Grass survey of the Itremo Massif records endemic central highland grasses
Keywords:
diversity, grasses, endemicityAbstract
Despite the substantial area covered by grasslands in Madagascar (65%), the taxonomy of the grasses (Poaceae), which represent the main plant component of these vegetation types, is still understudied. Inventories and detailed specimen identification work from 1 2 localities in the Itremo Massif Protected Area allowed us to compile a list of grasses present in the area. In total, members of eight subfamilies, 56 genera, and 99 species have been recorded from the Itremo Massif. Grasslands cover 75% of the Itremo Massif Protected Area and are dominated by Panicoideae (65%) and by C4 plants. The genera Eragrostis and Panicum, with nine and eight species respectively, are the best represented genera in Itremo. Eragrostis betsileensis and Tristachya betsileensis are the two species known to be local endemics. Twenty species are endemic to the central highlands, and a further 1 4 species are restricted to Madagascar. Five ecological groups of grasses were identified in the Itremo Massif: shade species in gallery forests, open wet area species, fire grasses, anthropogenic disturbance associated grasses and rock-dwelling grasses. Grasslands of the Itremo Massif are likely to be at least partly natural as shown by their richness in terms of endemic and native grass species. Conservation of such grasslands is thus an important issue, not only for grasses but for all species that inhabit these open canopy habitats.
RÉSUMÉ
Malgré la superficie importante occupée par les formations herbeuses de Madagascar (65%), la taxonomie des graminées (Poaceae) dominant ces écosystèmes reste mal connue. Les inventaires effectués dans 1 2 localités de l’Aire Protégée (AP) du Massif d’Itremo et les travaux d’identification nous ont permis de dresser une liste des espèces de Poaceae de la région. Au total, la liste établie est composée de huit sous-familles, 56 genres et 99 espèces dont la sous-famille des Panicoideae (65 %) et des espèces à photosynthèse en C4 sont les taxons dominants. Les genres Eragrostis et Panicum, avec respectivement neuf et huit espèces, sont les mieux représentés. Eragrostis betsileensis et Tristachya betsileensis sont les seules espèces localement endémiques, tandis que 20 espèces sont endémiques des hautes terres du centre, et 1 4 sont endémiques de Madagascar. Cinq groupements de Poaceae qui correspondent à des milieux différents ont été identifiés au sein de l’AP : les espèces ombrophiles des forêts galeries, les espèces de milieux humides ouverts, les espèces associées au feu, les espèces rupicoles et les espèces anthropiques. Les formations herbeuses de l’Itremo seraient au moins en partie d’origine naturelle et ancienne, comme le suggère leur richesse en espèces endémiques et indigènes, et méritent donc d’être conservées, non seulement pour les Poaceae mais pour toutes les autres espèces qui y cohabitent.
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