Novel photographic and morphometric records of the Western Falanouc Eupleres major in Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar

Long-term research on Fosa Cryptoprocta ferox has been conducted in Ankarafantsika National Park since 1999, with rare sightings of the forest’s second elusive carnivore, the Western Falanouc Eupleres major. During annual carnivore live-trapping from 1999- Present, a single Falanouc was captured on the 30th of March 2002. Since this capture, two photographs have been taken of the Falanouc. In June 2011, a project volunteer photographed a Falanouc during the day whilst conducting trap-checks. Recently, a second photograph was recorded during the largest systematic camera-trapping study of Madagascar’s western carnivores. From April – July 2014 eighty paired camera-traps operated on average for 79 days, recording a sole image of the Western Falanouc at 01h18 on the 19 April 2014. Herein we discuss the morphometrics and photographic records of the Western Falanouc from Ankarafantsika National Park

Novel photographic and morphometric records of the Western Falanouc Eupleres major in Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar

Long-term research on Fosa Cryptoprocta ferox has been conducted in Ankarafantsika National Park since 1999, with rare sightings of the forest’s second elusive carnivore, the Western Falanouc Eupleres major. During annual carnivore live-trapping from 1999- Present, a single Falanouc was captured on the 30th of March 2002. Since this capture, two photographs have been taken of the Falanouc. In June 2011, a project volunteer photographed a Falanouc during the day whilst conducting trap-checks. Recently, a second photograph was recorded during the largest systematic camera-trapping study of Madagascar’s western carnivores. From April – July 2014 eighty paired camera-traps operated on average for 79 days, recording a sole image of the Western Falanouc at 01h18 on the 19 April 2014. Herein we discuss the morphometrics and photographic records of the Western Falanouc from Ankarafantsika National Park

Effects of habitat alteration and disturbance by humans and exotic species on fosa Cryptoprocta ferox occupancy in Madagascar's deciduous forests

Anthropogenic habitat alteration and invasive species are threatening carnivores globally. Understanding the impact of these factors is critical for creating localized, effective conservation programmes. Madagascar's Eupleridae have been described as the least studied and most threatened group of carnivores. We investigated the effects of habitat degradation and the presence of people and exotic species on the modelled occupancy of the endemic fosa Cryptoprocta ferox, conducting camera-trap surveys in two western deciduous forests, Ankarafantsika National Park and Andranomena Special Reserve. Our results indicated no clear patterns between habitat degradation and fosa occupancy but a strong negative association between cats Felis sp. and fosas. Cat occupancy was negatively associated with birds and positively associated with contiguous forest and narrow trails. In contrast, dog Canis lupus familiaris occupancy was best predicted by wide trails, degraded forest and exotic civets. Our results suggest fosas are capable of traversing degraded landscapes and, in the short term, are resilient to contiguous forest disturbance. However, high occupancy of cats and dogs in the landscape leads to resource competition through prey exploitation and interference, increasing the risk of transmission of potentially fatal diseases. Management strategies for exotic carnivores should be considered, to reduce the widespread predation of endemic species and the transmission of disease

Retaliatory killing and human perceptions of Madagascar’s largest carnivore and livestock predator, the fosa (Cryptoprocta ferox)

Fosas (Cryptoprocta ferox) are Madagascar&rsquo;s largest carnivores, occupying much of the island&rsquo;s forested landscape. This study provides the first evaluation of fosas&rsquo; conflict with humans, a problem for many small and medium sized carnivores worldwide. We examined fosas&rsquo; predation of poultry, and the subsequent retaliatory killing. Over 1750 households were interviewed across four regions, encompassing Madagascar&rsquo;s major forest types (deciduous/rainforest) and protected area classifications (national park, reserve and unprotected forest). Predation by fosa was the third highest reported cause (15%) of poultry mortality, with little evidence that coops were effective in reducing predation. Predation of poultry was more prevalent in deciduous forests, and most common during the evenings of the dry season. Over half of all interviewees said they disliked fosas, with loss of poultry the most commonly stated reason. Respondents&rsquo; that had suffered poultry depredation and those with lower educational attainment were more likely to dislike fosas. Interviewees that disliked fosas and those that were wealthier were most likely to report having killed a fosa. A minimum of thirty fosas was killed in retaliation by our respondents during the year before the interviews. Given that the fosa population is in decline, and most of Madagascar&rsquo;s forests are likely to be too small to support sustainable populations, these killings may be detrimental to vulnerable sub-populations. These results shed insight into the cultural perceptions and predation patterns of a medium sized carnivore, with relevance to worldwide human-wildlife conflict of often overlooked smaller carnivores. We suggest that educational programs, guard dogs, poultry disease vaccinations and robust coop construction may be effective for improving attitudes and reducing retaliatory killing.</p

Activity patterns of sympatric living exotic and endemic carnivores (the fosa) in Western Madagascar's deciduous forests

Western Madagascar's deciduous forest is an important, threatened habitat to little-known Eupleridae, such as the fosa Cryptoprocta ferox. Using camera-trap grids established in two important deciduous forests, Ankarafantsika National Park and Andranomena Special Reserve, we explore the activity patterns of endemic and exotic carnivores and evaluate how exotics may be influencing fosa temporal activity across these two protected areas. Three methodologies, kernel density, circular and wave analysis, were used to evaluate the activity pattern overlap between exotic free-ranging cats Felis sp. and dogs Canis familiaris, exotic small Indian civets Viverricula indica and the endemic fosa. Our results showed fosas to be cathemeral, peaking in activity in the evening and at dawn. Cats were nocturnal, whilst also highly active at dusk. Civets did not display a dominant period of activity, but were relatively more active in the night, and at dusk. In contrast, dogs were diurnal and also active at dawn, in alignment with human activity. Fosa activity significantly overlapped with the nocturnal cat and civet, whilst being distinct from the diurnal dog and humans. Our results suggest that there is potentially a competitive impact of exotic free-ranging dogs and cats when present across fosas’ dry forest habitat. This highlights the need for further examination into the impact of Madagascar's exotic carnivores, and the experimental trial to investigate the impact of their removal (or reduced abundance), on Madagascar's wildlife

A synthesis of life‐history traits, functional traits, and consequences of anthropogenic pressures on Madagascar’s threatened carnivorans, Eupleridae

Madagascar’s native carnivorans are an endemic monophyletic group of eight extant species belonging to the family Eupleridae. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently classifies seven of the species as threatened (Vulnerable or Endangered), as their populations are in decline due to intensifying anthropogenic pressures. However, little is known about these species’ ecology and population trends, precluding forecasts of extinction risk. Life-history and functional traits govern species’ responses to environmental pressure and can be predictive of extinction risk. Incorporating relevant trait information can vastly improve risk assessments. Yet, information on the life-history and functional traits of the Eupleridae has never been compiled into a single framework. Our aims were to: 1) synthesise the current state of knowledge of the life-history and functional traits of euplerid species, 2) review empirical evidence of the effects of anthropogenic pressures on species, and 3) identify knowledge gaps and future research needs. We searched the published literature to compile life-history and functional trait information and known effects of anthropogenic pressures for Eupleridae. Our review indicates that Madagascar’s carnivorans have high-risk life-history and functional traits that increase their vulnerability to anthropogenic pressures. Publications reported negative effects on euplerids from habitat degradation and fragmentation, logging, non-native carnivorans, disease, and hunting and retaliatory killings. However, our synthesis revealed significant knowledge gaps, especially in species’ life-history traits and in the spatial variability in most traits. For most species, we currently do not have the robust data needed to assess trait-based risk dynamics. The culmination of reported traits, negative influence of ongoing anthropogenic pressures, and lack of robust metrics (e.g. population trends and trait variability) indicate that euplerids are at high risk, yet may reach the cusp of extinction without notice due to significant gaps in knowledge. Future research should prioritise filling gaps in knowledge of influential traits, evaluating anthropogenic pressures, and integrating trait information to improve risk assessments and extinction forecasts

Trade openness and vulnerability in Central and Eastern Europe

Trade liberalization is the emerging issue of development studies. It is not only the key component of the current wave of globalization1 but also the most direct means by which globalization influences poverty dynamics in the developing countries. The debate on the trade liberalization and poverty nexus is very lively (Cline, 2004): on the one hand, common wisdom suggests that openness to trade and factor flows offer remarkable opportunities for the economic and political progress of countries (hence, the main international organizations advocate structural reforms centred on trade openness for the developing countries). On the other hand, empirical studies on the impact of trade liberalization on poverty do not reach a common stand on the issue (Hertel and Winters, 2005; IPALMO, 2005) and trade openness for the most part in developing countries translates into a growing feeling of insecurity and uncertainty towards future poverty dynamics. This fosters intense political debate on the options and strategies available to help developing countries capture fully the benefits of trade integration, and to reduce the likely negative effects.2 This debate is currently taking place within the WTO, in the throes of carrying out the Doha Development Agenda, and within the EU under the framework of the new Cotonou Agreement, which established a set of Regional Economic Partnership Agreements with developing countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific — and of the enlargement towards CEECs (Central and Eastern European Countries)