Ecological radiation of Madagascan endemic vertebrates-with special respect to coevolution between birds and reptiles

1999年在Ampijoroa、Ranomafana和Masoala进行了鸟类生态野外调查，并在Ampijoroa进行了爬行动物的初步野外调查。2000年，在Ampijoroa进行了鸟类和爬行动物的生态和行为研究，并在Ranomafana、Ampangabe、Tsimanampetsotsa、Andranomena和Lokobe进行了爬行动物标本收集的实地调查。在Ampijoroa和Masoala地区，采用直接观察和录像相结合的方法，对6种万基科鸟类的筑巢活动、亲代抚育时间分配和繁殖成功率等生殖特征进行了研究，以阐明万基科鸟类生殖特征的生态多样性。特别是，利用直接观察和DNA指纹法，在Ampijoroa广泛研究了rufous vanga的社会结构，与帮手的存在有关，并阐明了其社会系统。从这些鸟的血液样本中获得的DNA样本分析证实了万基科的单系性。在Ampijoroa，还对蛇和蜥蜴进行了一些生态学和行为学研究。这些研究包括：日壁虎的微生境利用、变色龙的季节出现、鬣蜥的觅食策略、Lygodactylus壁虎和变色龙的睡眠地点选择、马达加斯加Menarana蛇的空间生态、蛇的食物习性。此外，研究了鸟类与爬行动物特别是蜥蜴的相互作用，比较了它们的食物习性、觅食方式和对微生境的利用。结果表明，这些截然不同的动物群体在争夺生态资源的同时也存在着捕食者-猎物关系。

In 1999 ecological field studies of birds were conducted in Ampijoroa, Ranomafana, and Masoala, and a preliminary field survey of reptiles was made in Ampijoroa. In 2000 ecological and behavioral studies of birds and reptiles were conducted in Ampijoroa, and field surveys for the collection of reptile specimens were made in Ranomafana, Ampangabe, Tsimanampetsotsa, Andranomena, and Lokobe.In Ampijoroa and Masoala, reproductive features of six vangid species of birds, such as nest building activity, time allocation of parental care, and reproductive success, were investigated by direct observations and video-recording, to clarify the ecological diversity of reproductive traits among Vangidae. In particular, social structure of the rufous vanga, in relation to the presence of helpers, was extensively studied in Ampijoroa using direct observations and a DNA finger printing method, and its social system was elucidated. Analysis of DNA samples, which were obtained from blood samples of the birds, confirmed the monophyly of the Vangidae.In Ampijoroa, several ecological and behavioral studies of snakes and lizards were also conducted. These include : microhabitat utilization of a day gecko, seasonal appearance of chameleons, foraging tactics of a Iguanian lizard, sleeping site selection of a Lygodactylus gecko and chameleons, spatial ecology of the Madagascar Menarana snake, and food habits of snakes. In addition, interactions between birds and reptiles, especially lizards, were investigated by comparing the food habits, foraging methods, and microhabitat utilization among them. The results suggest that these distinctly different groups of animals compete for ecological resources as well as they have predator-prey relationships.