area, before being collected, photo- graphed, and preserved. “Once collected, plants were dried overnight, then tightly pressed together in bundles, and finally kept in plastic bags,” explains botanist Lucile Allorge. Various plant species, such as ferns, euphorbs, and orchids were sampled over more than 400 harvests. Entomologists not only worked in the daytime but also at night, setting up traps around the camp to lure insects. They RMANS managed to gather around 4100 speci- eve mens of Hemipterans, hundreds of A © T. H different types of moth and beetle species, 02 03 and a host of eco-ethological data like BYKatIa YezlI insect host-plants, biotope descriptions, Cpark in northwest Madagascar, k u a cave-adapted insect never collected,Typhlobrixia namorokensisand insect sound recordings. “For thefirst time, we were able to record theplanthopperOINgReRAINIBdOTON national2reated in 1927, the Tsingy deNamoroka, a 223-km is one of the world’s earliest nature A O since its discovery in 1952,” explains © T. B © F. R reserves. With its striking karst land- OSEB entomologist Thierry Bourgoin. 01 the spectacular scapes, the area is an exceptional hotspot karst landscape of wheel drive vehicles and one truck set off Several new genera and species have al- of biodiversity harboring a multitude of thetsingy de from Mahajanga. Aboard, more than 20 ready been identified and analyses are species, some still unknown. namoroka park. scientists, specialists in plant biology, still underway, but one expedition is not That is until a few months ago, when 02 Strophanthus entomology, paleoentomology, and her- enough. “An exhaustive inventory would boivinii, also known an international team of scientists, led by as corkscrew flower, petology brought research equipment, require an entire year on site,” explains botanist Thomas Haevermans of the originates from but also food and water rations for a Haevermans. “We now have a better idea OSEB laboratory,1 headed to the island madagascar. 3-week expedition. of the kind of specimens we can find in with an ambitious objective: to undertake 03the planthopper After crossing two bays and continu- this highly endemic area.” The resultsTyphlobrixia the first complete inventory of plants and namorokensis, ing on dirt roads for two days— of the mission will also help the govern- wildlife in Tsingy. recorded for the first sometimes not exceeding 5 km/h—the ment of Madagascar establish future Because the area’s dirt and bumpy time during the researchers finally reached Namoroka conservation strategies. roads make the reserve difficult to access expedition. and its spectacular limestone formations. 01.Laboratoire Origine, structure et évolution de la during the rainy season, the region has A camp was set up in an open-roof cave, biodiversité (CNRS /MNHN). hardly been explored and is therefore with electricity generators, computers, very well preserved. The latest scientific and a temporary lab. expedition dates back to the early 20th A photo gallery is The hunt for new species started each contactInformatIon: century. available on the online day before sunrise, with the help of expe- oseB, Paris. In August last year, taking advantage version of the magazine. rienced local guides. Plants and animals, > haever@mnhn.frThomas Haevermanswww.cnrs.fr/> of the dry season, a convoy of seven four- cnrsmagazine including reptiles and insects found in
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