EXPEDITION TO MADAGASCAR "DEEP SOUTH": MARINE FAUNA & FLORA April-July 2009

Context “Our Planet Reviewed” is the joint initiative of an academic institution - Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN) - and an NGO - Pro-Natura International (PNI) - to document, sample and describe the neglected components of biodiversity in key ecosystems of the world. The present expedition is part of a cluster of 2008-2009 expeditions in Mozambique and Madagascar, and the World Union for Nature (IUCN) has declared its interest and support to the project. The marine expeditions are networking with the Census of Marine Life and the Barcode of Life initiatives. The Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN, Paris), the Institut d'Halieutique et des Sciences Marines, University of Toliara (IH.SM), and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Madagascar Programme are uniting their efforts to organize an expedition to explore the coastal marine fauna and flora in what is certainly the least known region of Madagascar: the "Deep South", a cold oceanic region of fierce promontories, open bays and extensive algal belts.

The "Deep South" of Madagascar, a cold water region rich in endemic species.

The project has been presented to Malagasy authorities at national and local levels. Permit issuance is under way, with the full backing of the administrative regions of Anosy and Androy.

Objectives The expedition will combine: 1) Research: Discover unknown species; establish research and reference collections of the marine fauna and flora. 2) Conservation: document species composition and communities of this marine ecoregion 3) Capacity building: local scientists and technicians to be involved in faunistics and floristics of marine organisms. 4) Outreach: share with the general public the life of a major naturalistic expedition. 5) Data management: Feed databases already established or currently under development in Madagascar and worldwide.

Operations The expedition will focus on the coastal zone (0-100 m) from Ste Luce to Androka and will be conducted in two main sectors in succession:

Indian Ocean Explorer Roselyn

(2) Leg 2. Lavanono. 15 June - 7 July. There will be a ship-based party of ca. 1214 persons on board Indian Ocean Explorer, a 35 meters ship, and a smaller party, ca. 10 persons, shore based at Lavanono. The Indian Ocean Explorer is fully equipped for diving, and in addition we will be using small boats for shore work and light dredging/trawling on the continental shelf.

(1) Leg 1. Fort-Dauphin. 20 April - 15 May. There will be a shore-based party of ca. 35 persons. We will have the support of Roselyn, a 20 meters all-purpose boat to be used for light dredging/trawling on the continental shelf, and support to divers at far-away dive sites. In addition, there will be several small boats for diving and shore work.

Evatra Point, Fort-Dauphin View from Cap Sainte Marie looking west to Lavanono

Beach-rock in Lavanono

Lanirano Backwater, Fort-Dauphin

Specimens will be collected intertidally, by SCUBA diving, and by offshore dredging and trawling (1.2m beam trawl). The shore base will be set up with basic facilities for sample processing, sorting (incl. with dissecting microscopes), photography, tissue clipping, and preservation of samples, as well as for data entry and storage. A smaller processing unit will be set up on board Indian Ocean Explorer during the second leg. A reconnaissance trip, with two divers, is going to take place November 6-20, 2008.

Funding The expedition is supported by Fondation Total (Total Foundation), Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, and Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Applications to other sources are still being reviewed.

Who does what? Expedition organization Line LE GALL, Research Scientist, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle; [email protected] / (+33) 1 40 79 31 97. Coordination of participants and scientific programme. Philippe MAESTRATI, Museum Specialist, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle; [email protected] / (+33) 1 40 79 57 53. Shore-based laboratory facilities. Laurent ALBENGA, Museum Specialist, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle; [email protected] / (+33) 1 40 79 35 60. Divers needs. Administration, Project management Emmanuel GORIN, Chargé de Projet [email protected] / (+33) 1 40 79 30 08.

Grandes

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Project organization and in-country contacts Philippe BOUCHET, Professor, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle; [email protected] / (+33) 1 40 79 31 03. Man Wai RABENEVANANA, Director, Institut d'Halieutique et des Sciences Marines (IH.SM) de l'université de Toliara, [email protected] / (+261) 33 12 392 20. Herilala RANDRIAMAHAZO, Director of Marine Programme, WCS Madagascar, [email protected] / (+261) 33 11 879 93.

23 Oct. 2008